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Mercedes-Benz E350Model year report

2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems

Compared with other Mercedes-Benz E350 years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2008, 2009

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
223filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
59,200miles, 76 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 17 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 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 write about the Takata airbag inflator recall: many complaints describe waiting months or years for parts to become available at dealers. The next most common theme is a gasoline smell in and around the car after refueling, which complaints frequently tie to the fuel sending unit or fuel tank area. Other reports cover corroded rear subframes, a fuel-fired cabin heater element and various electrical or starting faults, usually at higher mileage.

  1. Air bags

    Takata airbag recall parts unavailable

    • 106 complaints (48%)
    • median 49,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2026

    Many complaints describe receiving recall notices for the driver or passenger side airbag inflator and then being told by dealers that replacement parts were not in stock, with no firm date given. Owners said they were advised they could keep driving while waiting, and some described repeated calls to dealers and the manufacturer over many months without a remedy. A few complaints describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, or an SRS warning message appearing. Reported from roughly 16,000 to 96,000 miles, mostly between 2016 and 2019 while the recall was pending.

    Recall 16V081000Recall 16V363000Recall 19V010000Recall 21V6380002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the seller for proof that the airbag inflator recalls were completed, and check the VIN with a dealer or NHTSA recall lookup for any open campaigns before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have received notice for 2years about this bag recall, but every time I speak to someone at mercedes benz south they tell me ' the part not in yet, they will call me when it comes in.' I am documenting every conversation that I have with Mercedes-Benz because if something happened to me while driving that car they will be responsible.”

    NHTSA complaint #11302251, filed 2020-01, 67 miles

    “Takata recall. I've received 3 notices by mercedes benz to replace my takata airbags. However, my dealer says they do not have the parts. I've contacted them repeatedly over the past year. Mercedes benz in carlsbad california states they cannot fix my airbags without parts and they do not know when the parts will arrive. Please help get my car fixed. I'm afraid to drive it.”

    NHTSA complaint #10967762, filed 2017-03, 18,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel smell after refueling (sending unit / tank)

    • 29 complaints (13%)
    • median 59,700 mi at 8.4 yrs old (16 state mileage)
    • filed 2016–2025

    Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside the cabin and around the car after filling the tank, often strongest near the right rear. Several complaints say a dealer or independent shop traced it to a leaking cover on the passenger side fuel sending unit, a leaking fuel tank, or a fuel filter sensor, and in some cases fuel was found pooled on top of the tank under the rear seat access panel. Some owners reported their VIN was not included in the fuel system recall and were told no assistance was available. Usually reported after refueling, from about 42,000 to 194,000 miles.

    Recall 12V5570003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Fill the tank during the test drive and then smell around the right rear wheel and inside the cabin; ask whether the fuel filter or sending unit has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We recently filled the gas tank with fuel and noticed a strong fuel odor as if someone spilled gas on the floor in the garage. I proceeded to investigate where the smell was coming from around the car and noticed that it was strongest on the passenger rear of the vehicle. I checked on line and noticed similar issues with the fuel tank on other mercedes models. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11015615, filed 2017-08, 52,078 miles

    “After filling my car with gasoline, I noticed a strong swell of gasoline in my garage when I parked my car. I had never experienced the smell of gasoline in my garage after filling up my gas tank in the past. I left the car in the garage for awhile, but returned to a stronger smell of gasoline. I took the car to Mercedes-Benz of beverly hills in california for inspection and diagnosis. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11011804, filed 2017-07, 59,000 miles
  3. Other or unknown

    Sudden acceleration or unintended movement

    • 13 complaints (6%)
    • median 52,735 mi at 6.6 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2024

    Several owners describe the car accelerating on its own from a stop or during a turn, including two accounts of the vehicle leaving the road and hitting a building or fence. Other complaints describe the car shifting itself out of park or into park while moving, or going into limp mode with poor throttle response. Dealers in some cases could not duplicate the problem. Reported from about 27,000 to 95,000 miles, at low speeds in most accounts.

    What to check: Test the car at low speed in a parking lot, including gentle throttle from a stop and shifting in and out of park; ask whether any transmission or throttle-related repairs were done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving home from work at approximately 1:30 pm on a clear, sunny day, about a minute away from my home. The road conditions were good, and there was no traffic. I stopped at the corner to make a left turn. As I proceeded to turn, the car suddenly accelerated. I immediately applied the brakes, but they did not engage. I had no control of the car. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11301964, filed 2020-01, 95,000 miles

    “I was parking in front of the doctor's office when the car suddenly accelerated very fast, jumped the curb and ran into the wall of one of the examining rooms, injuring a patient.no one in the car was injured but the car was totaled. Air bgs did not deploy. This is the second incident of sudden acceleration problems but I managed to stop the car before hitting another car on our church parking lot.”

