CSR

Mercedes Benz · NHTSA safety record

2011 Mercedes Benz E

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

10

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Mercedes Benz E have filed 10 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2010 and September 2013. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 3 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 300 miles, the median across the 9 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

11V496000 · October 3, 2011

The defect
MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT.
The risk
DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The remedy
MBUSA WILL CONTACT OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ USA AT 1-800-367-6372.

MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. · up to 6,872 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

11V213000 · April 1, 2011

The defect
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 E-CLASS MODEL W212 AND S212 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 8, 2010, THROUGH JULY 12, 2010. INSUFFICIENT ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE VIBRATION DAMPER AND ITS INNER MASS DAMPER RING COULD CAUSE A SUDDEN SEPARATION OF THE INNER MASS DAMPER RING FROM THE VIBRATION DAMPER.
The risk
WHILE WORKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING ENGINE OPERATION, THE DAMPER RING COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE PERSON REPAIRING THE VEHICLE OR A BYSTANDER.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. · up to 41 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL FILTER

10V540000 · October 29, 2010

The defect
MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 M-CLASS, MODEL W164, GL-CLASS, MODEL X164, E-CLASS, MODEL W212, R-CLASS, AND MODEL V251VEHICLES. THE O-RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY LUBRICATED IN ALL CASES. LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN LEAD TO LEAKAGE OF THE FUEL FILTER.
The risk
DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON ROADS AND MAKING THOSE ROADS SLIPPERY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED . PLEASE SEE RECALL CAMPAIGN 11V-496.

MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. · up to 2,297 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

10V459000 · October 4, 2010

The defect
MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 C-CLASS, MODEL 204, E-CLASS, MODEL 212, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 E-CLASS COUPE/CABRIOLET MODEL 207 VEHICLES. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY FAIL DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID.
The risk
OWNERS MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN AREAS, SUCH AS PARKING LOTS, WHERE MAXIMUM POWER STEERING IS REQUIRED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CHECK AND RETORQUE THE CONNECTION FITTING FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. · up to 85,300 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 10.

POWER TRAIN 3 30%
TIRES 3 30%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 20%
AIR BAGS 1 10%
STEERING 1 10%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2011 at 6.

2010 2011 2013
2010 to 2013

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1 injured · crash · 100 miles

2011 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS-THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC SHIFTER JUST BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL IF IT GOES INTO PARK OR NOT. MY WIFE HAD ENGINE RUNNING, GOT OUT OF CAR TO CHECK THE TRUNK AND THOUGHT SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. IT STARTED TO MOVE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO JUMP INSIDE AND HIT THE BRAKE. LATER THAT MORNING I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THOUGHT I HIT THE PARK. I GOT OUT LEAVING THE ENGINE RUNNING WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ON THE PHONE. WHEN FINISHED SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. SHE COULDN'T REACH OVER THE CONSOLE TO HIT THE BRAKE. SHE TRIED PUSHING THE PARK BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE (72 HOURS OLD)

NHTSA complaint 10356174, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · 7,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END CRASH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS BUT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE REDUCTION IN THE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA complaint 10419189. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES

38,000 miles

TIRE TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM TIRE ON BACK OF TIRE. ALL FOUR TIRES ON VEHICLE DISPLAY TREAD SEPARATION APPROXIMATELY HALF CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRE IS AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10543982. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES

42,000 miles

ALL FOUR TIRES ON 2011 MERCEDES E550 HAVE TREAD SEPARATION. TREAD SEPARATION IS OCCURRING ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE AND IS UNKNOWN UNTIL THE TIRE BEGINS TO LOSE TIRE PRESSURE. TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN RADIAL X TIRES. FAILURE BETWEEN 38,000-40,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10543992. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
5 MONTHS INTO MY 2011 MB E350 BLUETECH LEASE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLOWS ON A HIGHWAY. THE TIRES ARE RUNFLAT BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400-02 MOEXTENDED 245/45R17 95H. STOPPED THE CAR AND SAW THE RIM MADE A CUT IN A SIDEWALL. NOT REPAIRABLE, HAD IT REPLACED. 45 DAYS LATER ANOTHER FRONT TIRE IS AGAIN BLOWN ON A HIGHWAY THE SAME WAY. PUT ON A SPARE AND ORDERED REPLACEMENT. 2 DAYS LATER - THIRD TIRE BLOWS THE SAME EXACT WAY. ALL INCIDENTS ARE ON THE ROADS I TRAVEL FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY PREVIOUS CARS. COMPLAINED TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY MY "WAY OF DRIVING". RIDICULOUS! TIRE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME THESE RUN-FLATS ARE NOT FLEXIBLE AND HAVE A VERY THIN SIDEWALL SO

NHTSA complaint 10440487, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

100 miles

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MERCEDES 2011 E550. I FOUND THE SPEEDOMETER VERY DIFFICULT TO READ DURING DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS IT IS NOT LIGHTED. MY EYESIGHT IS 20/20). THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT TAKES YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TOO LONG TO READ THE VERY DIM SPEEDOMETER. IT ALSO CAUSES ONE TO GO AT SPEEDS NOT EASILY CONTROLLED BY A NORMAL "GLANCE"AT THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10403630. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

10 miles

MERCEDES 2011 E550 HAS A SPEEDOMETER THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ AND REQUIRES EYE DIVERSION FROM THE ROAD TO AN UNSAFE EXTENT TO VIEW YOUR DRIVING SPEED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10394295. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other 2011 Mercedes Benz models

Every Mercedes Benz on this site — 216 vehicles, 576 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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