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Mercedes-Benz E550Model year report

2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 Problems

Complaints
61filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
70,500miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns 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
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 5.5L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints about the 2011 E550 are dominated by two long-running themes: owner frustration over how long the driver- and passenger-side airbag inflator recalls have taken to be remedied, and repeated failures of the Airmatic air suspension that leave the car sitting low on one corner or on the ground. Suspension reports tend to appear at higher mileage than the recall-related airbag complaints, and a few owners also describe rear subframe corrosion, brake vibration, and driveline or electrical problems.

  1. Air bags

    Airbag inflator recall remedy still unavailable

    • 25 complaints (41%)
    • median 49,486 mi at 6.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2020

    Owners describe receiving notices for the Takata driver- and passenger-side inflator recalls and then being told by dealers that replacement parts are not available, in some cases for years. Many complaints state the car sits unused or cannot be sold at a fair price because the repair cannot be scheduled; a few describe cancelled appointments or inconsistent answers about whether parts have arrived. A small number report that an airbag did not deploy in a collision. Filed mainly between 2016 and 2020, with reported mileage ranging from about 22,000 to about 69,000 miles where recorded.

    Recall 16V081000Recall 16V363000Recall 19V0100002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check the VIN with a dealer or NHTSA for open airbag recalls on this vehicle, and ask for written confirmation that the driver and passenger inflators were replaced, not just that the recall was "closed".

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall - I've contacted two dealerships (mercedes benz of san jose and mercdes benz of stevens creek) both continue to say that there are no parts. I don't want to get injured by the airbag if there is an accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #11044191, filed 2017-11, 30,000 miles

    “Takata recall. My vehicle is affected by takata's recall and I'm unable to sell it at a market fair price due to this recall. As of today mbusa has no remedy available . I'm scheduled to deploy for a year starting next week, and I will have to keep my vehicle on storage at my own expense for a year, since I was unable to resolve this and get a fair market value for my car in order to sell it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11045232, filed 2017-11
  2. Suspension

    Airmatic air suspension sags or sits on the ground

    • 18 complaints (30%)
    • median 74,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2022

    Owners report the car dropping at one corner or at the front overnight or after a few hours parked, with a "vehicle rising, please wait" or "car too low" message and sometimes a warning to pull over. Several say an air strut or shock was found leaking and was quoted at roughly one to two thousand dollars per corner, and some had the rear units replaced only to see the front ones fail later. A few report symptoms while driving, including a loud air release or a strut bursting. Mostly reported between roughly 22,000 and 132,000 miles, typically around 60,000 to 100,000 miles, often noticed after the car has sat overnight.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Look at the car after it has been parked for several hours or overnight to see whether it sits level, and ask for service records showing whether any air struts, valve block, or compressor have been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I bought 2011 E550 base sedan last year. It had 25k miles on it, and 2 months later my rear suspension began leaking and cost me 2k in repairs. The car would leak out air from suspension over couple hours. Dealer or my aftermarket warranty wouldn't cover this problem because it's not on the contract, but I'm not the first one with this issue. We shouldn't be buying new airbag suspension on a car that haven't had the original tires replaced yet.”

    NHTSA complaint #10897712, filed 2016-08, 26,000 miles

    “Suspension. On vehicle is lopsided also not able to raise or drive comfortable be the suspension is not level. Vehicle is not drivable in my opinion. Every time I'm come outside the car is either leaning to one side or on the floor.”

    NHTSA complaint #10908174, filed 2016-09, 64,840 miles
  3. Suspension

    Rear subframe corrosion at suspension mounting points

    Mentioned in 4 of 53 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the rear of the car feeling loose or wandering at highway speed, traced to rust weakening the rear subframe. In one case the mounting point for a rear suspension arm broke away and contacted the fuel tank; the owner notes no recall covered it at the time. Dealers, according to these reports, did not identify a campaign for the condition. Reported at higher mileage and on older cars, generally in the 90,000-mile range and beyond.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the car put on a lift during a pre-purchase inspection and look specifically at the rear subframe and suspension mounting points for rust or cracking, especially on cars from wet or road-salt regions.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have owned a 2003, 2005, 2009 and now a 2011 E550 and every one of these cars came with the same air suspension problem. Its not fair for the consumers and its certainly not fair for all mercedes benz customers. My mechanic told me that the notorious air suspension problem is caused by a leak in the air shock. Whichever air shock leaks, thats the side of the car that will lean down. My E550 is leaning on the front side and both passenger and driver side are both affected. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10953729, filed 2017-02, 99,000 miles

