2010 Mercedes-Benz E350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 229 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: a pint of orange juice spilled on the floor of the passenger side back seat. it was cleaned up, but apparently some of the juice was able to eventually make its way into the unprotected electrical connector located under the passenger seat floor well. this caused an electrical short. actual burn .

11 crash reports 9 injuries

229

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

68 complaints

30%

• A PINT OF ORANGE JUICE SPILLED ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. IT WAS CLEANED UP, BUT APPARENTLY SOME OF THE JUICE WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE UNPROTECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FLOOR WELL. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ACTUAL BURN
• I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE- OWNED MERCEDES-BENZ E 350 2010 ON DECEMBER 4, 2013, FROM VALLEY MOTORS MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP AT 9800 YORK ROAD, COCKEYSVILLE, MD 21030. THE DRIVER'S HEADREST HAS EXPLODED THREE TIMES, 2 DAYS AFTER A 30,000 MILE SERVICE. ON THE SECOND EXPLOSION AN ODOR WAS EMITTED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, A SNOW PLOW SPED THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“A PINT OF ORANGE JUICE SPILLED ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. IT WAS CLEANED UP, BUT APPARENTLY SOME OF THE JUICE WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE UNPROTECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FLOOR WELL. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ACTUAL BURN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

21 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ 350E. HE STATED THAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS, ONE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ONE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL; HOWEVER, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE CRUISE CONTR
• WE LEASED MERCEDES E350 YEAR 2010 IN FEBRUARY. CAR'S RESPONSE WAS VERY GOOD AND WE LIKED THE CAR VERY MUCH. ON JUNE 16 I DROVE THE CAR ON FREEWAY FOR ABOUT 23 MILES THEN ON THE ROAD FOR ANOTHER MILE WITH COUPLE OF RED LIGHT STOPS. THEN I TURNED LEFT INTO THE PARKING LOT AND RIGHT TURN IN TO THE PA
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MUTE SWITCH FOR THE RADIO WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MUTE SWITCH WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY OFF UNTIL IT WAS MANUALLY TURNED BACK ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWITCH DISENGAGED RANDOMLY SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A FEW MILES. THE CONTACT STA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ 350E. HE STATED THAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS, ONE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ONE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL; HOWEVER, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE CRUISE CONTR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

20 complaints

• THE ENGINE CEASED TO HAVE POWER AND STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC. THE GAS TANK HAD MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANK IN THIS MODEL IS UNDER THE REAR SEAT. BECAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL ARE IN THIS AREA THE GAS TANK IS IN TWO SECTIONS BUT CONNECTED. THERE IS A PUMP
• REQUEST NHTSA IMMEDIATELY RE-OPEN THE INVESTIGATION OF MERCEDES-BENZ' DELIBERATE & CONTINUED USE OF DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE WARRANTY EXTENSION OFFERED BY MB FOR 2003-2009 E-CLASS SEDANS ON FUEL TANK COMPONENTS, INCLUDING FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER/SENDER, FUEL PUMP & RELATED GASKETS/SEAL
• MY CAR IS EMITTING A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR AND THIS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ENGINE CEASED TO HAVE POWER AND STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC. THE GAS TANK HAD MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANK IN THIS MODEL IS UNDER THE REAR SEAT. BECAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL ARE IN THIS AREA THE GAS TANK IS IN TWO SECTIONS BUT CONNECTED. THERE IS A PUMP ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES E-CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS ABOUT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE SO HE TRIED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN WHICH DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNC
• A PINT OF ORANGE JUICE SPILLED ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. IT WAS CLEANED UP, BUT APPARENTLY SOME OF THE JUICE WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE UNPROTECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FLOOR WELL. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ACTUAL BURN
• I BACKED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AT MY CONDOMINIUM BUILDING IN SARASOTA AND PLACED THE CAR IN PARK TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE WINDSHIELD (I BELIEVED THE CAR WAS IN PARK -- BUT IT COULD HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE IT OR I POSSIBLY NICKED IT ON MY WAY OUT OF THE CAR). I STARTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE CAR,

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES E-CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS ABOUT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE SO HE TRIED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN WHICH DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

17 complaints

• ANOTHER CAR MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN AND CAUSED ME TO T-BONE ON HIS PASSENGER SIDE. FRONT OF MY CAR HIT HIS PASSENGER SIDE AND DRAGGED HIS CAR FOR ABOUT 10 FEET. AIR BAGS ON MY CAR DID NOT DEPLOY, SAFETY SYSTEM M-BRACE IN CAR FAILED AND DID NOT CALL SOS EITHER. CAR SAFETY SYSTEM DID NOT DETECT THE CRA
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE AND THANK GOD NO OTHER CARS WERE NEXT TO ME. SOMETIMES WHEN I GO OVER 50 THE CAR TENDS TO PULL IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. I TOOK IT TO GET SERVICE A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND GOT MY CAR BACK 6MONTHS LATER. THAN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THEY JUST REPLACED COMPUTER CHIP THEY S
• MERCEDES DEALER INSPECTED THE CAR. FOUND THE REAR SUB-FRAME SEVERELY RUSTED AT WELDS. HE ADVISED THIS WAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED SOON. SERVICE WRITER SAID THIS WAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ONE OF THE WELDS IS ALMOST COMPLETELY FAILING. THERE IS AN ACTUAL SAFETY HAZARD IF THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“ANOTHER CAR MADE AN ILLEGAL U-TURN AND CAUSED ME TO T-BONE ON HIS PASSENGER SIDE. FRONT OF MY CAR HIT HIS PASSENGER SIDE AND DRAGGED HIS CAR FOR ABOUT 10 FEET. AIR BAGS ON MY CAR DID NOT DEPLOY, SAFETY SYSTEM M-BRACE IN CAR FAILED AND DID NOT CALL SOS EITHER. CAR SAFETY SYSTEM DID NOT DETECT THE CRA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~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 229 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: A PINT OF ORANGE JUICE SPILLED ON THE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK SEAT. IT WAS CLEANED UP, BUT APPARENTLY SOME OF THE JUICE WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE UNPROTECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT FLOOR WELL. THIS CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. ACTUAL BURN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ 350E. HE STATED THAT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THERE ARE 2 OPTIONS, ONE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ONE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL; HOWEVER, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE TURN SIGNALS, THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE TURN SIGNAL AND THE CRUISE CONTR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE ENGINE CEASED TO HAVE POWER AND STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN COMMUTE TRAFFIC. THE GAS TANK HAD MORE THAN HALF A TANK OF FUEL. THE FUEL TANK IN THIS MODEL IS UNDER THE REAR SEAT. BECAUSE THE DRIVE SHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL ARE IN THIS AREA THE GAS TANK IS IN TWO SECTIONS BUT CONNECTED. THERE IS A PUMP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES E-CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND WAS ABOUT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE SO HE TRIED TO ACTIVATE THE HORN WHICH DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TURNED ON AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE HORN WOULD NOT FUNC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)