This page covers 5 recalls, 17 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550.
21 mpg combined
11.2 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.
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 centers on the airbag system, which draws nearly half of all filed complaints, owners describe warning lights activating, concerns about occupant detection, and questions about whether the system would deploy correctly. Steering complaints are the second most-reported category, and they cluster around the electronic steering lock failing and disabling the vehicle entirely: owners report being unable to start the car, move it into neutral, or operate any functions, with the ignition displaying a "remove key" message even with the key inserted. A smaller group of steering complaints point to the electric power steering rack failing and requiring replacement. Two seat belt complaints round out the picture, though the specifics across those reports are less consistent.
17
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 has 5 recalls, the most serious being multiple Takata airbag inflator defects where the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The frontal airbag recalls are geographic in scope, applying to vehicles sold or ever registered in high-humidity states such as Florida, Hawaii, and California, where moisture accelerates the degradation that leads to inflator rupture. There is also a separate recall for the driver's frontal airbag, where inadvertent deployment can startle or injure the driver and trigger a crash. On the side curtain side, certain E550 Coupe models built between April and late June 2012 have a right-side window curtain airbag with improper stitching that causes it to deflate faster than designed in a crash, offering less protection to the occupant before their head can make contact with the door or window structure.
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.
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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 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
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.
At a glance
What can fail
The right side window curtain air bag may have improper stitching that prevents it from deploying correctly during a side impact.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the right side window curtain air bag with a properly constructed one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
