NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may be incorrect, possibly installed during a prior repair, and may not function properly in a crash.
This page covers 5 recalls, 222 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350.
20 mpg combined
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 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350, the dominant complaint pattern by a wide margin centers on the airbag system, which accounts for roughly half of all filed complaints, owners frequently report unexpected warning lights, airbag non-deployment concerns, and issues with the passenger seat occupant sensor failing to correctly detect a seated adult. The second notable cluster involves the structure and fuel/propulsion systems together, where owners describe rear subframe corrosion serious enough to cause structural failure, along with brake lines rusting through at the plastic support clips. Several owners report that subframe replacement was performed under an extended warranty, but that corroded brake lines were left unaddressed at the same service visit, only to fail shortly after. The brake line rust pattern appears concentrated in vehicles operated in regions with road salt exposure, with owners describing complete fluid loss after the lines corroded through.
222
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 5 recalls, all involving the frontal airbags, with the most serious being a defect where both the driver and passenger airbag inflators can rupture in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin and causing serious injury or death.
The driver and passenger inflator rupture risk is part of the broader Takata airbag crisis and applies specifically to vehicles registered or sold in high-humidity states such as Florida, California, and Hawaii, where moisture accelerates the conditions that can cause the inflators to explode rather than deploy normally. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, and multiple rounds of replacement campaigns have followed over the years. A fifth recall addresses a separate but related problem: during one of those prior repair visits, an incorrect passenger airbag may have been installed in some E350 Coupe and Convertible models built between 2011 and 2014. A wrongly matched airbag may not deploy with the right force or timing in a crash, reducing the protection it was designed to provide. Taken together, these five recalls all trace back to the same safety system, meaning a significant portion of the front occupant protection in this vehicle may be compromised depending on whether prior repairs were completed correctly.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may be incorrect, possibly installed during a prior repair, and may not function properly in a crash.
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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 replace the front passenger air bag 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 inflator may explode due to propellant breaking down after prolonged exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module 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.