2012 Mercedes-Benz E550

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 has 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 mercedes benz e550 (n/a). the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the air bag off warning indicator illuminated with the front passenger seat occupied. the occupant's weight was approximately one hundred pounds. the malfunction recurred intermittently. th.

1 crash report 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

36%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E550 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE OCCUPANT'S WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. TH
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. 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
• TAKATA RECALL I HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE JAN 2017 STILL NO DATE ON PARTS AND REPAIR THE CAN NOT BE RE SOLD BY A MERCEDES DEALER WITH OPEN RECALL CAR HAS LOST APPROX 10,000 DOLLAR IN VALUE OR THIS ISSUE. JUST SPOKE WITH LOCAL DEALER NO UPDATE COULD BE MONTHS OR YEARS WAS THERE UPDATE.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E550 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE OCCUPANT'S WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

18%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICL
• My car will not start and I get a message stating "Remove key from ignition" every time I insert the key to try to start the car. It appears that the ESL has failed. I have visited several MB forums and it appears that this is a common issue, regardless of car mileage. This is a factory defect that
• The Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) will fail and cause the vehicle to become disabled. The failure of this part will leave the owner strained and unable to use any functions of the car. You can’t even put the vehicle into neutral to move the vehicle. Everything is locked. There have been numerous re

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

4 complaints

18%

• I WAS BACKING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND A MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION SEE OWNERS MANUAL' APPEARED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AN HOUR LATER AND THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT A HIGH SPEED OR TURNING.
• My car will not start and I get a message stating "Remove key from ignition" every time I insert the key to try to start the car. It appears that the ESL has failed. I have visited several MB forums and it appears that this is a common issue, regardless of car mileage. This is a factory defect that
• The Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) will fail and cause the vehicle to become disabled. The failure of this part will leave the owner strained and unable to use any functions of the car. You can’t even put the vehicle into neutral to move the vehicle. Everything is locked. There have been numerous re

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

“I WAS BACKING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND A MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION SEE OWNERS MANUAL' APPEARED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AN HOUR LATER AND THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT A HIGH SPEED OR TURNING.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICL
• THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. THE SEAT BELTS ARE CLEAN AND ARE NOT TWISTED BUT DO NOT RETRACT MAKING THEM DIFFICULT TO USE AND THEY DO NOT FIT SNUGLY AROUND THE BODY. THE FAILURE TO RETRACT HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND WHEN IT IS IN MOTION.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints

• I AM NOW OFFICIALLY ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEELS, 16 FLAT TIRES, AND NOW HAD TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ALMOST 8K INTO THE REPAIRS

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

“I AM NOW OFFICIALLY ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEELS, 16 FLAT TIRES, AND NOW HAD TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ALMOST 8K INTO THE REPAIRS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~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 22 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

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AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E550 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. THE OCCUPANT'S WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED POUNDS. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: I WAS BACKING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND A MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION SEE OWNERS MANUAL' APPEARED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AN HOUR LATER AND THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT A HIGH SPEED OR TURNING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
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General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)