The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E Class has 6 recalls, the most serious involving a fire risk from exhaust contact with plastic underbody panels on certain six-cylinder all-wheel-drive models, a steering coupling that may not be locked and can cause complete loss of steering, and a misrouted starter power cable on certain AMG E 63 S and GT 63 variants that can short-circuit and catch fire.
Two additional recalls also involve fire potential: on some vehicles, an incorrectly sized battery cover may leave the positive cable exposed, and in a crash, nearby components can contact it and cause a short circuit. On the safety restraint side, certain convertible models have child seat lower anchors that were installed incorrectly and can pull free from the body structure in a crash, taking an attached child seat with them. There is also a seatbelt buckle issue where the front buckles may falsely trigger seatbelt warning lights, and if the driver dismisses those warnings, the pre-collision safety system and airbags may not deploy correctly in a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
The power cable to the starter may be incorrectly attached and could touch the starter housing, damaging the cable and causing an electrical short circuit.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the starter cable connections and reattach or correct them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Front seat belt buckles may malfunction, triggering false seat belt warnings even when buckled. Ignoring these warnings could prevent the PRE-SAFE and airbag systems from working properly.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect your front seat belt buckles and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering coupling may not be properly locked, allowing the connection between your steering wheel and steering rack to loosen while driving, potentially causing loss of steering control.
What the fix does
Your dealer will inspect the steering coupling and lock it if needed to restore the secure connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An incorrectly sized starter battery cover may not fully cover the positive electrical cable. In a crash, other components could contact the exposed cable, causing a short circuit and potential fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a new battery cover with correct dimensions to fully cover the electrical cable.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lower anchorage system for child safety seats may have been installed incorrectly. In a crash, the anchorage could detach from the vehicle, risking child injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the lower anchorage system and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The plastic panel under the engine may be positioned incorrectly, allowing the hot exhaust system to contact it. This contact could cause the plastic to ignite, risking fire and property damage.
What the fix does
Your dealer will inspect the underbody panel and replace it if it's incorrect.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