    NHTSA complaint #11013421, filed 2017-08, 43,471 miles
  4. Engine

    Oil cooler leak on the diesel engine

    • 21 complaints (9%)
    • median 72,220 mi at 6.5 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • filed 2013–2025

    Owners of the diesel version report oil leaking from the oil cooler assembly area on the engine, with repair estimates described as costly. A complaint also notes an AdBlue heater or sensor fault that starts a countdown of remaining starts before the car will not start, and another describes a dealer attributing a limp-mode condition to fuel quality. Reported between about 20,000 and 100,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: On a diesel, check for oil residue around the cooler area and ask whether the oil cooler gaskets have been replaced; confirm the emission modification was installed if applicable.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Adblue heater/senor for the emission control on the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 bluetec fail after 80,000 miles the problem with the system is that it starts a count down which is displayed on the dash to how many starts are left before the car completely shuts down and will not start because of a heater/senor. So here I am held captive by the number of starts I have left to get the car to a dealership to correct the problem. My problem with this is a $50,000.00 plus car shouldn't be shutting down for a emission control system.”

    NHTSA complaint #10676831, filed 2015-01, 80,000 miles

    “Oil cooler leaking oil. This is a $2200.00 fix. I should not be experiencing this on a $50,000.00 automobile with less than 100,000 miles on it. Mercedes benz mbusa should be fixing this problem at their own expense.”

    NHTSA complaint #10715221, filed 2015-05, 92,000 miles

Buying note. Check the VIN for open airbag recalls and confirm the fuel system work, rear subframe condition and any oil leaks before purchase. A pre-purchase inspection on a lift is worthwhile given the corrosion and leak reports at higher mileage.

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.

NHTSA recorded 223 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. 76 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 59,200 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 145 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 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Wheels (6), Electrical system (4), Vehicle speed control (4), Seat belts (3), Tires (3), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. I was informed that the driver and passenger airbags had both been issued a recall notice. I called Mercedes-Benz of naples in naples florida and they said they could not get replacement parts. It has been six months and no word when I might expect a remedy. I want an answer as to when I can expect replacement of these air bags.”

NHTSA complaint #10937380, filed 2016-12, 26,210 miles

Fuel system: “All of a sudden, one day after filling my tank, there's now an overwhelming gas smell present both ~20 feet away from vehicle, and inside the car. It is so bad, I have to leave windows down for 20-30 minutes while driving before the environment becomes tolerable with the windows up. I have read that other similar E350 models have this problem, but my newer (2011) year model doesn't appear to be on the extended warranty repair list. …”

NHTSA complaint #10897482, filed 2016-08, 69,000 miles

Other or unknown: “My 2011 E350 soft convertible top is leaking hydraulic fluid from the pistons and the flexible tubing running through the soft top roof (drivers side) to the locking mechanism which secures it to the windshield is developing a serious kink that will likely fail soon and leak fluid into the interior of the vehicle. Definitely a poor design as the lines do not have a flex joint at the hinge point to allow for repeated bending during operation of the top. I believe it to be a bad design / premature failure and should be a recall item paid for my mercedes benz.”

NHTSA complaint #11413215, filed 2021-04, 45,000 miles

Suspension: “Hello, I was driving one night I hit the brake and the car lost control ..I was able to drive home afterward I took the car to a shop and after inception They found the rear K sub frame rusted and broken. The car in excellent shape with no rust or corrosion in any other area. The car has 108k miles and always parked indoor.”

NHTSA complaint #11456111, filed 2022-03

Mileage when problems were reported

43% of the 76 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 39,000 and 90,000 miles.

4%0–109%10–2530%25–5022%50–7520%75–1007%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (76 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 59,200 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’12’14’1648’18’20’22’24’26
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 2011 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 AWDnot rated———5 · 9.9% risk
E-Class · sedan RWDnot rated———5 · 9.9% risk

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 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 automatic172520$4,100
E350 4matic 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic172419$4,350
E350 4matic (wagon) 4WD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic162319$4,350
E350 Convertible RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic172520$4,100
E350 Coupe RWD3.5L 6-cyl7-speed automatic172620$4,100

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 2011 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. 145 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 145 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350?

Owners of this model year most often write about the Takata airbag inflator recall: many complaints describe waiting months or years for parts to become available at dealers. The issues reported most often: Takata airbag recall parts unavailable; Fuel smell after refueling (sending unit / tank); Sudden acceleration or unintended movement.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 have?

NHTSA recorded 223 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 108 complaints (48% of the total), followed by fuel system with 32.

Has the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 (E350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 reported?

Among the 76 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 59,200 miles and the middle half falls between 39,000 and 90,000 miles; 43% 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.