NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The diesel fuel filter may leak near its heating component.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the diesel fuel filter if needed, at no cost.
This page covers 4 recalls and 10 owner complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E.
Complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E class spread across tires and the powertrain in roughly equal measure. On the tire side, owners of E550 models report tread separation affecting all four original-equipment Michelin tires, with the separation occurring on the inner sidewall and going unnoticed until pressure drops. Separately, E350 owners describe repeated run-flat tire blowouts on the highway, with the rim appearing to cut into the sidewall. Powertrain complaints exist in the data but are not detailed enough across multiple reports to describe a specific pattern. Two electrical complaints round out the set, including one owner who found the instrument cluster speedometer too dim to read comfortably in daylight.
10
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E has 4 recalls, the most serious being two separate fuel leak risks: diesel fuel can drip onto the road from a cracked fuel line or through a leaking fuel filter seal, creating slippery conditions for other drivers.
Both fuel issues affect diesel models. In the first, a fuel line can crack and deposit diesel onto the highway, reducing traction for vehicles traveling behind. In the second, an O-ring inside the fuel filter housing may not have been properly seated, allowing diesel to seep out and make road surfaces slippery. On the steering side, the hydraulic power steering pump can lose fluid, leaving the driver with little or no power assist at low speeds where full steering effort is needed most, such as when maneuvering in a parking lot. There is also an engine concern affecting a narrow range of vehicles built within a five-day window in July 2010: a vibration damper ring inside the engine can break free and fly outward, posing a risk of injury to anyone working in the engine compartment while the engine is running.
At a glance
What can fail
The diesel fuel filter may leak near its heating component.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the diesel fuel filter if needed, at no cost.
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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 →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vibration damper's inner mass damper ring may separate suddenly due to insufficient adhesive bonding between these components.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the vibration damper and replace parts as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The O-ring on the fuel filter may not be properly lubricated, which can cause the fuel filter to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel filter at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power steering system may fail because power steering fluid leaks from a connection fitting, causing loss of steering assist.
What the fix does
Dealers will check and retighten the connection fitting at no cost to restore proper fluid containment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.