2011 Mercedes-Benz E recalls and problems

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E has 4 recalls and 10 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

Pictured: a 2010 model; the 2011 may differ in details. Photo: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E by NRMA Motoring and Services from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2011 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 8 E model years — the most of any year.

4recalls

10complaints

2crashes

0fires

2injuries

300median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Fuel System

Oct 3, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V496000 · 6,872 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA (mbusa) is recalling certain model year 2011 vehicles including e-class (212 platform), manufactured from July 2010 through February 2011, r-class (251 platform), manufactured from April 2010 through April 2011, ml-class (W164 platform), manufactured from January 2010 through March 2011, gl-class (X164 platform), manufactured from March 2010 through March 2011, and model year 2012 s-class (221 platform) vehicles. The diesel fuel filter May leak from the area around the heating component.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ USA (MBUSA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VEHICLES INCLUDING E-CLASS (212 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2010 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2011, R-CLASS (251 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2010 THROUGH APRIL 2011, ML-CLASS (W164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, GL-CLASS (X164 PLATFORM), MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2012 S-CLASS (221 PLATFORM) VEHICLES. THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER MAY LEAK FROM THE AREA AROUND THE HEATING COMPONENT.

Risk: Diesel fuel May be deposited onto the highway and create the potential for a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Mbusa will contact owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the diesel fuel filter if necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 30, 2011. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz USA at 1-800-367-6372.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Engine

Apr 1, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V213000 · 41 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011 e-class model W212 and S212 vehicles manufactured from July 8, 2010, through July 12, 2010. Insufficient adhesive between the vibration damper and its inner mass damper ring could cause a sudden separation of the inner mass damper ring from the vibration damper.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 E-CLASS MODEL W212 AND S212 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 8, 2010, THROUGH JULY 12, 2010. INSUFFICIENT ADHESIVE BETWEEN THE VIBRATION DAMPER AND ITS INNER MASS DAMPER RING COULD CAUSE A SUDDEN SEPARATION OF THE INNER MASS DAMPER RING FROM THE VIBRATION DAMPER.

Risk: While working in the engine compartment during engine operation, the damper ring could strike and injure the person repairing the vehicle or a bystander.

Original NHTSA wording

WHILE WORKING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING ENGINE OPERATION, THE DAMPER RING COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE PERSON REPAIRING THE VEHICLE OR A BYSTANDER.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and replace parts as necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on April 8, 2011. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes safety recall no. 2011030004.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Fuel System

Oct 29, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V540000 · 2,297 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes benz is recalling certain model year 2011 m-class, model W164, gl-class, model X164, e-class, model W212, r-class, and model V251VEHICLES. The o-ring May not have been properly lubricated in all cases. Lack of lubrication can lead to leakage of the fuel filter.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 M-CLASS, MODEL W164, GL-CLASS, MODEL X164, E-CLASS, MODEL W212, R-CLASS, AND MODEL V251VEHICLES. THE O-RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY LUBRICATED IN ALL CASES. LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN LEAD TO LEAKAGE OF THE FUEL FILTER.

Risk: Diesel fuel May be deposited on roads and making those roads slippery, increasing the potential for a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

DIESEL FUEL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON ROADS AND MAKING THOSE ROADS SLIPPERY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the fuel filters free of charge. The safety recall began on November 24, 2010. Owners May contact Mercedes benz at 1-800-367-6372. This campaign has been superseded . Please see recall campaign 11V-496.

Steering

Oct 4, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V459000 · 85,300 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes benz is recalling certain model year 2010 c-class, model 204, e-class, model 212, and model year 2010-2011 e-class coupe/cabriolet model 207 vehicles. The power steering system in the subject vehicles May fail due to the loss of power steering fluid.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 C-CLASS, MODEL 204, E-CLASS, MODEL 212, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 E-CLASS COUPE/CABRIOLET MODEL 207 VEHICLES. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY FAIL DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID.

Risk: Owners May not have sufficient control of the vehicle in areas, such as parking lots, where maximum power steering is required, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Original NHTSA wording

OWNERS MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN AREAS, SUCH AS PARKING LOTS, WHERE MAXIMUM POWER STEERING IS REQUIRED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will check and retorque the connection fitting free of charge. The safety recall began on October 31, 2010. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2011 vs. other Mercedes-Benz E years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2011. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E, the latest from Oct 3, 2011 (fuel system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (3), tires (3), electrical system (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.