This page covers 6 recalls, 213 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350.
22–23 mpg combined
10.2–10.7 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 3 tested variants for this model year.
Airbag complaints dominate the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 owner reports by a wide margin, with dozens of owners describing warning lights staying on, unexpected deployments, and concerns about the supplemental restraint system not functioning as expected. The fuel and propulsion system draws the second-largest share of complaints, where owners frequently report fuel odors, fuel leaks, and sudden stalling or power loss traced to fuel pump failures. Engine complaints follow at a lower volume, often tied to the same stalling and hesitation symptoms. A recurring structural concern also shows up across multiple reports: rear subframe corrosion severe enough to cause separation from the chassis, frequently accompanied by brake line deterioration from the anti-lock brake module back to the rear calipers, owners describe the brake lines rusting through entirely, sometimes on vehicles where the subframe corrosion issue had already been addressed.
213
Total Complaints
6
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 6 recalls, the most serious being multiple Takata-related passenger airbag inflator defects where the inflator can rupture or explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, with the potential for serious injury or death.
The inflator recalls cover several years of filings that were never fully resolved, and some are specifically scoped to vehicles registered in high-humidity states where moisture accelerates the risk. There is also a separate recall for vehicles where an incorrect front passenger airbag may have been installed during a prior repair attempt, meaning the bag may not perform properly in a crash. On the driver side, a separate frontal airbag defect can cause the bag to deploy unexpectedly without a crash, raising the risk of an unintended collision. Rounding out the list, a software issue in the airbag control system can prevent the airbags from deploying correctly in a crash, reducing the protection they are designed to provide.
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.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag at no cost to you.
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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 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 driver's airbag may deploy unexpectedly if the steering components lack proper grounding and the airbag clockspring is broken, allowing electrostatic discharge to trigger deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will add grounding to the steering components to prevent electrostatic discharge from triggering the airbag.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Control unit software may be incorrect, potentially preventing airbags from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the control unit software at no cost to restore proper airbag deployment function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during deployment in a crash due to propellant breakdown from prolonged exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
