2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 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 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550, 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
- Airbags836.4%
- Electrical418.2%
- Steering418.2%
- Seat belts29.1%
- Suspension14.5%
- Brakes14.5%
- Fuel system14.5%
- Other / unspecified14.5%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF ALEXANDRIA (200 S PICKETT ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ E550A 2012 ##*DT*JB
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF UNION RAY CATENA (2585 US-22, UNION NY 07083, (908) 356-6805) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED THE PART FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MAY OF 2020. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550. The contact stated that while occupying the vehicle while the vehicle was parked, the ignition switch failed to detect the key fob. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the electric steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced or reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the vehicle, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 69,000.
The Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) will fail and cause the vehicle to become disabled. The failure of this part will leave the owner strained and unable to use any functions of the car. You can’t even put the vehicle into neutral to move the vehicle. Everything is locked. There have been numerous reports of this failure on various Mercedes Benz forums on the web. Also, many videos outlining this problem on YouTube. Yes, the problem has been reproduced by an independent repair facility. Mercedes Benz is aware of this problem regarding the ESL part. I believe they even published a TSB regarding the failure of this part. The car did not display any warning lamps or messages. The car is just dead! It’s very scary getting into your car and it doesn’t start when you turn the key. All other systems checked out on the car i.e. battery, voltage, fuses, sensors etc. Once that ESL stops working your car becomes a static display.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550. The contact stated that while occupying the vehicle while the vehicle was parked, the ignition switch failed to detect the key fob. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the electric steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced or reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the vehicle, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 69,000.
The Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) will fail and cause the vehicle to become disabled. The failure of this part will leave the owner strained and unable to use any functions of the car. You can’t even put the vehicle into neutral to move the vehicle. Everything is locked. There have been numerous reports of this failure on various Mercedes Benz forums on the web. Also, many videos outlining this problem on YouTube. Yes, the problem has been reproduced by an independent repair facility. Mercedes Benz is aware of this problem regarding the ESL part. I believe they even published a TSB regarding the failure of this part. The car did not display any warning lamps or messages. The car is just dead! It’s very scary getting into your car and it doesn’t start when you turn the key. All other systems checked out on the car i.e. battery, voltage, fuses, sensors etc. Once that ESL stops working your car becomes a static display.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. THE SEAT BELTS ARE CLEAN AND ARE NOT TWISTED BUT DO NOT RETRACT MAKING THEM DIFFICULT TO USE AND THEY DO NOT FIT SNUGLY AROUND THE BODY. THE FAILURE TO RETRACT HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND WHEN IT IS IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM NOW OFFICIALLY ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEELS, 16 FLAT TIRES, AND NOW HAD TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ALMOST 8K INTO THE REPAIRS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owned a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550. The contact stated while her husband was driving 20-25 MPH and making a right turn, the brake pedal was depressed but traveled down to the floorboard, and the vehicle failed to respond. The contact's husband stood on the brake pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond and crashed into a small ditch. The contact was occupying the front passenger's side seat at the time of the incident. The contact was unsure whether there was a warning light illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the air bags. Both the contact and her husband immediately exited the vehicle. The contact's husband did not sustain any injuries. The contact stated that her left arm was deformed. The contact was transported to the Hospital by a family member. The Doctor diagnosed that the contact had sustained two broken bones on the left arm and two broken bones on the left foot. The contact underwent surgery and was scheduled for physical therapy. The contact was unsure whether a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and totaled by the insurance company. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that a field inspector would be sent to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel sender unit was cracked, and that fuel was leaking into the rear seats of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the fuel sender unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 80,000.
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
I AM NOW OFFICIALLY ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEELS, 16 FLAT TIRES, AND NOW HAD TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ALMOST 8K INTO THE REPAIRS
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 .