    “I've had problems with these air suspensions, it appears they are made to fail to make the owner spend money every year, I've had all types of malfunctioning without anything major happening to the car. I spent over 2500$ replacing the rear suspension after it spontaneously started malfunctioning being uneven etc.. And now not long after the rear ones messed up I'm having problems with the front ones. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11152245, filed 2018-11
  4. Brakes

    Brake vibration and premature rotor warping

    Mentioned in 4 of 53 sampled complaints

    Owners describe a vibration or shudder felt through the car when braking from highway speed, which one complaint attributes to warped front rotors that the dealer replaced along with pads and rotors front and rear. In that report the symptom returned afterward. A separate bulletin notes a single cracking noise from the stability-control hydraulic unit during a hard stop above about 30 mph. Reported from highway-speed braking, with the one sampled complaint filed at around 25,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Drive the car and brake firmly from highway speed on a straight, empty road to check for shudder, and ask whether rotors and pads have been replaced and at what mileage.

    An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the failure with the adaptive cruise control may have been associated with the front and rear braking system. As the failure progressed, the front brakes overheated and warped prematurely due to the front discs and rotors. The dealer confirmed that the rotors were warped and replaced the front and rear brake pads and rotors. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10855669, filed 2016-04

Buying note. Have any open airbag recalls confirmed by VIN and completed before purchase, and budget for air suspension work on a high-mileage example. A lift inspection of the rear subframe and a check of coolant and transmission fluid condition cover the other commonly reported problems.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 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 61 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550. 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 32% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 70,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 123 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall. I bought the car new, received recall notices from mbusa in may and august 2016, stating that my driver's and front-passenger airbags have a defect related to safety. I have made four specific visits to the dealership in santa monica, simonson's Mercedes-Benz, asking that my airbags be replaced. Each time I've been told that there are no replacement airbags available.”

NHTSA complaint #11045833, filed 2017-11, 35,500 miles

Suspension: “Air suspension appears to be leaking. After sitting in my garage overnight the body of the 2011 mercedes E550 is lowered by almost 2 inches. When I start the car after sitting less than 24 hours, a prompt on the dash information screen indicates vehicle rising, please wait . The mercedes has just over 64,000 miles. In research of the issue, it appears to be a chronic malfunction with the w212 mercedes air suspension system, as well as several hundred to 1-2 thousand dollar repair.”

NHTSA complaint #11228663, filed 2019-07, 64,000 miles

Other or unknown: “The issue with the vehicle's electrical causing power to the starter to stay on even after the vehicle is in the park and turned off, the starter's Solenoid and other electrical parts burn, its a serious fire hazard and needs to be addressed immediately.”

NHTSA complaint #11493623, filed 2022-11

Mileage when problems were reported

32% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 92,000 miles.

0%0–105%10–2527%25–5023%50–7536%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 70,500 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.

2016202018202020222024
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 E550. 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 E550 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
E550 RWD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$4,550
E550 4matic 4WD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$4,550
E550 Convertible RWD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152217$4,850
E550 Coupe RWD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$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 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 → · 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. 123 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 123 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz E550

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20141661,0954421—Falling
20131622,4625—21—Stable
20121752,5004—21—Rising
20116170,5003—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20106869,0003—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20081567,1743—17—Rising
20073764,6254—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Mercedes-Benz E550 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550?

Complaints about the 2011 E550 are dominated by two long-running themes: owner frustration over how long the driver- and passenger-side airbag inflator recalls have taken to be remedied, and repeated failures of the Airmatic air suspension that leave the car sitting low on one corner or on the ground. The issues reported most often: Airbag inflator recall remedy still unavailable; Airmatic air suspension sags or sits on the ground; Rear subframe corrosion at suspension mounting points.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 have?

NHTSA recorded 61 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 32 complaints (52% of the total), followed by suspension with 20.

Has the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 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 E550 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 (E550, 5.5L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E550 reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 70,500 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 92,000 miles; 32% 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.