2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 10about this part
- Share
- 5%of 217 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 13,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350, 5% of the 217 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 13,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While driving on an express way in dallas, texas my GPS made an error concerning an exit and I was required to divert quickly to the left to make exit lane .time was 6:00 pm ,heavy traffic conditions and road and weather conditions were excellent and dry. My mercedes pre activated a skid mode and there was approximately a 70% cut back in engine power .a yellow engine light came on and skid mode came on operator screen but there was no skidding taking place. …”
NHTSA complaint #10585027, filed 2014-04, 20,000 miles“When starting the vehicle has a slow start. When in motion the vehicle drives rough, and cuts off, then the check engine light came on. This vehicle has a great maintenance record only serviced at the mercedes dealer and has 0nly 54000 miles. This is clearly an engineering issue which was a safety issue. Mercedes repaired. They found the camshaft damaged, head damaged, and gear damaged and replaced camshaft and gear only. They charged my for their engineering failures $4874.38. …”
NHTSA complaint #10838826, filed 2016-02, 55,400 miles“Vehicle stops accelerating while driving. This has happened 4 times. At all other times, vehicle drives normally. Problem has occurred when accelerating after vehicle brakes have been applied to slow down. This is an automatic transmission and it seems that the car is not down shifting or the auto clutch is not engaging to allow down shift while accelerating. It drives like it's in 4th gear when it should be in 1st or 2nd gear if it were a manual transmission. There is a grinding sound as if the clutch was not pushed in fully while shifting if it were a manual transmission. …”
NHTSA complaint #10541747, filed 2013-09, 1,040 miles“Car won't go forward or reverse smoothly. It acts like a dead pedal then lurches. I traded pain with a safety barrier backing up when it suddenly went backwards. Also sometimes when entering the highway or passing a car it will go into limp mode. Can only be cleared by restarting car. Very dangerous.”
NHTSA complaint #11507034, filed 2023-02“The contact owns a 2012 mercedes benz E350. While driving below 10 MPH, the transmission would suddenly malfunction and caused the vehicle to abruptly stop. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10790237, filed 2015-11, 78,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11035005Jul 14, 2026Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of…
- 11025648Nov 15, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11023193Sep 17, 2025Complaint Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 (fully integrated transmission control unit (VGS)) not listed in quick test and/or no communication possible with VGS. Cause…
- 11019018May 21, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11013298Jan 16, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11013332Jan 15, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing…
- 11010818Nov 20, 2024Complaint Transmission control unit Y3/8n4 (fully integrated transmission control unit (VGS)) not listed in quick test and/or no communication possible with VGS. Cause…
- 11008873Oct 1, 2024Complaint Tension-releasing impact of the propeller shaft with the force-free in D "KID" function, after vehicle has stopped. Cause The tension-releasing jolt in the drivetrain…
- 10056470Jul 24, 2014Xentry (mercedes): combination of fault codes p060c00 and/or p060600, causing various transmission symptoms due to central processing unit, software induced internal control unit…
- 10165843Jul 10, 2014Various transmission complaints in combination with the fault code P060C00 and/or P060600. With fault code P060C00 the symptoms may include the transmission switching to…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 11% |
| 2021 | 3 | 23% |
| 2020 | 1 | 13% |
| 2016 | 5 | 10% |
| 2015 | 1 | 3% |
| 2014 | 15 | 5% |
| 2013 | 7 | 4% |
| 2012 | 10 | 5% |
| 2011 | 6 | 3% |
| 2010 | 14 | 8% |
| 2009 | 2 | 3% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 21 | 6% |
| 2006 | 37 | 9% |
| 2003 | 1 | 14% |
Other parts of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350
84 complaintsFuel system
35 complaintsBrakes
20 complaintsEngine
20 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaintsSuspension
14 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsSeats
8 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsTires
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology