RoadVitals

2006 Mercedes-Benz E

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jan 20, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 9, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E, most frequently naming the airbags category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08V006000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

Jan 9, 2008
9,004 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.
The risk: WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER RATHER THAN ENTER A LIMP-HOME MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED AFTER FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE SENSOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.Manufacturer number 2008010005View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE10017ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance

Opened May 14, 2010
Closed Nov 24, 2010

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Jan 20, 2011

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS: YESTERDAY 1/19/11 WHILE DRIVING ~35-40MPH AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ ML350 SUDDENLY &RAPIDLY DECELERATED WHILE MAKING A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE AUTO GAVE THE MESSAGE THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE DEACTIVATED BY THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT FOR ME HAD I BEEN ON THE BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK THE AUTO TO THE DEALERSHIP- MERCEDES BENZ HONOLULU AND THEY OFFERED VERY LITTLE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE DEFECTIVENESS OF THE AUTO AND WOULDN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MY HUSBAND USED NORMAL FORCE TO PULL THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TILT, AND IT CAME CLEAN OFF OF THE PANEL. HE PUT THE LEVER BACK INTO PLACE AN IT FELL ALL THE WAY INTO THE PANEL! THIS HAS CAUSED THE TILT TO BE PERMANENTLY LOOSE AND UNABLE TO BE LOCKED INTO PLACE. AGAIN, THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER. THE REPAIR QUOTE THAT WAS OFFERED WAS $1475.00 FOR THE TILT REPAIR- THIS IS OVERCHARGING AND PRICE PROHIBITIVE. SHOULDN'T MERCEDES BENZ ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY ISSUES, REPORT THEM SO THAT THEY DON'T RECUR IN OTHER VEHICLES? THESE ISSUES COULD CAUSE PASSENGER DEATH. [XXX] FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10377998
Incident
Jan 19, 2011
Mileage
30,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-59783

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

MERCEDES-BENZ: THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PRODUCTION QUALITY ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *RM

SB-32-25-82

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER; SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM; SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER; SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM

SB-090930

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS; TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE

PB-35-31-05

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY

MERCEDES BENZ: MODEL 171.454, 456 (2005-2008) SLK CLASS; 204.054, 056, 081 (2008) C CLASS; 211.022, 056, 072, 087, 090 (2006-2008) E CLASS. VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 2/21/08 AND 4/3/08 WITH DIFFERENTIAL SERIAL NUMBER 1824214 TO 1865328. CLUNKING NOISE DURING LOAD CHANGE AT REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL. *PE

P-B-82.10/626

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

MERCEDES-BENZ: MODEL 211.026, 065, 070, 076, 082, 083, 265, 276, 282, 283 (E-CLASS). VIN A564853 AND X161341; EQUIPPED WITH BI-XENON AND CURVE ILLUMINATION. CURVE ILLUMINATION NONFUNCTIONAL. *PE

PB-82-10/612

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

MERCEDES BENZ: MODEL 211.026, 056, 065, 070, 072, 076, 077, 082, 083, 087, 090, 256, 265, 276, 277, 282, 283, 287 EQUIPPED WITH OPTION CODE 615 (BI-XENON). HEADLAMP RANGE ADJUSTMENT NONFUNCTIONAL WITH DTC CODES 9010, 9011, 9012, 9013 OR 9024 (UP TO VIN B111276); PARKING LIGHT LED NONFUNCTIONAL (UP TO VIN B100720). *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz E by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012002—
2011104052.7
2010110—
2009200—
2008720—
2007220—
2006Viewing111—
2005501—
2004200—
2003000—
1994100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.