NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module may have been turned off during service, disabling the Emergency Call function that connects your vehicle to emergency services.
This page covers 7 recalls and 32 owner complaints for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300.
Complaints on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 cluster most heavily around the engine and powertrain. Owners report stalling at low speeds or while stopped, unexpected gear skipping during shifts, and the transmission slipping into neutral on its own. Several reports involve fault codes pointing to the engine control unit and clutch position switch, with owners noting that warning lights sometimes fail to appear before the problem surfaces, making the issue harder to catch early. The electrical system draws a smaller but notable share of complaints, and a few owners describe seatbelt latch failures that prevent the buckle from engaging. Airbag non-deployment in a collision appears in an isolated report but does not represent a recurring pattern across this complaint set.
32
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 has 7 recalls, the most serious involving a battery cover that can come off in a crash, potentially shorting the battery, disabling emergency door unlocking for first responders, and raising the risk of a fire.
A steering rack defect can reduce the driver's ability to steer the vehicle, raising the risk of a crash. On the occupant safety side, the front passenger seat sensor may not be properly calibrated and can fail to deactivate the airbag when a child seat is in the front, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash. Separately, the seat belt pretensioners and the electric pre-crash safety function may not deploy during a collision, leaving occupants with less protection. Vehicles that have had the instrument cluster replaced may be missing the audible and visual seatbelt reminder, which can cause front seat occupants to forget to buckle up. Two recalls cover the automatic emergency call system: in one case the system may not connect to emergency services at all, and in another it may report the wrong location after a crash, both of which can delay help from reaching the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module may have been turned off during service, disabling the Emergency Call function that connects your vehicle to emergency services.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the communication module and reactivate it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communication module software may fail to send your vehicle's correct location to emergency services when the eCall system activates during a crash.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the communication module software, or the update will be sent over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The replacement instrument cluster software may fail to activate the seat belt warning system correctly, showing only a steady light instead of a blinking light with sound when a seat belt is unfastened.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the instrument cluster software at no cost to restore proper seat belt warning operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt buckles may be incorrectly detected as unfastened even when properly fastened, which can disable the PRE-SAFE® function and pretensioner.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace front seat belt buckles as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A locknut in the steering rack may break under heavy load, potentially causing the steering to lock in one position.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering rack at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The starter battery cover may not fully protect the live positive wire. In certain crashes, the strut brace can deform and short-circuit the battery.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the positive pole cover at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant classification system may be improperly calibrated, causing the front air bag to remain active when a child seat is present.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion at no charge to recalibrate the occupant detection system.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.