2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (103) · Fuel/Propulsion System (24) · Suspension (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz E350 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
76 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Air Bags:frontal 2021-08-13 · campaign 21V638000 · 205 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.
Risk: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-01-09 · campaign 19V010000 · 288,779 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Z
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-26 · campaign 16V363000 · 258,163 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin I
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification October 2016. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-11 · campaign 16V081000 · 711,159 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-201
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Fuel System, Gasoline 2012-12-03 · campaign 12V557000 · 5,800 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011. Due to an irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel filter flange, the fuel filter flange may crack when operated in high temperatures.
Risk: If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present.
Fix: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter, free of charge. The recall campaign is expected to begin in February 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
Service bulletins (145)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Electrical System 2026-08-06 · LI82.85-P-079087 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint a popup is seen on the hu with the message "data connection temporarily not available". potentially affected functionalities in ntg4.5, ntg5 1.weather 2.local search 3.ip radio 4.send2car 5.speech detection service 6.navigation 7.iheartradio 8.traffic cams cause mb apps is sundowned for al
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Exterior Lighting 2026-06-13 · PSL-NCU Return Parts 6/12 · Other
dear mercedes-benz usa dealers, the part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be returned to your facing pdc. the deadline for all dealer returns is no later than thursday, july 2, 2026. after july 2nd, returns of these parts will no longer be
Showing the 6 most recent of 145 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-28 · Seats“without an impact or collision, my car's passenger seat headrest shot out. i've been checking and others have done this as well. this morning, the driver's side headrest shot out without impact or collision. there is something wrong with the mechanism or airbags for the headrests. this can be extremely dangerous when in motion....…”
2025-12-30 · Service Brakes“dealer notes: replace rear brake lines, found to be rusty recommend replacement with rear subframe replacement. this is a very well known issue and is not covered under recall from manufacturer. it will cost $3200 for brake line repair alone, not including the subframe. this is an extreme safety hazard and a common problem that has been acknowledge…”
2025-09-26 · Steering“subject: safety concern – mercedes-benz e350 4matic (2011) subframe and brake line rust dear [mercedes-benz customer care / nhtsa], i am writing to report a serious safety concern regarding my 2011 mercedes-benz e350 4matic. recently, i brought my vehicle in for recall service, and during the inspection, it was discovered that: the rear subfram…”
2025-09-22 · Suspension“rear crossmember or ( rear subframe frame ) rust and it broke due to corrosion…”
2025-08-29 · Service Brakes“brake lines have completely rusted through. car had additional rust issues on the subframe which mercedes admitted and replaced as part of an extended warranty . when that was repaired they never mentioned the brakes. now 3 months later the brake lines rusted completely through … seems both subframe and lines rust at the same rate. and i would…”
2025-08-27 · Service Brakes“brake lines rust and corrode at the plastic support clips. brake lines are not made from quality materials. suffrage also corroded. suffrage was changed by dealer though when vehicle was returned the brake lines were broken. car entered suffrage service with brake lines intact, rusted i wouldn't doubt but intact. when returned after changing suffra…”
2025-07-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System“a gasoline smells fills the cabin and the outside surrounding area the vehicle continually to the point making anyone surrounding the vehicle and or sitting in the front and back seats physically sick. the gasoline smells omits continually from the backseat and or trunk area no matter the amount of fuel that is in the tank. it is a fire hazard and…”
2025-07-07 · Air Bags · 156,094 mi“the contact owns a 2011 mercedes-benz e350. the contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the srs malfunction message was displayed. the dealer was not contacted. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the nhtsa hotline for assistance. the approximate failure mile…”
2025-04-04 · Suspension“this vehicle, with 115,000 miles has been discovered to have had the brackets in the subframe for both rear lateral arms rust through and are broken causing a $5,000 repair estimate. the mechanic who found this (42 years as a mechanic) said he has never seen anything like it. this is a car where i had to replace the transmission at 49,000 miles …”
2025-03-12 · Service Brakes“rear brake lines are known to corrode. had to get my line replaced at 78xxx miles. this is a common problem for the w212 mercedes, along with the rear sub-frame rusting away. if the brake lines bursted when i was driving, i could of lost my life.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.