Summary
The Mercedes-Benz E300 has 10 recalls covering the 2016 and 2017 model years, with the most serious being a wiring harness defect on 2017 models where the rear bench seat frame can damage the fuel pump wiring, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving.
Nearly all of the recalls affect 2017 models, and several involve safety systems that protect occupants in a crash. The front passenger airbag inflator initiator can fail to ignite on 2017 vehicles, leaving the passenger without airbag protection when it is needed. A separate issue on 2017 models involves the passenger seat occupant detection unit being incorrectly installed, which can misclassify an adult as a child seat and deactivate the front passenger airbag entirely. There is also a condition on 2017 models where the front passenger airbag may not deploy correctly if the passenger is sitting on the edge of the seat or reclined, and earlier repair attempts did not fully resolve this issue across related filings. On the powertrain side, the steering column-mounted shift lever module on 2017 vehicles can have a damaged internal circuit board, preventing the transmission from engaging the gear the driver selects. The electric power steering control unit on certain 2017 examples can lose electrical contact and drop power steering assist, making the car significantly harder to steer. The 2016 and 2017 model years share a recall for a roof-mounted spoiler that can detach while driving and become a road hazard. On 2017 models equipped with LED headlights, the low beams can be misadjusted and fail to adequately light the road ahead, and a separate issue allows the headlight horizontal aim screws to be accessed and altered, potentially pointing the beams off course. Finally, 2017 models with the widescreen instrument cluster can experience a software fault that causes the display to go blank at startup or reset while underway, removing speed and other vehicle information from view.
