NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
A software error causes the eCall emergency system's date and time to be incorrect, which may result in an inaccurate vehicle location being sent during an emergency call.
This page covers 5 recalls, 50 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350.
23 mpg combined
10.2 L/100km
Midsize 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.
Complaints for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 are spread across several systems, with no single dominant failure mode standing out sharply. The electrical system draws the most reports, where owners describe issues ranging from a faulty passenger seat occupant sensor that prevents the passenger-side airbag from activating, to various other electrical gremlins. Engine complaints come in close behind, with some owners reporting persistent misfires accompanied by sudden power loss and loud mechanical noise, one case describes multiple repair attempts without resolution. Steering complaints match engine volume, though the narratives in this set are thin on specifics. A handful of other reports mention fuel odor at idle and water intrusion through the windshield seal, with the windshield itself reportedly shifting when pushed and allowing wind noise into the cabin at speed.
50
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 5 recalls, the most serious being an inadvertent driver airbag deployment that can cause injury and trigger a crash, alongside a loss of electric power steering assist that can make the steering wheel significantly harder to turn.
The airbag concern has two dimensions. On the hardware side, the driver airbag can fire without warning while the car is in motion. On the software side, a separate fault in the airbag control module can prevent the airbags from deploying at all in a crash, leaving occupants without that protection when they need it most. Taken together, these two issues mean the airbag system can both fire when it should not and fail when it should.
On the engine side, a rubber seal on certain vehicles built during a narrow production window in April 2015 can fall loose into the engine compartment and contact hot engine or exhaust components, raising the risk of a fire under the hood. There is also a software fault in the emergency call system that can cause the vehicle to report an incorrect date, time, and location when an emergency call is placed, which may send first responders to the wrong area and delay their arrival.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error causes the eCall emergency system's date and time to be incorrect, which may result in an inaccurate vehicle location being sent during an emergency call.
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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
Mercedes-Benz will send a remote software update to your vehicle. Dealers will verify the update worked or install a new communication module software at no cost.
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 electric power steering control unit may have defective solder connections that could cause the power steering system to stop working while you're driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steel cable securing the rubber seal around the engine compartment may be damaged. The loose seal can stick to the hood when opened, then fall into the engine bay when closed.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rubber seal in the engine compartment at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.