Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reports
260,000 miles · Feb 6, 2021
Service BrakesCrash
HI, I WAS DRIVING NORMALY ON A ROAD, NO WARNING, JUST BRAKE LIGHT POPS UP TO REDUCE POWER. PEDAL WAS EMPTY AND STEERING GOT HARD NO UPSHIFT. I HIT A CURB AND CRACKED MY BUMPER. ALL BRAKES ARE NEW. WHEN I LOOKED ON LINE, I SAW SOME PEOPLE DEVELOPED A DEVICE THAT RESETS THE ABS MUDUAL TO 100%. THEY SAID MERCEDES PUT A TIMER IN THE…
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HI, I WAS DRIVING NORMALY ON A ROAD, NO WARNING, JUST BRAKE LIGHT POPS UP TO REDUCE POWER. PEDAL WAS EMPTY AND STEERING GOT HARD NO UPSHIFT. I HIT A CURB AND CRACKED MY BUMPER. ALL BRAKES ARE NEW. WHEN I LOOKED ON LINE, I SAW SOME PEOPLE DEVELOPED A DEVICE THAT RESETS THE ABS MUDUAL TO 100%. THEY SAID MERCEDES PUT A TIMER IN THE SYSTEM THAT RUNS OUT AND MAKE YOU CHANGE STUFF? THIS DEVICE I JUST BOUGHT TO USE SO I CAN USE MY CAR. I'M AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN AND THIS SCRAED THE HELL OUT OF ME ON A DARK NIGHT IN OHIO. I ENED UP TOWING MY CAR TO MY HOUSE 60 MILES AWAY. VERY ANGERY WITH MB.
NHTSA ODI #11394931
192,000 miles · Jan 18, 2021
Electrical SystemSeats
THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES THINK THERE IS SOMEONE RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS THERE. IT CAUSES THE SEATBELT LIGHT AND THE WARNING BEEPS TO OCCUR. ITS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE ITS A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AND IT WOULD SET OFF THE AIRBAGS FOR THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF ANYTHING IS TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA ODI #11388718
183,000 miles · Dec 18, 2020
Steering
THE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT DOESN'T GO UP. IT DOESN'T WORK STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #11384079
136,000 miles · Sep 13, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
EIS MODULE AND KEY FAILED WHILE ON FREEWAY, CAUSING CAR TO LOSE ALL GAUGES RADIO AND ENDING WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO START VEHICLE ON SIDE OF FREEWAY. NOW THIS IS GOING TO COST ME 1300 DOLLARS.. CAR HAS BEEN GREATLY TAKEN CARE OF AND WELL MAINTAINED. NO REASON THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. I COULD OF WRECKED BC THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED…
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EIS MODULE AND KEY FAILED WHILE ON FREEWAY, CAUSING CAR TO LOSE ALL GAUGES RADIO AND ENDING WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO START VEHICLE ON SIDE OF FREEWAY. NOW THIS IS GOING TO COST ME 1300 DOLLARS.. CAR HAS BEEN GREATLY TAKEN CARE OF AND WELL MAINTAINED. NO REASON THAT THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. I COULD OF WRECKED BC THE TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO LEFT SHOULDER TO PULL OVER TO. DEADLY
NHTSA ODI #11354666
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
MY VEHICLE FILLS WITH THE SMELL OF GASOLINE SO BADLY THAT IT MAKES ME PHYSICALLY ILL. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT WITH ALL THE WINDOWS OPEN TO TRY TO TOLERATE THE SMELL AND EVEN THEN, THE OVERWHELMING STENCH OF GASOLINE IS PALATABLE ENOUGH TO TASTE, CAUSE HEADACHES, AND NAUSEA. THIS STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WITH A SLIGHT SMELL AND HA…
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MY VEHICLE FILLS WITH THE SMELL OF GASOLINE SO BADLY THAT IT MAKES ME PHYSICALLY ILL. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT WITH ALL THE WINDOWS OPEN TO TRY TO TOLERATE THE SMELL AND EVEN THEN, THE OVERWHELMING STENCH OF GASOLINE IS PALATABLE ENOUGH TO TASTE, CAUSE HEADACHES, AND NAUSEA. THIS STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WITH A SLIGHT SMELL AND HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE. IN THE MIDST OF THE "STAY AT HOME" ORDERS I LEFT IT AND DROVE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. IN THIS TIME I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND WAS APPALLED TO LEARN THAT MERCEDES IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THEY EXTENDED A WARRANTY PERIOD OF 15 YEARS TO OWNERS BUT DID NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND SEND THE INFORMATION TO VEHICLE OWNERS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THE SYSTEMS CHECKED. I CALLED MERCEDES TO LEARN THAT MY WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I FEEL THAT MERCEDES HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY. THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD FOR MANY YEARS AND CAUSING UNSAFE HEALTH SITUATIONS...I HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY CAR! THEY CANNOT TOLERATE THE FUMES. MY FINAL CONTACT WITH MERCEDES WAS TODAY..THEY ARE VERY SORRY BUT REFUSE TO CORRECT THE WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH MY FUEL SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11328968
