2017 Mercedes Benz E300 Problems and Recalls (131 Complaints)
The most-reported problem on the 2017 Mercedes Benz E300 is Engine (24% of 131 owner reports). There are 16 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Engine — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 131 complaints · 16 recalls
What problems show up on the 2017 Mercedes Benz E300?
31 of 131 filings named Engine (24% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
Second is Fuel system (22 reports).
There are 16 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags, Transmission / driveline, Electrical, Steering, Body / frame, and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.
The previous year is not published here. Use the year list to jump around.
What owners reported
System named most often: Engine 31 complaints · 23.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
- Crashes 2
- Fires 2
- Injuries 7
- Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Which systems owners named
Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.
“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine (ENGINE) | 31 | 23.7% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) | 22 | 16.8% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) | 13 | 9.9% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Steering (STEERING) | 10 | 7.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) | 7 | 5.3% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Body / frame (STRUCTURE) | 6 | 4.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Automatic braking / collision warning (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) | 5 | 3.8% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) | 4 | 3.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) | 4 | 3.1% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| Unclassified NHTSA leftover | 36 | 27.5% | 1 crashes · 1 fires |
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
When reports and recalls showed up
When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.
- Campaign 20V449000 was reported 1,050 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
- Campaign 21V058000 was reported 1,496 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-Q1 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2017-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2017-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2018-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2018-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2018-Q3 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2018-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2019-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2019-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2019-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2020-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2022-Q1 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2022-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2023-Q1 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 4 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 6 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 8 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 9 | |
| 2025-Q2 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 5 | |
| 2026-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 16V758000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V076000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V078000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V080000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V114000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V176000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V241000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V245000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V246000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V574000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 17V714000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V151000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 18V271000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V449000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V058000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V072000 | |
| Defect investigation | 1 | EA21002 |
Safety Recalls (16)
Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.
In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags, Transmission / driveline, Electrical, Steering, Body / frame, and Lights.
-
Recall campaign 16V758000
Safety recall 16V758000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- Damage to the fuel pump wiring may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA has notified owners, and dealers will modify the routing of the affected wiring harness, repairing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 28, 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V076000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- If the passenger front air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of a injury.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the pressure hose of the seat occupancy detection control unit and replace the pressure hose and seat occupancy detection mat if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V078000
Transmission / driveline
- Report date
- Component:
- Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
- Consequence:
- If the vehicle does not move forward or backward as selected by the driver with the shift lever, there is an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column-mounted shift lever module, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V080000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- If the pelvis airbag or the front passenger airbag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V114000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- If the starting current limiter overheats, the surrounding components can melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional fuse in the electrical line to the starter, free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2017080002.
-
Recall campaign 17V176000
Airbags
- Report date
- Component:
- Airbags (AIR BAGS)
- Consequence:
- In the event of a crash that necessitates air bag deployment, if the air bag does not deploy as intended, there would be an increased risk of occupant injury.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2017. Owner's can contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V241000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- If water enters the power steering control unit, the power steering assist may be deactivated, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the connector and inspect the electric power steering rack, replacing the rack as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed June 30, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V245000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Without the instrument cluster displaying important information such as the vehicle's speed, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster display software, free of charge. The recall began late May 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V246000
Body / frame
- Report date
- Component:
- Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
- Consequence:
- If the roof-mounted spoiler detaches while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing a risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the roof spoilers, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 9, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
-
Recall campaign 17V574000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- The improperly welded pins may lose contact, deactivating the power steering assist and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
-
Recall campaign 17V714000
Steering
- Report date
- Component:
- Steering (STEERING)
- Consequence:
- If the power steering assist is unexpectedly disabled, it may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering rack, replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
-
Recall campaign 18V151000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- Consequence:
- An insufficiently illuminated roadway may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the headlamp adjustment, adjusting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 3, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018030005.
-
Recall campaign 18V271000
Lights
- Report date
- Component:
- Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
- Consequence:
- If the headlight's horizontal aim is altered, a misaimed headlight may lead to an insufficiently illuminated roadway, which may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will retrofit the sealing caps for the headlights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in June 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2018050012.
-
Recall campaign 20V449000
Electrical
- Report date
- Component:
- Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
- Consequence:
- Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020080015.
-
Recall campaign 21V058000
Safety recall 21V058000
- Report date
- Component:
- Unclassified NHTSA leftover
- Consequence:
- Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
-
Recall campaign 21V072000
Safety recall 21V072000
- Report date
- Component:
- Not available in the source record
- Consequence:
- A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
What owners actually wrote
Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Showing 9 of 131 complaints · page 1 of 6
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My vehicle has about 68k miles, while driving on freeway all of sudden the car engine started to shake and check engine light came on dashboard. This engine shaking would stop when vehicle was being driven at high speed. Upon returning home I checked the DTC codes and had P300, P301 engine misfire codes. My mechanic suggested to have spark plugs and Ignition coil#1 to be changed. I bought new plugs from dealer for the replacement. When my mechanic completed this repair bit noticed vehicle still had misfire. He conducted compression test and found only 20PSI pressure is cylinder 1 and suggested a tear-down or engine replacement. I talked to another shop and described the issue and was informed that this is a common issue in Mercedes E300 to develop misfire in either cylinder 1 or 2. I found similar issues described by many owners on various forums online as well. Currently Mercedes has no recall for this issue.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Sunroof glass shattered water got in the car
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There is a recall on my year model 2017 Mercedes E3 hundred 4matic for the steering column shift module, but I’m being told that my specific vin was not included, but it is having the exact issues as the recall while driving the shift lever will not leave drive to go into reverse. It will only go to park. It refuses shift commands. If I shut the engine off and turn it back on sometimes it will allow me to go into other gears again.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Code P052E after oil changed. seems to happen often judging my forums.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
My car is not accelerating when I shift into drive or reverse. It says “reversing not possile-service required” error. Out the blue. There is a known recall on these model cars but Mercedes benz is saying its vin specific and mine is not covered even though I am experiencing the exact same issue. Recall date- 2017-02-07 Recall no. 17V078000
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I’m having issues with my control module not going forward or backwards at times and there was a recall on models of this vehicle for that exact reason NHTSA ID: 17V078000 Issued: Feb 2, 17. Dealership is telling me it’s not open. I’m scared for my safety when my car doesn’t shift in the correct gear. This started in 2021 or 2022 and I’m not getting resolution. When getting my bumper repaired I noticed that this was on the recall list a few years ago. I’ll submit the papers I received form Park Place.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I own a 2017 mercedes benz e-class. I'm starting to smell gasoline in the cabin and also outside of my vehicle. I tried entering my VIN number to see if any recalls. There is something listed for the smell of gas. Can someone help me regarding this matter.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message "Reverse not Possible - Service Required" was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for approximately five to ten minutes, and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic shift lever had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact picked up the vehicle from the dealer, and two days later, the same message was displayed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The message "Reverse not Possible - Service Required” was displayed. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and the contact waited before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure occurred increasingly while turning. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and to the dealer, but no DTC was retrieved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V714000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems on the 2017 Mercedes Benz E300?
Owners named Engine most often — 31 of 131 reports (24%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.
Are there recalls for the 2017 Mercedes Benz E300?
NHTSA lists 16 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags, Transmission / driveline, Electrical, Steering, Body / frame, and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.
What should I inspect before buying a 2017 Mercedes Benz E300?
Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.
Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?
No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.