2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 Owner Complaints

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 is a 2011 E550 convertible, the W207 platform, the very same car in 4 door form the W212 platform, from model year 2010-2016 is fully covered for wood replacement as NHTSA has deemed it a safety issue. I have been told by Mercedes Benz corporate there is no coverage for my car, they suggested I report this safety issue to NHTSA in the hopes of having this safety issue addressed as quickly as possible. I respectfully request help in getting the issue with the wood in my car covered under the same safety consideration. Thank you.

NHTSA ID

11586212

Incident

Apr 1, 2024

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 this issue however there are a few reports on this website. I have also been on forums for my vehicle and it is a VERY common problem on these vehicles. From what i gather this is a widespread issue, and the fact that it could possibly puncture a gas tank and cause serious injury that something should be done to correct the concern.

NHTSA ID

11500100

Incident

Jan 3, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11493623

Incident

Nov 15, 2022

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 the car the front left side is now sitting on tire and touching the ground. Unable to drive. Not been investigated by a mechanic, insurance, etc. There was also an airbag warning before this issue. The contact has stated that she is disabled, and the vehicle is not currently drivable.

NHTSA ID

11493609

Incident

Nov 14, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11483014

Incident

Sep 6, 2022

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 own W212 E-Class with airmatic suspension have issues with car lowering over night. This is a big Safety concern that might lead to blow out of the strut(or multiple)

NHTSA ID

11469220

Incident

Jun 12, 2022

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 overflow hoses, new thermostat and the entire cooling system to be flushed and the transmission lines to be flushed, estimated at $11,200 for the repair

NHTSA ID

11443261

Incident

Nov 4, 2021

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

NHTSA ID

11352674

Incident

Sep 20, 2019

Mileage

132,000 mi

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 BODY SHOP. FOR THE BODY WORK OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF WESTMONT (200 E OGDEN AVE, WESTMONT, IL 605590 AND WAS INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,972. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ E550W4 2011 ##

NHTSA ID

11351829

Incident

Jan 16, 2019

Mileage

68,972 mi

THE AIR SUSPENSION LEAKS

NHTSA ID

11337947

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

40,000 mi

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 STEVENS CREEK.

NHTSA ID

11269007

Incident

Aug 2, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING ASTORG AUTO OF CHARLESTON (5 DUDLEY FARMS LN, CHARLESTON, WEST VA), THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER HAS STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AS

NHTSA ID

11268682

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF NASHVILLE (630 BAKERS BRIDGE AVE, FRANKLIN, TN 37067, (800) 770-5582) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER FROM ATLANTA CALLED THE CONTACT AND INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTIFICATION BECAUSE IT WAS A MISTAKE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR CONSUMER STATED THE MATTER HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY RESOLVED. NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11266099

Incident

Oct 4, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN 2015. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11254436

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BEVERLY HILLS (9250 BEVERLY BLVD, BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210, (310) 659-2980) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE CAR IS NOW FIXED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11245000

Incident

Aug 19, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 AND 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT EURO MOTORCARS DEVON MERCEDES-BENZ (LOCATED AT 214 LANCASTER AVE, DEVON, PA 19333, (610) 687-1500) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11242137

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WALTER MERCEDES-BENZ OF RIVERSIDE (3213 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11230778

Incident

May 23, 2016

AIR SUSPENSION APPEARS TO BE LEAKING. AFTER SITTING IN MY GARAGE OVERNIGHT THE BODY OF THE 2011 MERCEDES E550 IS LOWERED BY ALMOST 2 INCHES. WHEN I START THE CAR AFTER SITTING LESS THAN 24 HOURS, A PROMPT ON THE DASH INFORMATION SCREEN INDICATES "VEHICLE RISING, PLEASE WAIT". THE MERCEDES HAS JUST OVER 64,000 MILES. IN RESEARCH OF THE ISSUE, IT APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC MALFUNCTION WITH THE W212 MERCEDES AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS SEVERAL HUNDRED TO 1-2 THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11228663

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. EURO MOTORCARS (7020 ARLINGTON RD, BETHESDA, MD 20814) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11222682

Incident

May 23, 2016

SLOW LEAK OF AIR SHOCKS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS NOW COMPLETELY DOWN AND UNABLE TO RISE.

NHTSA ID

11220752

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS PREMATURE WEAR AS DO MANY OTHERS. THE AIR SHOCK COMPONENTS LEAK AIR CAUSING THE CAR TO LOWER DANGEROUSLY TO THE GROUND. IT OCCURS STATIONARY, WHILE IN MOTION, AT VARIOUS DRIVING SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ID

11205945

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

"CAR TOO LOW" WARNING CAME ON WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE ABOUT A BLOCK; I PULLED OVER, LOOKED AROUND THE ENTIRE CAR AND THEN GOT BACK INTO MY CAR; THE 'CAR TOO LOW' WARNING HAD DISAPPEARED; THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS ALMOST TOUCHING THE FENDER; I CONTACTED A LOCAL FOREIGN CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION HAD FAILED AND THAT BOTH SHOCKS (WHICH I WAS TOLD HAD AIR BAGS) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS CAR 500 MILES SINCE I PURCHASED IT THE 1ST OF FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR (2019) BUT NOW SINCE THIS HAS HAPPENED AND WITH RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES CAR; IF I HAD KNOWN I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT.

NHTSA ID

11195654

Incident

Mar 31, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO (500 8TH ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103, (415) 673-2000) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. AIR BAG REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

11194674

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

LEAK IN AIR SUSPENSION. FRONT OF CAR DROPS DOWN WHEN STATIONARY FOR A FEW HOURS.

NHTSA ID

11185551

Incident

Mar 9, 2019

Mileage

84,511 mi

I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE AIR SUSPENSIONS, IT APPEARS THEY ARE MADE TO FAIL TO MAKE THE OWNER SPEND MONEY EVERY YEAR, I'VE HAD ALL TYPES OF MALFUNCTIONING WITHOUT ANYTHING MAJOR HAPPENING TO THE CAR. I SPENT OVER 2500$ REPLACING THE REAR SUSPENSION AFTER IT SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED MALFUNCTIONING BEING UNEVEN ETC.. AND NOW NOT LONG AFTER THE REAR ONES MESSED UP I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ONES. IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THESE PRODUCTS FUNCTION WITH FRAGILITY AND LEAVE THE OWNER IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION BECAUSE THE CAR WILL LOWER ITSELF TO A HEIGHT WHERE THE CAR IS UNABLE TO DRIVE LEAVING THE DRIVER TO PAY POTENTIAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS... AND IF THE ACTUAL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS YOU ARE LOOKING AT AT LEAST 6!GRAND FOR ONE PART. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN FOR ABOUT 10000 FROM MERCEDES LAST YEAR ALONE.. PLEASE HOLD MERCEDES LIABLE FOR FUTURE REPAIRS TO THESE AIR SUSPENSIONS. ALTHOUGH NOTHING HAS HAPPENED THE FRONT IS MALFUNCTIONING NOW AND I DON'T HAVE THOUSAND TO SHELL OUT AGAIN TO MERCEDES

NHTSA ID

11152245

Incident

Jun 20, 2018