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Mercedes-Benz E350Model year report

2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz E350 years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

6/100 0.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
64filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
81,500miles, 50 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a strong gasoline smell after refueling, usually traced to leaks at the fuel tank or sending unit, and many mention this began or was noticed in the middle-mileage range. Other recurring themes in the sample are seat warmers overheating, a broken front coil spring, and engine problems such as a cam adjuster or balance shaft fault that put the car into limp mode.

  1. Fuel system

    Gasoline smell / fuel leak after refueling

    • 32 complaints (50%)
    • median 98,000 mi at 7.3 yrs old (27 state mileage)
    • filed 2012–2022

    Owners describe a strong fuel odor in and around the car after filling the tank, most noticeable when the car is parked in a garage, and often saying the smell fades once the level drops to about three quarters. Several complaints were diagnosed as a leak at the fuel tank, sending unit or filter seal, with fuel pooling on top of the tank under the rear seat area. Some owners report the dealer or manufacturer declined coverage because their vehicle was not included in an extended warranty on fuel tank components. Reported from roughly 26,000 to 165,000 miles, frequently right after a fill-up and when parked.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank, sending unit or filter seal has been replaced, and check for a fuel smell at the rear driver side after a full fill-up. Confirm in writing whether the vehicle is covered by any fuel tank component warranty extension.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Gasoline odor is noticed when fuel is added to the fuel tank. It is very noticeable when car is parked in the garage for over 5 minutes after a recent fuel fill. The odor is very strong and has caused household members to have headaches. I am forced to park the car outside due to this odor. I also noticed gasoline spilling on the floor near the fuel tank area.”

    NHTSA complaint #11365385, filed 2020-10, 120,000 miles

    “Gas is leaking from gas tank after running over a pot on highway. State farm insurance company said it is on investigation for leaking gas for my car model and so, they won't cover it. Although plastic gas tank is already on recall, metal tank for my car is not. A dealer refused to fix under recall. Now I am driving with leaking gas.”

    NHTSA complaint #10865022, filed 2016-05, 107,500 miles
  2. Engine

    Engine misfire, cam adjuster or balance shaft fault

    Mentioned in 5 of 52 sampled complaints

    Owners describe the check engine light coming on, the car shaking and losing power or going into limp mode, and sometimes failing to start or stalling while driving. Dealers and shops diagnosed a cam adjuster or balance shaft problem, with repair estimates in the low thousands of dollars, and some owners report being told the fault relates to a known issue but still being charged. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 60,000 miles, sometimes with no warning beforehand.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for recent service records and whether the cam adjuster, balance shaft or timing components have been addressed, and scan the car for stored engine fault codes before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving my mercedes E350 on I-95 north bound somewhere near philadelphia. My family including my wife and my two sons were also on the car. Somehow, all of sudden, the vehicle was not under control, which is, the vehicle quickly slowed down and despite the fact that I kept pressing the gas pedal, the vehicle did not move (I believe that the engine was shut down for some reason). I had to use hazard signals to warn the vehicles of the drivers behind me. Meanwhile, my son advised me to press the sos button of my vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10760310, filed 2015-08, 63,000 miles

    “Crank shaft balancer which is so common and an almost $9000 repair. Car runs but can't smog or sell because it throws codes p0016 p0017. There is no word on many class action lawsuits about this online. How do we fix. This is a one owner car with problem for last 50k miles and no solution.”

    NHTSA complaint #11457699, filed 2022-03
  3. Seats

    Seat heater wiring short and seat fire

    • 6 complaints (9%)
    • median 69,500 mi at 7.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2022

    Complaints describe smoke, heat and flames from the back of the driver's seat while driving, in some cases burning clothing and leaving a hole in the seat cushion. One owner reported the dealer diagnosed a fractured wire to the seat warmer element that shorted electrically. Another report describes the heated seat catching fire at about 35 mph. Reported between roughly 37,000 and 120,000 miles, while driving with the seat heater in use.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the seat heater and its wiring inspected before relying on it, and ask whether the seat element or wiring has been replaced. Note any discoloration or stiff spots on the seat cushion and backrest.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On thursday afternoon, october 1 the driver's seat of my 2009 e350w mercedes benz burst into flames while I was driving. The heat and flames from the fire burned my shirt. My left side was also burned. Since I was traveling at 35 MPH, I was able to pull over safely, leap from the car and put out the fire. It was only by god's grace that I avoided a serious accident with life threatening injuries and possibly fatalities. I immediately called the beverly hills mercedes benz service center to alert them of the problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10779986, filed 2015-10, 37,770 miles

    “As driving noticed strong smell of smoke. Then noticed smoke coming from left side drivers seat. As I pulled over hole burned in seat and sparks and flames poured out from burning hole in seat.”

