RoadVitals

2011 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.
10
Latest Sep 17, 2013
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.
4
Latest Oct 3, 2011
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.
0
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, transmission and electrical categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 13 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

  • Tires & wheels330.0%
  • Transmission330.0%
  • Electrical220.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Steering110.0%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
11V496000

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Oct 3, 2011
6,872 units potentially affected
The defect: MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT.
The risk: DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The remedy: MBUSA WILL CONTACT OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ USA AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.View on NHTSA.gov
11V213000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Apr 1, 2011
41 units potentially affected
The defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 E-CLASS MODEL W212 AND S212 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 8, 2010, THROUGH JULY 12, 2010. INSUFFICIENT ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE VIBRATION DAMPER AND ITS INNER MASS DAMPER RING COULD CAUSE A SUDDEN SEPARATION OF THE INNER MASS DAMPER RING FROM THE VIBRATION DAMPER.
The risk: WHILE WORKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING ENGINE OPERATION, THE DAMPER RING COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE PERSON REPAIRING THE VEHICLE OR A BYSTANDER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.Manufacturer number 2011030004View on NHTSA.gov
10V540000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL FILTER

Oct 29, 2010
2,297 units potentially affected
The defect: MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 M-CLASS, MODEL W164, GL-CLASS, MODEL X164, E-CLASS, MODEL W212, R-CLASS, AND MODEL V251VEHICLES. THE O-RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY LUBRICATED IN ALL CASES. LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN LEAD TO LEAKAGE OF THE FUEL FILTER.
The risk: DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON ROADS AND MAKING THOSE ROADS SLIPPERY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED . PLEASE SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-496.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 10
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 17, 2013

ALL FOUR TIRES ON 2011 MERCEDES E550 HAVE TREAD SEPARATION. TREAD SEPARATION IS OCCURRING ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE AND IS UNKNOWN UNTIL THE TIRE BEGINS TO LOSE TIRE PRESSURE. TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN RADIAL X TIRES. FAILURE BETWEEN 38,000-40,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543992
Incident
Sep 1, 2013
Mileage
42,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 17, 2013

TIRE TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM TIRE ON BACK OF TIRE. ALL FOUR TIRES ON VEHICLE DISPLAY TREAD SEPARATION APPROXIMATELY HALF CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRE IS AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543982
Incident
Sep 1, 2013
Mileage
38,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 19, 2011

5 MONTHS INTO MY 2011 MB E350 BLUETECH LEASE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLOWS ON A HIGHWAY. THE TIRES ARE RUNFLAT BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400-02 MOEXTENDED 245/45R17 95H. STOPPED THE CAR AND SAW THE RIM MADE A CUT IN A SIDEWALL. NOT REPAIRABLE, HAD IT REPLACED. 45 DAYS LATER ANOTHER FRONT TIRE IS AGAIN BLOWN ON A HIGHWAY THE SAME WAY. PUT ON A SPARE AND ORDERED REPLACEMENT. 2 DAYS LATER - THIRD TIRE BLOWS THE SAME EXACT WAY. ALL INCIDENTS ARE ON THE ROADS I TRAVEL FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY PREVIOUS CARS. COMPLAINED TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY MY "WAY OF DRIVING". RIDICULOUS! TIRE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME THESE RUN-FLATS ARE NOT FLEXIBLE AND HAVE A VERY THIN SIDEWALL SO IT GETS PUNCTURED BY THE RIM. SINCE MERCEDES DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TIRES FOR FREE, HOW DO I GET COMPENSATED FOR WHAT I PAID REPLACING THEIR TIRES? *TR

NHTSA ID
10440487
Incident
Nov 3, 2011
Airbags
Filed Aug 12, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END CRASH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS BUT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE REDUCTION IN THE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ID
10419189
Incident
Aug 2, 2011
Mileage
7,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 28, 2011

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MERCEDES 2011 E550. I FOUND THE SPEEDOMETER VERY DIFFICULT TO READ DURING DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS IT IS NOT LIGHTED. MY EYESIGHT IS 20/20). THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT TAKES YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TOO LONG TO READ THE VERY DIM SPEEDOMETER. IT ALSO CAUSES ONE TO GO AT SPEEDS NOT EASILY CONTROLLED BY A NORMAL "GLANCE"AT THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10403630
Incident
Nov 26, 2010
Mileage
100 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 5, 2011

MERCEDES 2011 E550 HAS A SPEEDOMETER THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ AND REQUIRES EYE DIVERSION FROM THE ROAD TO AN UNSAFE EXTENT TO VIEW YOUR DRIVING SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394295
Incident
Apr 4, 2011
Mileage
10 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 25, 2011

E 350 2011 MERCEDES BENZ I OWN HAS PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10392911
Incident
Oct 26, 2010
Mileage
100 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 4, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN REVERSE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 350. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF UPDATED 10/26/11

NHTSA ID
10380206
Incident
Jan 31, 2011
Mileage
300 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

LI-47-40-P053871

ENGINE

XENTRY (MERCEDES): CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) IS ACTIVATED; STORED IN ENGINE CONTROL UNIT IS VERY FINE LEAK. AUTOMATIC FUEL TANK LEAK TEST SOFTWARE IS SENSITIVE AND CAN PRODUCES AN ERRONEOUS DIAGNOSIS. MODELS 204, 212, 218, 221, 216,AND 166 WITH NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATE 11/22/13. *PE

LI-91-40P051830

SEAT BELTS:FRONT; SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE FRONT SEAT BELT CATCHES WHEN PULLED OUT, BECAUSE THE STRAP WAS NOT GUIDED BACK PROPERLY. HAPPENS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE. *RM UPDATED 5/22/2012. *JS

LI27-60P051774-1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE VEHICLE JOLTS DURING START-OFFS, STEADY DRIVING, OR ACCELERATION. THE CONTROL VALVE TEMPORARY JAMS. *RM UPDATED 12/28/11. *PE

SCB-2011100002

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

MERCEDES: ON SOME AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID MAY TOUCH BUMPER DURING CLOSING. *PE

LI-72-12-P

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE REAR DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE WINDOW GUIDE RAIL OF THE DOOR FREEZES. *RM

LI-05-20-P

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM

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—
2011Viewing104052.7
2010110—
2009200—
2008720—
2007220—
2006111—
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.