Mercedes-Benz E400 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 92 consumer complaints across the 4 model years of the Mercedes-Benz E400 (2015–2018) that have at least 5 complaints. 2016 has the most, with 34. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (47 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All E400 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 23 | 15,000 | 13 | 223 | — | Rising |
| 2017 | 20 | 3,500 | 8 | 209 | — | Falling |
| 2016 | 34 | 40,000 | 7 | 159 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2015 | 15 | 15,000 | 7 | 138 | — | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags47 52%
- Other or unknown10 11%
- Electrical system9 9.9%
- Steering8 8.8%
- Engine6 6.6%
- Body and structure4 4.4%
- Brakes4 4.4%
- Transmission and drivetrain3 3.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2018: “I was driving in the florida turnpike traveling from miami I stopped at a service station to go to the restroom and when I came back my car had a fire coming from the engine. I had to get the fire extinguisher from the gas station, opened the hood and put down the fire. The vehicle was stationary and the engine was not running. My concern was not just my safety but the fact that I was so close to the gas station. There was 0 warning and no erratic behaviour from the car before this.”
NHTSA complaint #11164363, filed 2019-01, 6,500 miles2017: “Takata airbag defect. I received notice of recall from mb in november, 2017, almost 8 months ago. Despite numerous followups with both mb and the dealer, neither mb or the mb dealer can tell me when the parts will be available to correct this serious safety problem. Please help before my wife or I or other persons are injured or worse. The mb notice states that the airbag may deploy due to insufficient electrical grounding, an electrostatic discharge and a broken steering module clock spring, causing injury and risk of a crash.”
NHTSA complaint #11092301, filed 2018-05, 3,500 miles2015: “Collision avoidance system (presafe plus) failed to warn (as advertised by mbusa) of an imminent rear end collision on an expressway. The system is supposed to provide an audible warning signal based on the rate of change of the closing distance between mb and a vehicle in front. Moreover, if the driver ignores the warning signal, the mb is supposed to apply brakes automatically. Neither of these two events took place, resulting in a rear end collision. The highway before and at the point of collision was straight with no curves. …”
NHTSA complaint #11072118, filed 2018-02, 15,000 milesOther Mercedes-Benz models
3,965 complaintsMercedes-Benz E350
2,215 complaintsMercedes-Benz E320
1,164 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML350
952 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLK350
901 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML320
740 complaintsMercedes-Benz C250
725 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLC 300
659 complaints
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. Methodology