2011 Mercedes-Benz E350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 263 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: i was coming out of the parking garage. i proceeded to the entrance to garage. the street was narrow for two cars to pass by. i made a right turn from the garage exit to the narrow street with 5 mph speed. there were two cars about 25 feet away already on that street. those two cars were waiting. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 11 crash reports 9 injuries

263

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

107 complaints

41%

• I WAS COMING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO THE ENTRANCE TO GARAGE. THE STREET WAS NARROW FOR TWO CARS TO PASS BY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE GARAGE EXIT TO THE NARROW STREET WITH 5 MPH SPEED. THERE WERE TWO CARS ABOUT 25 FEET AWAY ALREADY ON THAT STREET. THOSE TWO CARS WERE WAITING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E350A. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DEER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR T
• TAKATA RECALL: I WAS NOTIFIED IN JANUARY 2016 THAT MY TAKATA AIRBAG COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND AS OF TODAY, AUGUST 4,2016 THERE IS NO REMEDY. THE MERCEDES DEALER TELLS ME I SHOULD BE OK TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT I FEEL IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO RECALL THEY SHOULD BE REPLA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“I WAS COMING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO THE ENTRANCE TO GARAGE. THE STREET WAS NARROW FOR TWO CARS TO PASS BY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE GARAGE EXIT TO THE NARROW STREET WITH 5 MPH SPEED. THERE WERE TWO CARS ABOUT 25 FEET AWAY ALREADY ON THAT STREET. THOSE TWO CARS WERE WAITING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

32 complaints

12%

• ADBLUE HEATER/SENOR FOR THE EMISSION CONTROL ON THE 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUETEC FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT IT STARTS A COUNT DOWN WHICH IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH TO HOW MANY STARTS ARE LEFT BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A HEATE
• ALL OF A SUDDEN, ONE DAY AFTER FILLING MY TANK, THERE'S NOW AN OVERWHELMING GAS SMELL PRESENT BOTH ~20 FEET AWAY FROM VEHICLE, AND INSIDE THE CAR. IT IS SO BAD, I HAVE TO LEAVE WINDOWS DOWN FOR 20-30 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENT BECOMES TOLERABLE WITH THE WINDOWS UP. I HAVE READ THAT
• AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNIT/PUMP TOP COVER.

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

“ADBLUE HEATER/SENOR FOR THE EMISSION CONTROL ON THE 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUETEC FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT IT STARTS A COUNT DOWN WHICH IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH TO HOW MANY STARTS ARE LEFT BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A HEATE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

19 complaints

• ADBLUE HEATER/SENOR FOR THE EMISSION CONTROL ON THE 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUETEC FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT IT STARTS A COUNT DOWN WHICH IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH TO HOW MANY STARTS ARE LEFT BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A HEATE
• WHILE ENTERING ONTO THE SOUTHERN STATE PARKWAY IN LONG ISLAND N.Y., GOING ABOUT 45 MPH, FOR REASONS NOT KNOWN MY SUNROOF COMPLETELY SHATTERED. MY SUNROOF WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED AT THE TIME.
• THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTS ITSELF FROM DRIVE TO PARK WHILE MOVING FORWARD WHILE DECELERATING AT SLOW SPEEDS (APPROXIMATELY UNDER 5 MPH.) THERE IS A SUDDEN JERK, AND EVERYONE / EVERYTHING IN THE CAR IS THROWN FORWARD AS THE VEHICLE JUMPS TO A DEAD STOP. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AND FURTHER, CAN

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

17 complaints

• CAR RISES TO ONE SIDE, LOWERS TO THE OTHER. CAR PULLS TO THE LOWER SIDE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, LOWERED THE MORE I DRIVE.SLOW AIR LEAK SOUND.
• The rear "K" suspension subframe assembly had to be replaced because of rust internally in the vehicle frame. There was no other rust, internally or externally visible, on the entire car. My mechanic indicated that the car would not pass inspection without major repairs at a cost of over $2800.
• We took our car into the local Mercedes Benz Dealership at Ft. Washington, PA for a routine service and PA inspection. Our vehicle is a 2011 MB E 4 matic and has ~70K miles. We received a call stating that the rear subframe of the vehicle had failed and was not considered safe and therefore did no

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

“CAR RISES TO ONE SIDE, LOWERS TO THE OTHER. CAR PULLS TO THE LOWER SIDE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, LOWERED THE MORE I DRIVE.SLOW AIR LEAK SOUND.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

15 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 E350 MERCEDES BENZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL GATE WOULD UNLATCH AND OPEN SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND TH
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON LAYTON AVE AND 43RD STREET, AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE HEADRESTS OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED, PUSHING MY NECK FORWARD. GRANTED I WENT OVER A HOLE NOT THAT BIG, BUT THE EXPLOSION WAS SO DRASTIC THAT IT PUSHED MY SEAT FORWARD AND MY NECK IS NOW SORE AND TENDER FROM THE IMPACT.
• 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON WHEN GEAR SHIFT IS PLACED IN REVERSE MODE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER MANUALLY TURNING OFF THE RADIO, THEN PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE MODE, THE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED TO THE ON MODE WHIC

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 E350 MERCEDES BENZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL GATE WOULD UNLATCH AND OPEN SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 263 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: I WAS COMING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO THE ENTRANCE TO GARAGE. THE STREET WAS NARROW FOR TWO CARS TO PASS BY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE GARAGE EXIT TO THE NARROW STREET WITH 5 MPH SPEED. THERE WERE TWO CARS ABOUT 25 FEET AWAY ALREADY ON THAT STREET. THOSE TWO CARS WERE WAITING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: ADBLUE HEATER/SENOR FOR THE EMISSION CONTROL ON THE 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUETEC FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT IT STARTS A COUNT DOWN WHICH IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH TO HOW MANY STARTS ARE LEFT BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A HEATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: ADBLUE HEATER/SENOR FOR THE EMISSION CONTROL ON THE 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 BLUETEC FAIL AFTER 80,000 MILES THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM IS THAT IT STARTS A COUNT DOWN WHICH IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH TO HOW MANY STARTS ARE LEFT BEFORE THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT START BECAUSE OF A HEATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: CAR RISES TO ONE SIDE, LOWERS TO THE OTHER. CAR PULLS TO THE LOWER SIDE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, LOWERED THE MORE I DRIVE.SLOW AIR LEAK SOUND.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)