NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 12 recalls and 12 owner complaints for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350.
Complaints for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 are spread across a small number of reports, with engine and drivetrain issues drawing the most attention. On the engine side, owners describe cylinder misfires accompanied by a check engine light, along with evaporative emission system faults triggering warning messages about the fuel vapor leak detection circuit. The powertrain complaints are more severe: multiple owners report transmission failure at relatively low mileage, in one pattern describing the car becoming undrivable while on the highway. The backup and forward camera systems also generate a cluster of complaints, with owners reporting intermittent "system inoperative" messages, cameras cutting out without warning, and a low 12-volt battery warning appearing alongside those failures.
12
Total Complaints
1
Fire-Related
By System
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E 350 has 12 recalls, the most serious being a fuel pump that can shut down without warning, cutting drive power and raising the risk of a crash.
Several recalls involve occupant restraint and seating. The front passenger seat may lack a mechanical stop that limits its travel range, or a separate limiter issue may allow the seat to be positioned too close to the front airbag, either of which can raise the risk of injury if the airbag deploys in a crash. Loose side impact sensor connectors can delay airbag and seatbelt activation during a side collision. The seatbelt pretensioners may also not perform properly in a crash. In the rear, the seatbelt retractors can deactivate too early, preventing a child safety seat from staying securely anchored.
On the visibility side, the rearview camera can fail to display an image due to software errors in the parking control unit or the MBUX multimedia system, and parking sensors may fail to detect objects behind the vehicle. There are also two recalls where the emergency call system can either fail to connect to emergency services or transmit the wrong location after a crash. A final recall affects vehicles with a heated leather steering wheel, where the hands-off detection feature can deactivate, disabling driver attention warnings and the automatic emergency stop function within the driver assistance system.
At a glance
What can fail
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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 →
The fuel pump may shut down unexpectedly, causing a loss of engine power while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the communication module's SIM card can prevent mobile network connection, which disables the emergency call (eCall) system.
What the fix does
The communication module software will be updated at no cost through an over-the-air update or by a dealer.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error prevents the rearview camera from displaying the backup image on the screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost to restore the backup image display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The hand detection system in the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC may fail to sense when your hands leave the steering wheel due to a software error.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the hand detection control unit software at no cost to restore proper hand-off detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side crash sensor connectors may loosen, potentially delaying airbag and seatbelt activation during a side impact crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the side impact crash sensors as needed, at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear seat belt automatic locking retractors may stop working too early, preventing child car seats from securing properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rear seat belt assemblies as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The MBUX multimedia system software may cause the display to go black or restart after startup, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying properly.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the multimedia system software, or you can receive the update over-the-air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A faulty electrical contact in the seat position switch may prevent driver and passenger air bags and seat belt force limiters from activating during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat position switches at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The parking control unit may fail to show the rearview camera image, causing parking sensors to misidentify or fail to detect objects behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
The parking control unit will be replaced at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger seat limiter may not prevent the seat from moving too close to the front air bag.
What the fix does
Dealers will recalibrate the passenger seat limiter to ensure proper positioning away from the air bag.
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 front passenger seat may lack a mechanical stop that limits how far it can move, allowing it to shift outside the safe position relative to the airbag.
What the fix does
Dealers will check for the mechanical seat adjustment limit and install it if missing, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.