2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 8, 2026 · 163 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other E350 years
Far more complaints than other years 8th of 22 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. That ranks 8th out of 22 E350 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (47 complaints, 29%), typically at around 49,500 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 4 fires, 13 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags47 · ~49,500 mi
Service Brakes29 · ~35,000 mi
Structure18 · ~90,000 mi
Unknown or Other16 · ~43,162 mi
Engine15 · ~39,536 mi
Suspension13 · ~122,500 mi
Electrical System12 · ~39,536 mi
Steering10 · ~54,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control9 · ~8,950 mi
Wheels8 · ~50,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags4729%49,500——
Service Brakes2918%35,000——
Structure1811%90,000——
Unknown or Other1610%43,162——
Engine159%39,536——
Suspension138%122,500——
Electrical System127%39,536——
Steering106%54,000——
Vehicle Speed Control96%8,950——
Wheels85%50,000——
Fuel/propulsion System74%36,295——
Power Train74%44,550——
Visibility64%80,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance42%49,500——
Fuel System, Gasoline42%100,000——
Tires32%32,500——
Seat Belts21%56,500——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic21%91,500——
Exterior Lighting11%46,788——
Fuel System, Other11%46,913——
Seats11%———
Visibility/wiper11%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2019, with 28 complaints
2013: 3201332014: 6201462015: 6201562016: 3201632017: 7201772018: 132018132019: 282019282020: 172020172021: 202021202022: 142022142023: 122023122024: 172024172025: 122025122026: 520265

n = 163 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls (6)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontalAug 13, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V638000 · 205 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.

Risk: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

CommunicationNov 1, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V787000 · 24,226 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 10, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V043000 · 132,167 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Air bags:frontalOct 6, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V627000 · 495,290 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

Risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Electrical system:software; air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactiveMar 14, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V177000 · 51 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Structure:body:hoodFeb 13, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V088000 · 147,224 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 E350 Sedan, E350 4Matic Sedan, E350 4Matic Station Wagon, E400 Hybrid Sedan, CLS 550 CGI, and CLS550 4Matic, 2013-2014 E550 4Matic Sedan, 2013 E63 Sedan, E63 Station Wagon and CLS63, 2014-2015 CLS63 4Matic, E63 4Matic Sedan, E63 4Matic Sedan "S", and E63 4Matic Station Wagon, 2015 CLS400, 2015 E400 Sedan, E400 4Matic Sedan and CLS400 4Matic and 2014 CLS63 "S". The affected vehicles have a rubber seal at the back of the engine bay that may temporarily stick to the hood when it is opened and then may fall into the engine bay when the hood is closed.

Risk: If the rubber seal falls into the engine compartment, it may contact parts of the exhaust system, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will attach four additional retaining clips to the rubber seal, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-201-573-5339. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015020001.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
  • Rear brake line failure (DP20004) — opened Apr 24, 2020, closed Oct 9, 2020.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal became inoperable. The contact stated that the steel brake lines were rusted. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Oct 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769972

I experienced rapid, severe tire wear due to a severely corroded rear subframe. Because the structural damage posed an immediate safety hazard, I had the subframe replaced at an independent shop using a brand-new, genuine OEM Mercedes-Benz subframe ordered directly from a dealer parts department. I…

Unknown or Other · received Oct 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11769401

Last April, during our routine oil change our mechanic pointed out that our Cam sensors were wicking oil into the harness and making its way to the ECM. This is the first we had ever heard of this issue and the repair was $2400 or so. After researching the problem we wrote to MB USA and never got…

Engine · received Apr 8, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11729841

1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle has not been inspected by the insurance as it was a total loss withn damages more…

Service Brakes · received Feb 17, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11718391

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle through a car wash, water started leaking into the vehicle from around the sunroof frame. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…

Visibility · received Jan 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11714458

Other Mercedes-Benz E350 years

← 2012 E350 · 2014 E350 →

See all Mercedes-Benz E350 problems by year, every Mercedes-Benz model, or the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350?

Owners most often report air bags, service brakes, structure problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 47 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E350 model years, the 2013 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.