2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (32) · Suspension (19) · Service Brakes (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz E550 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
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.
Service bulletins (123)
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
Structure:body 2026-06-02 · LI61.25-P-047933 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint the underfloor paneling is loose or sags (picture 1). cause mounting clips broken or not correctly engaged. remedy replace all mounting clips with collar nuts with shims (picture 2): adapter set (203 589 02 31 00) is required to perform the work. the underfloor paneling does not have to be
Showing the 6 most recent of 123 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-04-30 · Unknown Or Other“wood trim throughout the car is cracking and falling off the car on the dash board as well as the doors and the rear side panels. the trim pieces that remain on the car are very sharp and jagged and are a significant risk for cuts in day to day use. in the event of an accident a passenger could be seriously injured from this jagged wood . my car i…”
2023-01-04 · Suspension“the vehicle felt like it was all over the road at highway speeds. took it to a mechanic and the rear subframe had become weakened with premature rust. the mounting point for one of the rear suspension arms had broken off of the subframe and was making contact with my gas tank. i called the dealer to see if there were any recalls. no recalls for…”
2022-11-15 · Suspension:front:springs:air Suspension System“when i parked my car there was a loud hissing sound near left front end but no smoke or anything from under the hood. when i drove it again i received a warning of (malfunction) when i was turning left the front left tire was grinding on the actual car and barely made it home. the car warning turned red and said pull over car too low. when i parked…”
2022-11-15 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“the issue with the vehicle's electrical causing power to the starter to stay on even after the vehicle is in the park and turned off, the starter's solenoid and other electrical parts burn, its a serious fire hazard and needs to be addressed immediately.…”
2022-09-06 · Unknown Or Other“the passenger door will not open from the inside. the vehicle has not been inspected by any parties yet. no warning messages are currently displayed.…”
2022-06-14 · Suspension“the air suspension started leaning heavily on one side after being parked for 12+ hours. and 2 days ago, while warming up the car, air suspension did not stop pumping air until front right air strut blew up. it was really loud and unexpected, i was lucky the car was not driven when the explosion happened. checking through forums, most people who ow…”
2021-12-09 · Power Train“transmission cooler which i manufactured inside the radiator failed causing transmission fluid to mix with anti-freeze/coolant, now the transmission slips and per recommendation from a mercedes dealership the vehicle needs a new transmission, torque converter, radiator, radiator cap, new upper and lower radiator hoses, new upper and lower radiator …”
2020-09-01 · Structure:body · 132,000 mi“the sun roof makes a loud cracking noise when you hit certain bumps or dips in the road. it does it more when the weather is hot. i have noticed that certain models years have been recalled. this car definitely has a sunroof issue and its had this problem since i purchased it about a year ago…”
2020-08-28 · Air Bags · 68,972 mi · 💥 crash“tl* takata recall. the contact owns 2011 mercedes benz e550. the contact stated that while her son was driving 5 mph, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the vehicle and the air bag failed to deploy. the driver sustained injuries to the head but did not seek medical attention. a police report was filed. the vehicle was towed to a…”
2019-10-16 · Air Bags“i have been receiving recall notices for over a year and the dealer makes an appointment and then cancels the appointment. they have never returned my calls regarding this recall except to cancel the appointments i have had my other recalled vehicle repaired almost a year ago. when can i get my vehicle repaired? the dealer is mercedes-benz of st…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.