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Mercedes-Benz

2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG E43

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG E43 has 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: distronic brake system malfunction alert caused check engine light to illuminate and caused engine to turn off. luckily the brakes still worked but no acceleration was possible - kind of a problem at high speed on a busy highway at rush hour. pulled over and put car in park to turn off car. restarte.

10

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints
20%
  • • DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE
  • • I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT, I SAW A POP UP ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'BRAKE ASSIST DISENGAGED'. AT THAT POINT THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, I JUST KEPT HITTIN
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints
20%
  • • DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE
  • • WHILE DRIVING ON THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE A PIECE OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD, THE SIZE OF A SMALL ROCK, STRUCK THE TEMPERED BUT NOT LAMINATED GLASS SUNROOF, SHATTERED IT, AND CAUSED IT TO DISINTEGRATE INTO MANY SHARDS OF GLASS, FLYING OVER, AROUND, AND INTO THE CAR.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints
20%
  • • I WAS JUST DRIVING HOME ON A CITY STREET (9/20/18) AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE BRAKES ON MY E43 LOCKED UP LAUNCHING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER FORWARD AGAINST OUR SEAT BELTS. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED; I HEARD THE REAR TIRES "CHATTER". THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP; THE BRAKES
  • • I STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT, I SAW A POP UP ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'BRAKE ASSIST DISENGAGED'. AT THAT POINT THE CAR SHUT ITSELF OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS, IT WOULDN'T EVEN TRY TO TURN OVER. AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES UNABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, I JUST KEPT HITTIN
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS JUST DRIVING HOME ON A CITY STREET (9/20/18) AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE BRAKES ON MY E43 LOCKED UP LAUNCHING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER FORWARD AGAINST OUR SEAT BELTS. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED; I HEARD THE REAR TIRES "CHATTER". THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP; THE BRAKES ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

1 complaints
10%
  • • DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints
10%
  • • RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT BLADDER EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SMOOTH CITY STREET CAUSING RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. CAR WAS ONLY DRIVABLE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLAT BED TO DEALER
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT BLADDER EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SMOOTH CITY STREET CAUSING RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. CAR WAS ONLY DRIVABLE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLAT BED TO DEALER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
SUSPENSION(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 10 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ELECTRICAL: DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    OTHER: DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    BRAKES: I WAS JUST DRIVING HOME ON A CITY STREET (9/20/18) AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN UNEXPECTEDLY THE BRAKES ON MY E43 LOCKED UP LAUNCHING MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER FORWARD AGAINST OUR SEAT BELTS. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGED; I HEARD THE REAR TIRES "CHATTER". THE CAR DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP; THE BRAKES

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    FUEL SYSTEM: DISTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ALERT CAUSED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO TURN OFF. LUCKILY THE BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT NO ACCELERATION WAS POSSIBLE - KIND OF A PROBLEM AT HIGH SPEED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. PULLED OVER AND PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF CAR. RESTARTE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Mercedes-Benz AMG E43 — Year Comparison

How does 2017 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2018
8Excellent Reliability
2017
10Excellent Reliability
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2017 Mercedes-Benz AMG E43

Compare With

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