VehicleVerdict

2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 carries two red flags at once: 40 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the E350 years to avoid.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (6), steering (5), and tires & wheels (5), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

40

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

4

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2015 compare to other E350 years?

E350 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2015 highlighted482 complaints2003: 10 complaints2004: 11 complaints2005: 17 complaints2006: 482 complaints2007: 398 complaints2008: 220 complaints2009: 76 complaints2010: 229 complaints2011: 263 complaints2012: 260 complaints2013: 215 complaints2014: 368 complaints2015: 40 complaints2016: 72 complaints2017: 11 complaints
E350 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2015 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all E350 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Electrical System615%
Steering513%
Tires & Wheels513%
Body & Structure410%
Brakes410%
Other38%
Visibility & Wipers25%
Driver Assistance25%
Engine25%
Fuel System25%
Suspension25%
Airbags25%
Transmission13%

Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V787000OtherNovember 1, 2019 · 24,226 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Consequence

An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

17V627000AirbagsOctober 6, 2017 · 495,290 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Consequence

If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

17V177000Electrical SystemMarch 14, 2017 · 51 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Consequence

If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

16V899000SteeringDecember 14, 2016 · 70 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 SL550, 2013-2014 SL63 AMG, 2014-2016 E350, 2014 E350 Cabriolet, E350 Coupe, 2014-2015 S550, 2015 E350 Bluetec, 2015-2016 E400, 2016 E550 Coupe, and Maybach S600 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to August 14, 2015. The affected vehicles use an electric power steering system that may have improperly soldered contacts inside the control unit, potentially resulting in the power steering system deactivating while driving.

Consequence

If the control unit pins lose connection, there would be a loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The increase in pin contact resistance can also increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

15V088000Body & StructureFebruary 13, 2015 · 147,224 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 E350 Sedan, E350 4Matic Sedan, E350 4Matic Station Wagon, E400 Hybrid Sedan, CLS 550 CGI, and CLS550 4Matic, 2013-2014 E550 4Matic Sedan, 2013 E63 Sedan, E63 Station Wagon and CLS63, 2014-2015 CLS63 4Matic, E63 4Matic Sedan, E63 4Matic Sedan "S", and E63 4Matic Station Wagon, 2015 CLS400, 2015 E400 Sedan, E400 4Matic Sedan and CLS400 4Matic and 2014 CLS63 "S". The affected vehicles have a rubber seal at the back of the engine bay that may temporarily stick to the hood when it is opened and then may fall into the engine bay when the hood is closed.

Consequence

If the rubber seal falls into the engine compartment, it may contact parts of the exhaust system, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will attach four additional retaining clips to the rubber seal, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-201-573-5339. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015020001.

14V818000Seat BeltsDecember 24, 2014 · 1,378 units

Defect

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 E250 Diesel, E250 Blue Tec 4 Matic, E350 Sedan, E350 Sedan 4 Matic, E350 Wagon 4 Matic, E400 Sedan, E400 Sedan 4 Matic, E63 Sedan, and E63 Wagon vehicles manufactured October 8, 2014, to October 24, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the double seat belt buckle for the middle position of the rear passenger seat could fail under loading experienced in a severe frontal crash.

Consequence

If the middle position double seat belt buckle assembly fails under load such as in a severe frontal crash, there is an increased risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Remedy

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the double seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began February 2, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2014120006.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA21002

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, THE BLIND STOP DETECTION MONITORING SYSTEM AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · September 16, 2019 · crash

“I RAN OVER AN UNAVOIDABLE MODERATE SIZED CITY STREET POT HOLE AT LOW SPEED WHILE BRAKING AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. ANOTHER ORIGINAL TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND DEVELOPED A SIDEWALL BUBBLE IN SEPTEMBER AND THE DEALER REPLACED IT FOR FREE. THEN I WAS INSTRUCTED TO INFLATE THE TIRES TO 40…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · September 22, 2015

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, THE BLIND STOP DETECTION MONITORING SYSTEM AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · September 16, 2019 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, THE BLIND STOP DETECTION MONITORING SYSTEM AND OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS MALFUNCTIONED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. ALSO, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · September 16, 2019 · crash

“The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while the vehicle was receiving routine maintenance, the mechanic noticed that the subframe was rusted. The dealer stated that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · October 10, 2022

2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 — common questions

Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 40 complaints put the 2015 model at #11 of 15 E350 years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the E350 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2015 E350 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (6 complaints), steering (5 complaints), tires & wheels (5 complaints).

Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Mercedes-Benz E350 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the E350 years to avoid are 2006, 2007, 2014, 2011, 2012, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2015, 2017. The cleanest record among E350 years belongs to 2003.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.