NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
Control units may have incorrect software configuration from service repairs, potentially causing loss of engine power, dimmed exterior lights, or disabled stability and traction control.
This page covers 4 recalls, 183 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350.
20–21 mpg combined
11.2–11.8 L/100km
Subcompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
For the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350, the dominant complaint category by a wide margin is airbags, where owners frequently report concerns tied to airbag system warnings and deployment reliability. The fuel and propulsion system draws the next-highest complaint volume, with owners describing stalling, hesitation, and power delivery issues. The powertrain category also generates recurring reports, most notably owners describing the transmission unexpectedly shifting into park while the vehicle is still moving at low speed, typically when coming to a stop after extended driving, sometimes requiring the engine to be restarted to resume normal operation. A separate pattern worth noting involves rear subframe corrosion paired with corroded brake lines, with multiple owners describing both conditions appearing together on the same vehicle.
183
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 4 recalls, the most serious being frontal airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, risking serious injury or death.
Both the driver-side and passenger-side airbag inflators are affected by separate recalls tied to the same underlying hazard: in a crash that triggers deployment, the inflator can explode rather than inflate cleanly, scattering sharp metal shards toward occupants. Note that the passenger-side airbag recalls are geographic in scope, applying to vehicles sold or ever registered in high-humidity states where moisture accelerates the deterioration of the inflator. There is also a software recall affecting various control units that may have received an incorrect software configuration during a prior service visit. This can cause a range of failures, including sudden loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or the dropout of stability and traction control, all of which raise the risk of losing vehicle control.
At a glance
What can fail
Control units may have incorrect software configuration from service repairs, potentially causing loss of engine power, dimmed exterior lights, or disabled stability and traction control.
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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 →
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the control unit software to the correct configuration at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during a crash. This can happen because the inflator's propellant degrades after prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the passenger front air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflators may rupture during a crash because the propellant inside degrades over time when exposed to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag modules at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator may build up excessive pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.