2012 MERCEDES BENZ E350 — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 214 complaints · 7 recalls
Most-reported system: AIR BAGS (82 complaints · 38.3%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 6
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 5
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2011 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 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.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution AIR BAGS appears in 82 of 214 owner complaints (38.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. AIR BAGS: 82 complaints, 38.3% of reports AIR BAGS 82 · 38.3% · 3 crash reports FUEL SYSTEM: 32 complaints, 15.0% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 32 · 15.0% ENGINE: 14 complaints, 6.5% of reports ENGINE 14 · 6.5% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports SUSPENSION: 14 complaints, 6.5% of reports SUSPENSION 14 · 6.5% SERVICE BRAKES: 11 complaints, 5.1% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 11 · 5.1% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 10 complaints, 4.7% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10 · 4.7% POWER TRAIN: 7 complaints, 3.3% of reports POWER TRAIN 7 · 3.3% · 2 crash reports STEERING: 7 complaints, 3.3% of reports STEERING 7 · 3.3% SEAT BELTS: 4 complaints, 1.9% of reports SEAT BELTS 4 · 1.9% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 42 complaints, 19.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 42 · 19.6% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
AIR BAGS 82 38.3% 3 crashes · 0 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 32 15.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ENGINE 14 6.5% 1 crashes · 1 fires
SUSPENSION 14 6.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 11 5.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10 4.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 7 3.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 7 3.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SEAT BELTS 4 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 42 19.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 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.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2011; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2012. 2011-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2018-Q1: 7 owner reports 7 2018-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2019-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2019-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q3: 13 owner reports 13 2019-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2020-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2022-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2022-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2024-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2024-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2025-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2026-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 Owner reports Oct 2011 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 12V492000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V492000 Recall campaign 12V557000 ◆ Recall campaign 12V557000 Recall campaign 17V017000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V017000 Recall campaign 17V177000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V177000 Recall campaign 17V627000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V627000 Recall campaign 19V010000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V010000 Recall campaign 21V638000 ◆ Recall campaign 21V638000 Investigation DP20004 ● Investigation DP20004 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 17V177000 was reported 15 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 17V627000 was reported 221 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V010000 was reported 681 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 21V638000 was reported 1,628 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2011-Q4 Owner reports 1
2012-Q2 Owner reports 1
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q1 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 3
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 2
2017-Q1 Owner reports 7
2017-Q2 Owner reports 6
2017-Q3 Owner reports 7
2017-Q4 Owner reports 18
2018-Q1 Owner reports 7
2018-Q2 Owner reports 4
2018-Q3 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 6
2019-Q1 Owner reports 15
2019-Q2 Owner reports 4
2019-Q3 Owner reports 13
2019-Q4 Owner reports 4
2020-Q1 Owner reports 4
2020-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q3 Owner reports 9
2020-Q4 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 5
2021-Q2 Owner reports 5
2021-Q3 Owner reports 2
2021-Q4 Owner reports 4
2022-Q1 Owner reports 5
2022-Q2 Owner reports 4
2022-Q3 Owner reports 8
2022-Q4 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 5
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 3
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 3
2024-Q2 Owner reports 7
2024-Q3 Owner reports 7
2024-Q4 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 8
2025-Q2 Owner reports 3
2025-Q3 Owner reports 4
2025-Q4 Owner reports 1
2026-Q1 Owner reports 2
2026-Q2 Owner reports 4
Recall campaign 1 12V492000
Recall campaign 1 12V557000
Recall campaign 1 17V017000
Recall campaign 1 17V177000
Recall campaign 1 17V627000
Recall campaign 1 19V010000
Recall campaign 1 21V638000
Defect investigation 1 DP20004
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (7)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V492000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of an accident necessitating the deployment of the right window curtain air bag, the improper stitching may cause it to deflate more quickly than intended, reducing the protection it may provide, resulting in an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
    Remedy:
    Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right side window curtain air bag. The recall began on December 21, 2012. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 12V557000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present.
    Remedy:
    Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter, free of charge. The recall campaign is expected to begin in February 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V017000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017. Second notices started going out in October 2018 and continue to be mailed as parts become available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V177000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 17V627000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 19V010000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 21V638000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 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.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 214 complaints · page 1 of 9

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 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.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources