2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Steering Problems

The contact owned a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while attempting to shift to drive(D), the gear shifter detached from the steering column. No warning light was illuminated. Neither a dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the residence by AAA. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 420,000.

NHTSA ID

11682880

Incident

Aug 23, 2025

Mileage

420,000 mi

Steering wheel lock module steering wheel was locked in place and vehicle wouldn’t do anything.

NHTSA ID

11661609

Incident

May 1, 2025

A few months ago, start up my car to go to work, I had a warning "power steering malfunction". After a little research online about a possible cause, found out a weak battery would affect the power steering so, I went ahead and replace the battery. sure enough, the problem seemed to be resolved but only to comeback and this time is permanent. from reading online, I've realized, it's very common with these vehicle. Only thing, there has not been a recall on such a critical safety of this vehicle. This system even stop working while driving. may results in tragedy...

NHTSA ID

11460972

Incident

Feb 21, 2022

THE COLLAR AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS MELTED. HAPPENED WHILE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW! NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED! DEALER CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY! HOW SAFE IS MY VEHICLE? NEVER HEARD OF SUCH! THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXPOSED! THE COST TO REPAIR IS ON ME! WHAT IS GOING ON. THIS IS NOT A WEAR OR TEAR SITUATION! HOW SAFE AM I? MAYBE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED IT! DON'T KNOW! MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE

NHTSA ID

11351881

Incident

Aug 8, 2020

I HAVE A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E 350 THAT I PURCHASED IN BUFFALO, NY. MY VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT. MY VEHICLE IS REGISTERED IN MICHIGAN AND A USA VEHICLE. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON AN ASSIGNMENT IN CANADA. ON MARCH 5, 2019, I WENT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM MY HOTEL PARKING LOT IN OTTAWA, CANADA ON A TRIP TO BUFFALO, NY WHEN I HEARD THE VEHICLE MAKING LOUD NOISES TOWARDS THE FRONT END AND THE ABILITY TO STEER WAS LOST. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN AND WAS ESSENTIALLY IMMOBILIZED. I LEFT IT AS IS AND HAD IT TOWED TO STAR MOTORS MERCEDES, 400 W HUNT CLUB RD, NEPEAN, ON K2E 1B2, CANADA. FROM THE MECHANICS -THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC STEERING BOX BOLTS BROKE FROM EXPOSURE TO SALT JUST AS STATED IN THIS ARTICLE WHERE MERCEDES BENZ IN FACT RECALLED 21,500 OF THESE VEHICLES IN CANADA, BUT NOT IN THE USA? HTTPS://CANADA.AUTONEWS.COM/AUTOMAKERS/MERCEDES-BENZ-CANADA-RECALLS-21500-VEHICLES-WHERE-ROAD-SALT-USED MY E350 HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY DRIVEN IN BUFFALO, DETROIT, TORONTO AND OTTAWA, CANADA, ALL AREAS WHERE SALT IS UTILIZED IN HUGE QUANTITIES. THE PRICE TO SERVICE AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE WHERE MERCEDES CLEARLY ADMITS THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THOSE BOLTS IS $4300 CANADIAN. I AM GLAD THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I AM WRITING TO THE NHTSA TO REQUEST THAT THIS RECALL BE VALID FOR ALL AREAS WHERE SALT IS UTILIZED IN THE US AS THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE COULD CAUSE VEHICLE ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN DEATH OR BODILY INJURY IF NOT RECTIFIED. I HOPE NHTSA UNDERSTANDS THIS ISSUE IS NOT JUST IN EASTERN CANADA AS BUFFALO AND DETROIT USES MORE SALT ON THE ROADS THAT MOST CITIES IN CANADA. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS THAT I SPOKE TOO, ALL KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO MUCH SO THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP IN GETTING MERCEDES BENZ TO EXTEND THEIR RECALL INTO THE USA.

NHTSA ID

11186241

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

TOTAL STEERING FAILURE. THE STEERING LOCKED UP SOLID, AND TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MET WITH A HAMMERING NOISE FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, THIS OCCURRED IN OUR DRIVEWAY - HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BEEN AN ACCIDENT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP (THE MERCEDES DEALER IS A 1-1/2 HOUR DRIVE FROM WHERE WE LIVE) AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ALUMINUM BOLTS HOLDING THE ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR TO THE STEERING RACK HAD CORRODED THROUGH AND MOTOR HAD FALLEN OFF. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN CANADA, BUT OUR DEALER (BURLINGTON VERMONT) SAID THERE IS NO RECALL IN THE U.S.

NHTSA ID

11181281

Incident

Feb 12, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ID

10690941

Incident

Jul 3, 2012

Mileage

1,000 mi

I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED MERCEDES SERVICE AND THEY SENT SERVICE TO JUMPSTART THE CAR. THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE, A WARNING LIGHT STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION - CHECK OWNERS MANUAL" CAME ON. WITH CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULT, I AVOIDED THE CURB IN THE PARKING LOT AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO A PARKING SPACE. THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" INDICATOR WOULD NOT COME OFF EVEN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE CAR BECAME UNDRIVABLE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10458487

Incident

May 11, 2012

Mileage

550 mi