2011 Mercedes-Benz E550

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (48% of all complaints), specifically: tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 mercedes-benz e550. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v081000 (air bags) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the reca. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 3 crash reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

32 complaints

48%

• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V3630000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR TH
• "TAKATA RECALL" I'VE RECEIVED 2 RECALLS CONCERNING DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, BUT NO SOLUTION CONCERNING REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I SPENT $66000.00 ON THIS CAR AND IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND MY WIFE COMPLETELY FEARS DRIVING THIS CAR.

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

“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

20 complaints

30%

• I BOUGHT 2011 E550 BASE SEDAN LAST YEAR. IT HAD 25K MILES ON IT, AND 2 MONTHS LATER MY REAR SUSPENSION BEGAN LEAKING AND COST ME 2K IN REPAIRS. THE CAR WOULD LEAK OUT AIR FROM SUSPENSION OVER COUPLE HOURS. DEALER OR MY AFTERMARKET WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE CONTRACT
• SUSPENSION. ON VEHICLE IS LOPSIDED ALSO NOT ABLE TO RAISE OR DRIVE COMFORTABLE BE THE SUSPENSION IS NOT LEVEL. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE IN MY OPINION. EVERY TIME I'M COME OUTSIDE THE CAR IS EITHER LEANING TO ONE SIDE OR ON THE FLOOR.
• I HAVE OWNED A 2003, 2005, 2009 AND NOW A 2011 E550 AND EVERY ONE OF THESE CARS CAME WITH THE SAME AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. ITS NOT FAIR FOR THE CONSUMERS AND ITS CERTAINLY NOT FAIR FOR ALL MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMERS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE NOTORIOUS AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A LEAK IN T

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

“I BOUGHT 2011 E550 BASE SEDAN LAST YEAR. IT HAD 25K MILES ON IT, AND 2 MONTHS LATER MY REAR SUSPENSION BEGAN LEAKING AND COST ME 2K IN REPAIRS. THE CAR WOULD LEAK OUT AIR FROM SUSPENSION OVER COUPLE HOURS. DEALER OR MY AFTERMARKET WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE CONTRACT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

• The passenger door will not open from the inside. The vehicle has not been inspected by any parties yet. No warning messages are currently displayed.
• The issue with the vehicle's electrical causing power to the starter to stay on even after the vehicle is in the park and turned off, the starter's Solenoid and other electrical parts burn, its a serious fire hazard and needs to be addressed immediately.
• Wood trim throughout the car is cracking and falling off the car on the dash board as well as the doors and the rear side panels. The trim pieces that remain on the car are very sharp and jagged and are a significant risk for cuts in day to day use. In the event of an accident a passenger could be s

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

“The passenger door will not open from the inside. The vehicle has not been inspected by any parties yet. No warning messages are currently displayed.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

2 complaints

• BEGINNING SOMETIME IN MAY 2013, THE CAR BEGAN LEAKING FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH MADE ME VERY ILL. AFTER TAKING IT TO BOTH PARK PLACE MERCEDES HERE IN DALLAS, AND THEN MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO, NEITHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMP
• BRAKE LINE CORRODED LEAKING. FUEL LINE CCORRODED

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

“BEGINNING SOMETIME IN MAY 2013, THE CAR BEGAN LEAKING FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH MADE ME VERY ILL. AFTER TAKING IT TO BOTH PARK PLACE MERCEDES HERE IN DALLAS, AND THEN MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO, NEITHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

• BEGINNING SOMETIME IN MAY 2013, THE CAR BEGAN LEAKING FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH MADE ME VERY ILL. AFTER TAKING IT TO BOTH PARK PLACE MERCEDES HERE IN DALLAS, AND THEN MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO, NEITHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMP
• The issue with the vehicle's electrical causing power to the starter to stay on even after the vehicle is in the park and turned off, the starter's Solenoid and other electrical parts burn, its a serious fire hazard and needs to be addressed immediately.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 66 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SUSPENSION: I BOUGHT 2011 E550 BASE SEDAN LAST YEAR. IT HAD 25K MILES ON IT, AND 2 MONTHS LATER MY REAR SUSPENSION BEGAN LEAKING AND COST ME 2K IN REPAIRS. THE CAR WOULD LEAK OUT AIR FROM SUSPENSION OVER COUPLE HOURS. DEALER OR MY AFTERMARKET WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE CONTRACT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: The passenger door will not open from the inside. The vehicle has not been inspected by any parties yet. No warning messages are currently displayed.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: BEGINNING SOMETIME IN MAY 2013, THE CAR BEGAN LEAKING FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN WHICH MADE ME VERY ILL. AFTER TAKING IT TO BOTH PARK PLACE MERCEDES HERE IN DALLAS, AND THEN MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO, NEITHER SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)