2012 Mercedes-Benz E350

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 259 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2012 mercedes-benz e350. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v017000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. th. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 5 crash reports 4 injuries

259

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

84 complaints

32%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TH
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TH
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFAC

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

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

35 complaints

14%

• TAKATA RECALL: DEALERS INDICATE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. I WANT TO SELL MY CAR BUT CAN NOT.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF ARROWHEAD LOCATED AT 9260 W BELL RD, PEORIA, AZ 85382 WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER GAVE A VER
• WHEN PUSHING GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TOOK TO DEALER AND ERROR CODE IS GAS PEDAL SENSOR. DEALER SAID IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ECU WIRE HARNESS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW AND

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

“TAKATA RECALL: DEALERS INDICATE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. I WANT TO SELL MY CAR BUT CAN NOT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

20 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESS WAY IN DALLAS, TEXAS MY GPS MADE AN ERROR CONCERNING AN EXIT AND I WAS REQUIRED TO DIVERT QUICKLY TO THE LEFT TO MAKE EXIT LANE .TIME WAS 6:00 PM ,HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT AND DRY. MY MERCEDES PRE ACTIVATED A SKID MODE AND T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND ROLLED BACKWARDS BEFORE STOPPING INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT WHEN REVERSING. THE DEALE
• TICKING/ TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BAY WHEN CAR IS EXCELERATING, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING UPHILL. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESS WAY IN DALLAS, TEXAS MY GPS MADE AN ERROR CONCERNING AN EXIT AND I WAS REQUIRED TO DIVERT QUICKLY TO THE LEFT TO MAKE EXIT LANE .TIME WAS 6:00 PM ,HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT AND DRY. MY MERCEDES PRE ACTIVATED A SKID MODE AND T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

20 complaints

• RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AND LOOSE BREAK PEDAL. THIS IS SEVERELY AFFECTING BREAK SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND VEHICLE SAFETY. MB DEALER QUOTED $2910.00 PLUS TAX FOR REPLACEMENT.
• I have video available that shows significant premature corrosion of the rear subframe and brake line. The safety of others will be put at risk at the time of failure. Failed subframes can lead to loss of control. This problem has been identified and the part inspected by a Mercedes dealership. Ther
• My car had a pool of brake fluid under the car and when I turned it on, it said the brake fluid was low. When I went to check the reservoir it was empty. The underpanels were removed and the brake lines were rotted out in several areas. I was shocked because my car is in mint condition and I have al

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

“RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AND LOOSE BREAK PEDAL. THIS IS SEVERELY AFFECTING BREAK SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND VEHICLE SAFETY. MB DEALER QUOTED $2910.00 PLUS TAX FOR REPLACEMENT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

• I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED MERCEDES SERVICE AND THEY SENT SERVICE TO JUMPSTART THE CAR. THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE, A WARNING LIGHT STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION - CHECK OWNERS MANUAL" CAME ON. WITH CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULT, I AVOIDED THE CURB
• I STARTED MY CAR AND IT MADE A BIG LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE THEN I START GETTING ALL MESSAGES ON SCREEN THAT EVERY THINGS NOT INOPERABLE. EVEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED AND THE MORE I KEPT THE CAR ON THE MORE NOISE WAS MAKING. ITS LIKE I AM PUSHING HARD ON GAS PANEL. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A "PRE SAFE INOPERATIVE SEE OWNER MANUAL" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CON

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

“I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED MERCEDES SERVICE AND THEY SENT SERVICE TO JUMPSTART THE CAR. THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE, A WARNING LIGHT STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION - CHECK OWNERS MANUAL" CAME ON. WITH CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULT, I AVOIDED THE CURB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 259 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V017000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TAKATA RECALL: DEALERS INDICATE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. I WANT TO SELL MY CAR BUT CAN NOT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESS WAY IN DALLAS, TEXAS MY GPS MADE AN ERROR CONCERNING AN EXIT AND I WAS REQUIRED TO DIVERT QUICKLY TO THE LEFT TO MAKE EXIT LANE .TIME WAS 6:00 PM ,HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT AND DRY. MY MERCEDES PRE ACTIVATED A SKID MODE AND T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AND LOOSE BREAK PEDAL. THIS IS SEVERELY AFFECTING BREAK SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND VEHICLE SAFETY. MB DEALER QUOTED $2910.00 PLUS TAX FOR REPLACEMENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)