    NHTSA complaint #10779166, filed 2015-10, 37,670 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the fuel tank and sending unit for leaks, the front springs, and any stored engine codes, since these are the areas owners report most. Ask for service records and confirm which open recalls, including the sunroof panel and rear suspension campaigns, have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 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.

NHTSA recorded 64 consumer complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350. 50 of the complaints include a mileage, and 30% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 81,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 116 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 8 Mercedes-Benz E350 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 6 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Exterior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Steering (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “I am having an issue with my E350 (09), every time I fill up my tank I can smell the gas. I don't smell it inside the car but outside the car and it is strong. It is really strong that you thought the gas spilled. Once the gas goes down to like 3/4 of a tank the odor will be gone. I tried tracing where the gas odor is coming from and I think it is under the fender on the rear driver side.”

NHTSA complaint #11359906, filed 2020-09, 84,000 miles

Air bags: “I just purchased a vehicle from a private party and we kept communicating for about 4-5 days. During that time the seller claimed he was the 2nd owner and that was great. Then he posted pictures and videos of the car in a video and it looked in perfect condition. Then after driving 3 1/2 hours to meet the seller and he lied about the year of vehicle. The damages were far beyond shown on the video and pictures. Then the major issue was that there was an warning light stating the driver srs needs to be serviced, I asked the seller mohummed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11398043, filed 2021-02

Seats: “The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact felt heat coming from the rear of the front driver seat and noticed smoke coming from the rear of the seat, causing the back of the driver’s seat to catch on fire. The contact was to pull over and noticed that the back of his shirt had caught on fire as well, the contact was not injured. The contact was able to stop the fire by pouring water on the seat. No police report was filed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11493045, filed 2022-11, 38,000 miles

Engine: “The contacts owns a 2009 mercedes benz E350. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10724738, filed 2015-06, 45,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

30% of the 50 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 42,600 and 120,000 miles.

8%0–104%10–2518%25–5018%50–7512%75–10032%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (50 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 81,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’10’13’15’17’1910’21’26
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
E-Class · sedan (side air bags) RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——5 · 10.1% risk
E-Class · wagon 4 dr w/sab RWD/AWDnot rated4 / 4——5 · 10.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2009 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning not available, automatic emergency braking not available.

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
E350 RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic172419$4,350
E350 4matic 4WD/AWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162218$4,550
E350 4matic (wagon) 4WD/AWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162118$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 116 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 116 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202459,6004———Too new
20236—3526—Too new
2022914,4033526—Not enough data
20211338,60012525—Not enough data
2020842,3636526—Not enough data
2017720,00005——Not enough data
20165138,212542328 · FewerFalling
20153125,00064236 · FewerRising
201427846,600842382 · MoreStable
201316444,5506—2354 · TypicalStable
201221769,7007—2257 · TypicalStable
201122359,2005—2050 · TypicalStable
201018459,9784—2153 · TypicalStable
20096481,5004—196 · FewerFalling
200817386,6884—1926 · FewerFalling
200735076,0005—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200640090,0004—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20051585,0000———Falling
200410135,0000———Not enough data
2003776,0000———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz E350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350?

Owners of this model year most often report a strong gasoline smell after refueling, usually traced to leaks at the fuel tank or sending unit, and many mention this began or was noticed in the middle-mileage range. The issues reported most often: Gasoline smell / fuel leak after refueling; Engine misfire, cam adjuster or balance shaft fault; Seat heater wiring short and seat fire.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 have?

NHTSA recorded 64 consumer complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 33 complaints (52% of the total), followed by air bags with 6.

Has the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 (E350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350 reported?

Among the 50 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 81,500 miles and the middle half falls between 42,600 and 120,000 miles; 30% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.