85,000 miles · May 27, 2020
Service Brakes
BRAKE DASH WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED, NOT A PROBLEM WITH PADS OR SENSORS. THE BRAKE DASH INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEN GO OUT AND NOT COME ON AGAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR WEEKS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326224
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2020
Visibility/wiper
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #11323436
130,000 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E250. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARLTON MOTORCARS IN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E250. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARLTON MOTORCARS INC. (2446 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 213-8000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED, WHICH WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL MERCEDES-BENZ PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #11139670
150,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING MELTED THAT HELD THE WINDSHIELD IN PLACE. THE MOLDING THAT HELD THE SIDE WINDOWS TOGETHER ALSO MELTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING MELTED THAT HELD THE WINDSHIELD IN PLACE. THE MOLDING THAT HELD THE SIDE WINDOWS TOGETHER ALSO MELTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE WAS BEING HACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10788728
82,958 miles · May 12, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
WE OWN A 2005 E350 MERCEDES WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. A MONTH AGO WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AFTER FILLING THE TANK SO WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF CINTI ON…
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WE OWN A 2005 E350 MERCEDES WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. A MONTH AGO WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AFTER FILLING THE TANK SO WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF CINTI ON MONTGOMERY ROAD ON APRIL 2, 2014. (THIS IS WHERE OUR CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT) THEY FLIPPED UP THE BACK SEAT AND PULLED UP THE BLACK LINER AND WE COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS SCARY TO ACTUALLY SEE GAS WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE OUR CAR JUST UNDER WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE SEATED. MERCEDES SAID IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. IN TOTAL, WE PAID $2073.21 TO REPAIR IT. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON APRIL 4, 2014. WE THEN GOOGLED MERCEDES GAS LEAKS AND FOUND THERE WAS A ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE ON THIS IN MARCH 2013, OTHER BLOGS AND YOUR ARTICLE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THESE ARTICLES. MY HUSBAND WAS REFERRED TO A CORPORATE MAN AT MERCEDES, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMON. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH, THEY SENT US A CHECK FOR $1,573.21, THUS WE STILL HAD TO PAY $500 FOR THE FAULTY TANK. WE WANTED OUR GAS LEAK TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO US. I KNOW MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HIRED A LAW FIRM TO DEFEND THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT THE STATEMENT BY THE MERCEDES ATTORNEY DOES NOT DENY THE PROBLEM. THEY ACTUALLY ADMIT IT EXISTS BUT SAY IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. GAS LEAK NOT A PROBLEM, GO FIGURE. ...UPDATED 09-05-14 *BF UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587817
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE10017 · Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
Opened May 14, 2010 · Closed Nov 24, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Air Bags:frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
Air Bags
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
Electrical System
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
Electrical System:wiring
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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