Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2006 vs 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E350

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 239 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 12.0% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2006 391 complaints 2007 344 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2006 share 2007 share Share change
FUEL SYSTEM 53.8% 70.9% ▲ 17.1 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 10.2% 0.9% ▼ 9.3 pts smaller share
ENGINE 11.7% 6.7% ▼ 5.0 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 7.9% 4.9% ▼ 2.9 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 0.8% 2.3% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 1.8% 0.6% ▼ 1.2 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.5% 0.6% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3.3% 2.6% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS not reported 0.6% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 2.0% 1.5% ▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
STEERING 1.0% 0.6% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.5% 0.9% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.5% 0.9% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
TIRES 0.5% 0.9% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 0.8% 0.6% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 29.2% 30.2% ▲ 1.0 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2006 4

Campaign components: VISIBILITY

2007 5

Campaign components: SUSPENSION and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
9 → 10
◆ Injuries
18 → 11