2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 E300 most often describe a loss of power steering assist, a gasoline smell traced to fuel lines or injectors, and rough running or misfires. Complaints also cover jerking and hesitation from the transmission and, in some cases, the gear shifter failing to select a gear. Many reports arrive at low to moderate mileage, and several owners note that a related recall did not cover their vehicle.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Jerking shifts and gear shifter faults

   • 11 complaints (8%)
   • median 79,500 mi at 6.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe jerking and hesitation under acceleration, the transmission slipping out of gear or dropping into limp mode, unintended downshifts, and a stutter when pulling away after braking. Others report the gear shifter failing to move, returning to neutral, or selecting the wrong gear, sometimes with a message that reverse is not possible. Complaints note dealers sometimes called the behaviour normal and sometimes diagnosed the shift lever module or control hardware. Spread from very low mileage to about 144,000 miles, with many between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 17V0780003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test low-speed stop-and-go driving and the first upshifts for jolts, and move the selector between park, reverse and drive several times; ask whether transmission software updates were applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When applying gas after braking, the car has an intermittent stutter. The car was recalled for a transmission issue and after the recall was performed, the problem appeared. Local dealer calls it normal”

   NHTSA complaint #11231952, filed 2019-07, 20 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle hesitated before shifting to a higher gear. The contact stated that the transmission was also slipping out of gear, and the vehicle shifted into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission was not shifting above second gear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11660928, filed 2025-05, 100,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Hesitation, misfires and fuel injector faults

   • 24 complaints (18%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe the car hesitating or failing to accelerate, shuddering when coming to a stop, and the check engine light coming on, with mechanics pointing to fuel injectors and the fuel rail. Some owners report stalling or loss of power at speed, and a few mention rough running traced to a cracked piston after a tear-down. Others describe spark plugs, coils and injectors being replaced without fully curing the problem. Reported from about 20,000 to 92,000 miles, with several cases between 70,000 and 90,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Scan for stored misfire and fuel-related codes before purchase, and ask whether injectors, the fuel rail, plugs or coils have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After about 1-2 mikes of driving my 2017 mb E300 started jerking and engine light came on when I drove toward the first lane for a left turn on a busy highway intersection. I also found the gear was changed to neutral. I tried to change the gear to drive while waiting for the traffic light but I couldn't. I stopped the engine to restart but couldn't restart at all. I pressed the mb roadside assistance button. They said a tow truck would be there within 20 mins. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11111487, filed 2018-07, 17,000 miles

   “While in motion, engine starts vibrating and the check engine light comes up. Took it to the mechanic and its a broken piston. This is the third time this is happening on the same engine”

   NHTSA complaint #11374491, filed 2020-11, 20 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out

   • 9 complaints (7%)
   • median 69,500 mi at 6.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints describe a steering malfunction message appearing while driving or just after startup, with the wheel becoming very hard to turn; assist sometimes returns after a restart and sometimes does not. A few owners also report shaking or noise from the steering column, and some were told by the dealer that no fault was found. Others were diagnosed with an internal failure of the steering rack. Reported from about 16,000 up to roughly 104,000 miles, with many cases between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

   Recall 17V714000Recall 17V574000Recall 17V241000

   What to check: Ask whether steering faults were ever logged or repaired and whether the power steering recalls were completed; during a test drive, make slow full-lock turns and listen for noise from the column.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the power steering assist failed with the Steering Malfunction, Increased Physical Effort and Active Brake Assist warning messages appeared on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where an attempt was made to repair the power steering failure; however, the repair was unsuccessful. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11503816, filed 2023-01, 59,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure occurred increasingly while turning. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and to the dealer, but no DTC was retrieved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V714000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700877, filed 2025-11, 80,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Gasoline smell from fuel lines and injectors

   • 14 complaints (11%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report a strong gasoline odor inside the cabin or under the hood, often at idle, on a cold engine, or after startup, and sometimes noticeable around the parked car. Those who had it diagnosed were told of leaks at low-pressure or high-pressure fuel lines, the hose to the high-pressure pump, or failed fuel rails and injectors. Some say the dealer could not find a cause or treated the lines as wear items. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 72,000 miles, frequently when the engine is cold or at idle.

   Recall 16V758000

   What to check: Smell the engine bay after an overnight cold start and look for dampness or staining on fuel lines near the pump and rail; ask for records of any fuel line or injector work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Strong smell of petrol in the mornings, seems to be under the hood. I inspected the fuel lines from the fuel tank to the engine underneath and could not find any drips or wetness. Did some research online. There was a recall on other models for this problem. I called mercedes customer service but there is not a recall for this on the 2017 mercedes E300”

   NHTSA complaint #11389383, filed 2021-01, 70,000 miles

   “There was a smell of gasoline in and outside the car when the car was idling. Also, a smell of gasoline in the garage around the parked car. Also a smell of gasoline after starting the car, that went away after driving. I called the service department. They gave me an appointment one week later. I have no complaints about the service dept. When the car was repaired several hours later, the report stated found seep at fuel hose to pump , and then, replaced upper fuel hose to high pressure fuel pump . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11506780, filed 2023-02
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster goes blank

   • 17 complaints (13%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2025

   Complaints describe the widescreen instrument cluster staying dark at startup or going blank while driving, leaving the driver without speed or warning displays; some owners say it returned on its own or stayed dark after a restart. Others report the display resetting intermittently and dealers unable to diagnose it. A few mentions also cover the ECO start-stop feature failing to restart the engine at a stop. Reported from low mileage up to about 70,000 miles, and occasionally at higher mileage.

   Recall 17V245000Recall 20V4490001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Start the car several times and confirm the cluster lights up fully each time, and ask whether cluster software updates or recalls were performed for the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In our mercedes the HVAC system has a defect where it doesn't properly ventilate & grows mold that smells up the car. There has been a class action lawsuit about this exact problem and in the lawsuit they state that no amount of repairs can fix it. We have taken our car to the mercedes dealership countless times, they said they fixed it. We were sent home with a car that had something sprayed in the vents & smelled horrible & gave me a horrible headache the whole drive home. Then the mold smell came back a few days later any way. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404067, filed 2021-03

   “The instrument panel that displays the digital speed, warning lights, etc. went black suddenly when turning on the car. It came back on suddenly while driving on the highway but after the car was turned off and restarted, the instrument panel has remained black. This is a huge safety issue as there is no warning light indicators, merging lanes does not signal if another car is present, among many other concerns. The vehicle has been inspected by mechanic. There was no warning indicators that instrument panel would go black suddenly. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11648086, filed 2025-03

Buying note. An inspection that scans for engine and transmission fault codes and checks the steering assist and fuel system is worthwhile on this model year. Confirm which open recalls apply to the specific vehicle, since several common complaints involve items that were recalled but not always covered.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.