2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 450, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical350.0%
- Engine233.3%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
48Volt battery failed after three months and just 3,400 miles. I understand this is a recurring problem with Mercedes. Car had to be towed as the vehicle was totally inoperable due to battery malfunction. It took more than three weeks for Mercedes to provide a replacement battery. From what I have read, there is a strong likelihood that the battery will fail again.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 12/12/2021 AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, THE CAR HAD WARNING MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "COOLANT TOO HOT, STOP THE VEHICLE" ON THE HIGHWAY -NJ TUNPIKE. IT STARTED SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN TO BELOW 20MPH, NEARLY KILLED ME WHILE I TRIED TO PULL IT OVER. THEN THE DEALER SERVICE SAID IT HAD DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. THEN LAST WEEK 4/13/21 - 4 MONTH,ABOUT 2800 MILEGE ON IT, IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL., JUMP START DIDN'T EVEN WORK. SO I WAS STRANDED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. IT GOT TOWED AND THEY SAID IT HAD DEFECTIVE BATTERY. SO HOW MANY DEFECTIVE PARTS THIS CAR HAS. IT WILL KEEP BREAKING DOWN AND THREATEN MY LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I COMMUTE EVERY DAY IN THE NIGHT TIME. THEY SHOULD TAKE THIS CAR BACK AND REPLACE BUT THE DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE IT HAD PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT PARTS AND FIXED. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS PIECE OF JUNK AND A RISK TO NOT ONLY MY LIFE BUT ALSO O THER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT DOES THINGS ON ITS OWN WAY, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT ALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The 48 volt battery on this mild hybrid vehicle failed and the car was unable to be started on May 3, 2021, with 196 miles on the odometer, a mere 15 days after delivery. It had to be taken by flatbed to the dealer where ultimately the 48 volt battery was replaced. Then again on June 5, 2021, the car was again unable to be started, with a mere 735 miles on the odometer. Again, the car had to be taken by flatbed to the dealer, where ultimately the 48 volt battery was replaced a second time. While both failures, fortunately, happened while the vehicle was at home, the could have happened on the highway, in the middle of nowhere in bad weather conditions, or anywhere. I have had to cancel a cross-country drive for fear that, once again, the 48 volt battery will fail, leaving us stranded anywhere or, worse yet, in the middle of a highway.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 12/12/2021 AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT, THE CAR HAD WARNING MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "COOLANT TOO HOT, STOP THE VEHICLE" ON THE HIGHWAY -NJ TUNPIKE. IT STARTED SLOWING DOWN ON ITS OWN TO BELOW 20MPH, NEARLY KILLED ME WHILE I TRIED TO PULL IT OVER. THEN THE DEALER SERVICE SAID IT HAD DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. THEN LAST WEEK 4/13/21 - 4 MONTH,ABOUT 2800 MILEGE ON IT, IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL., JUMP START DIDN'T EVEN WORK. SO I WAS STRANDED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. IT GOT TOWED AND THEY SAID IT HAD DEFECTIVE BATTERY. SO HOW MANY DEFECTIVE PARTS THIS CAR HAS. IT WILL KEEP BREAKING DOWN AND THREATEN MY LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE I COMMUTE EVERY DAY IN THE NIGHT TIME. THEY SHOULD TAKE THIS CAR BACK AND REPLACE BUT THE DEALER REFUSED BECAUSE IT HAD PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT PARTS AND FIXED. BUT THIS VEHICLE IS PIECE OF JUNK AND A RISK TO NOT ONLY MY LIFE BUT ALSO O THER DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT DOES THINGS ON ITS OWN WAY, I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT ALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
After the car sits for three or more days, brakes locks up. It takes lots of power to get the brakes to release. It’s a safety concern as the car is parked in the garage with not enough room to maneuver. We never had any car which locks the brakes in this manner. Took it to MB dealer and they say it’s the way brakes are designed. A complete nonsense.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .