2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Complaint Log

Dealer notes: Replace rear brake lines, found to be rusty recommend replacement with rear subframe replacement. This is a very well known issue and is not covered under recall from manufacturer. It will cost $3200 for brake line repair alone, not including the subframe. This is an extreme safety hazard and a common problem that has been acknowledged by the manufacturer.

Rear crossmember or ( rear subframe frame ) rust and It broke due to corrosion

Subject: Safety Concern – Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC (2011) Subframe and Brake Line Rust Dear [Mercedes-Benz Customer Care / NHTSA], I am writing to report a serious safety concern regarding my 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 4MATIC. Recently, I brought my vehicle in for recall service, and during the inspection, it was discovered that: The rear subframe is broken due to rust. The brake lines are extremely rusted, and I was advised that I could lose braking control if they are not replaced immediately. The estimated repair cost exceeds $4,000. I have been a long-time owner of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and part of the Mercedes-Benz family. However, I am now deeply concerned about the safety of myself, my family, and others on the road due to this severe corrosion issue, which I believe may be a widespread defect. I respectfully request that Mercedes-Benz investigate this issue and provide assistance, as the failure of these critical components poses a serious safety hazard. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [Phone: [XXX] ] [Email: [XXX] ] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Brake lines have completely rusted through. Car had additional rust issues on the subframe which Mercedes admitted and replaced as part of an extended warranty . When that was repaired they never mentioned the brakes. Now 3 months later the brake lines rusted completely through … seems both subframe and lines rust at the same rate. And I would presume both cause equal safety risk. Why have they not yet issued an extended warranty on the brake lines? Both of these appear to be common issues. Hopefully NHTSA can encourage a change.

Brake lines rust and corrode at the plastic support clips. Brake lines are not made from quality materials. Suffrage also corroded. Suffrage was changed by dealer though when vehicle was returned the Brake lines were broken. Car entered Suffrage service with brake lines intact, rusted i wouldn't doubt but intact. When returned after changing Suffrage, brake line was broken and leaking brake fluid. Extremely dangerous to return vehicle with broken brake lines and expected Owner to drive away with no brakes. Changing brake lines was offered at a cost of $4000 but the lines were not broken upon dropping off for service. Brake lines should be warrantied and changed to a less corrosive material. Engine mounts fail and cause vibration.

A gasoline smells fills the cabin and the outside surrounding area the vehicle continually to the point making anyone surrounding the vehicle and or sitting in the front and back seats physically sick. The gasoline smells omits continually from the backseat and or trunk area no matter the amount of fuel that is in the tank. It is a fire hazard and also health hazard as well.

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the SRS Malfunction message was displayed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 156,094.

This vehicle, with 115,000 miles has been discovered to have had the brackets in the subframe for BOTH rear lateral arms rust through and are broken causing a $5,000 repair estimate. The mechanic who found this (42 years as a mechanic) said he has never seen anything like it. This is a car where I had to replace the transmission at 49,000 miles and the control unit at 62,000 miles (over $13,000 in repairs). I saw through AI search that this problem has been reported many times but has not prompted an investigation. This issue should NEVER happen and is a MAJOR SAFETY threat.

The known Subframe rust recall issue has caused the brake lines to rust and mercedes in St Louis wont cover the expense to fix this known extra problem. They want $2200.00 to fix the brakes that other dealers would charge half for. They want to escape this problem and I just want this fixed at their cost.

Driving on interstate, hit the brakes and noticed the car was swaying hard to the left. After that it progressively got worse. When hitting even the smallest bump or braking I heard a metal on metal ‘thunk’ sound. My daughters were in the car and it was frightening. Upon further inspection by a Mercedes mechanic, the secondary frame had rusted and snapped into. After reading forums online I found it’s very common. They rust from the inside out. There was absolutely NO previous warning.

Rear subframe rusted and broken apart.

Rear brake lines are known to corrode. Had to get my line replaced at 78xxx miles. This is a common problem for the w212 Mercedes, along with the rear sub-frame rusting away. If the brake lines bursted when I was driving, I could of lost my life.

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel would occasionally become difficult to maneuver. The contact stated the power steering fluid was previously refilled. The air bag warning light was illuminated intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an unusual amount of smoke coming from under the hood occasionally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering fluid might have leaked. The mechanic could not determine the cause of the failure. An unknown local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

Broken rear sub frame.

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V081000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and another dealer, Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento (1810 Howe Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825) were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and a case was opened. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Wood trim throughout the car is cracking and falling off the car on the dash board as well as the doors and the rear side panels. The trim pieces that remain on the car are very sharp and jagged and are a significant risk for cuts in day to day use. In the event of an accident a passenger could be seriously injured from this jagged wood . My car is a 2011 E550 convertible, the W207 platform, the very same car in 4 door form the W212 platform, from model year 2010-2016 is fully covered for wood replacement as NHTSA has deemed it a safety issue. I have been told by Mercedes Benz corporate there is no coverage for my car, they suggested I report this safety issue to NHTSA in the hopes of having this safety issue addressed as quickly as possible. I respectfully request help in getting the issue with the wood in my car covered under the same safety consideration. Thank you.

With less than 40,000 miles on the odometer, I noticed a gas smell both inside the car and outside. I was able to access the fuel filter assembly on the top of the gas tank and found it had a substantial leak resulting in a puddle of fuel on the assembly. The car has never been in a wreck on had any damage that would cause this problem. I researched and found earlier years of the same model had this problem resulting in Mercedes Benz extending the warranty to 150,000 miles for this part. They have refused to warranty my car. This is a major safety issue and by releasing gas fumes into the atmosphere is an environmental problem as well.

While driving at approximately 55mph on the highway, I was required to brake for a merging vehicle who decided to make a lane change at the last second. I used my breaks, and my car did not break correctly. Instead, the car pulled the the right and locked up, it felt as though I had lost control of the car. When I went to my mechanic, I thought it was a break issue. Instead, it turns out the whole rear sub frame had rusted. When researching this issue, I found many other similar experiences. The harm that this part failure lead to was extreme. This could have been deadly. This is a safety issue that the manufacturer does not address.

There is a strong odor of gasoline inside the passenger compartment and around the outside of the vehicle when the gas tank is filled. A previous maintenance code of 0456 was triggered. Several repairs have been done to try and solve this problem, but the issue still remains. There is currently no recall for this specific VIN model but Mercedes Benz have issued the recall for other models with the same issue.

Bake line rusted through and drained brake fluid. Dashboard lit up bright red with a warning not to drive the car. Brake failure, spongy brake.

Purchased vehicle May 22, 2023 at Direct Auto Sales of Orlando, Florida. Approximately two and a half weeks later the subframe broke away from the support arm rendering the vehicle in an inoperable and unsafe condition. A local mechanic said this vehicle should not have been driven. He said we could have been in an accident and suffered severe injuries or even death. Mercedes Benz of South Orlando inspected the vehicle and reported the subframe, fuel tank, front and rear axles, exhaust system, support arms, motor mounts, etc need replacing. Cost is $30,000. How could anyone fail to see damage this extensive.and not report it.

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a strong fuel odor was detected. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,900.

I bought my vehicle to the Mercedes dealership to get the rear subframe replaced under extended warranty due to it being rusted and broken from the rear suspension attachment points. While the Mercedes technician had the subframe removed he noted that the rear brake lines which are routed under the body and between the subframe had significant rust/corrosion on them.

On October 6, 2021 I took my vehicle to Mercedes Benz of Stevens Creek because ewhen I filled my gas tank there was a very strong smell of gasoline inside the car and in the garage. The service department found the passenger side fuel sender upper cover leaking. The same situation is occuring presently, April 5, 2023, very strong smell of gasoline inside the car and garage after I fill the car with gasoline. The Mercedes Benz of Stevens Creek invoice # is 934052, Tag # TEK93. This is a safety issue that could ceate a fire hazard if the vehicle were to be involved in an accident.

2011 MERCEDES BENZ E 350. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO ROTTED SUBFRAME ON VEHICLE.

Both headrests have now exploded in this car. I see there have been class actions lawsuits filed but Mercedes got these dismissed. There is a cheap plastic piece that holds the headrest in place which just explodes without any impact or accident. "The Mercedes class action lawsuit was filed by four plaintiffs who claim the NECK-PRO active headrests are defective because the activate head restraints allegedly deploy without crash impacts." The car was parked in each of the incidents. One hit my passenger in the head. The driver side headrest exploded today when I moved the seat. I called Mercedes but was just sent on a wild goose chase.

The contact owned a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while stopped at an intersection preparing to make a left turn, the vehicle crashed into the front driver's side and part of the driver's side front fender by another vehicle that had run a red light. The vehicle had severe crumpling of the hood and the driver's side fender. The contact stated that the front end was damaged and spread debris all over the roadway. Law Enforcement was on the scene and filed a Police report. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag did not deploy. The contact was transported by ambulance to an emergency room. The contact stated that he had suffered chest injuries from striking the steering wheel, and the contact stated that he had upper back pain and arm pain. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The contact had been advised by the Insurance Provider that the vehicle was a total loss. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

Power steering is makes winding noise and very wobbly Wood grain interior is turning white Emissions problems

The rear subframe has prematurely rusted. It had a shear failure at speed on the highway when I applied the brakes. The rear end of the car swerved, almost causing me to crash. I did manage to decelerate the car in a controlled fashion. I did not know the rear subframe failed at the time. This was confirmed by an independent mechanic several days later. After research, it looks as though a recall has already been issued for this issue in Canada and potentially Germany. The mechanic tells me that until the issue is repaired the vehicle is unsafe to drive. My and others safety was put at risk due to the failure of vehicle control at 65 mph on a busy road. The problem was verified by an independent mechanic. No police, insurance provider, or Mercedes dealer has inspected the car/damage, only an independent mechanic. No prior indicators were given either directly or indirectly prior to failure. I did keep the part for inspection upon request.

I just recently discovered that after filling my car with gas, there is a strong odor of gas filled in the garage for over 24hours. When I googled the issue, I discovered that NHTSA did confirm issues with Mercedes E350 from 2003-2009. However, I have also discovered that several owners outside of that model year period are having the exact issue. I ask you please reconsider and open the recall so that Mercedes can pay to fix my car before a fatality occurs. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Rear subframe corrosion/damage leading to rust/holes and unsafe driving. This issue can cause the bottom of the vehicle to collapse. Mercedes Benz across many countries acknowledge this as a recall and repairs free of charge except USA. USA should acknowledge this defect as well.

Rear subframe corrosion causing rear subframe failure/rusting which is a huge hazard. Mercedes Benz in several countries have recalled the rear subframe and are replacing free of charge. Mercedes Benz USA is not acknowledging this recall, it is a major issue and thousands are impacted.

I noticed about to 6 months or less that my car would shut off or stall after starting ignition and also hearing water sloshing behind the dashboard and the radio does not work and the rear camera goes on/off which is safety hazard, and the Engine symbol remain lighted up even after checking all components. Also, on a few occasion my floorboard in the passenger back seat would be soak and wet. I took the car to my mechanic, and he inform that the drain valve was not working properly. after doing some research on the internet I found that this particular incident was happening in several of Mercedes years 2009-2011 E50, that it was a recall on the water drain system. Also, on 01/17/23 my sunroof was working without any problems, I attempted to close it and it stop midday and i hear the motor working, but the sunroof did not move, I did more research and found a recall on the bonding glue for sunroof and the glass was detached without warning. Even though my vehicle is not on the recall list, my car is having the same exacts problems and issues and reported by NHTSA. I would appreciate as response or advice to solve these problems, right now my car is a safety hazard to myself and other drivers. thank you for cooperation in this matter in advance. My Case from Corporate Mercedes Customer Care#[XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and making a left turn from a traffic light the power steering failed to perform as needed. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to turn the steering wheel. The contact drove the vehicle to a parking lot, stopped, placed the vehicle in park(P) and turned off the vehicle and the vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to her residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V459000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

The vehicle felt like it was all over the road at highway speeds. Took it to a mechanic and the rear subframe had become weakened with premature rust. The mounting point for one of the rear suspension arms had broken off of the subframe and was making contact with my gas tank. I called the dealer to see if there were any recalls. No recalls for this issue however there are a few reports on this website. I have also been on forums for my vehicle and it is a VERY common problem on these vehicles. From what i gather this is a widespread issue, and the fact that it could possibly puncture a gas tank and cause serious injury that something should be done to correct the concern.

I was on the highway traveling at 70 mph, when I noticed something was not right. I would switch lanes and notice the vehicle swaying in the rear I would also brake, and notice car would sway. I didn’t have any warning signs, and have deemed my vehicle unsafe to drive. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the rear subframe has been compromised with rust, fully detaching the lower control arm from driver’s side rear. This incident could have been catastrophic. I could have easily loss control of the vehicle and death could have occurred to me and others. Perhaps the whole rear axel and wheels could have detached at high speeds

There is a hole rusted through the vehicle's rear subframe assembly and it is dangerous to drive. My car is an E350 Mercedes with 78,000 miles and garage-kept. Mercedes knows of this issue and is not helping anyone with this problem. The job costs about 5000.00 to fix.

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that on multiple occasions when fuel was administered into the vehicle, he observed a strong fuel odor in the cabin. The vehicle was taken to the residence and parked. The contact stated that as he came out to inspect the vehicle he observed a leak under the vehicle near the fuel spout. The vehicle was inspected and the rear seat and the access panel were removed and a large amount of condensation was present near the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it has yet to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,143.

The subframe is rusting in four places in the area of the wheels. If the frame breaks I could lose control of the vehicle

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.

When I parked my car there was a loud hissing sound near left front end but no smoke or anything from under the hood. When I drove it again I received a warning of (MALFUNCTION) when I was turning left the front left tire was grinding on the actual car and barely made it home. The car warning turned red and said pull over car too low. When I parked the car the front left side is now sitting on tire and touching the ground. Unable to drive. Not been investigated by a mechanic, insurance, etc. There was also an airbag warning before this issue. The contact has stated that she is disabled, and the vehicle is not currently drivable.

Rear sub-frame is starting to rust/corrode. Understand from my repair shop that similar problems have been identified in other models using same rear subframe (W204 2008-2014 C-Class). Failure of the rear subframe may result in tire detachment and possible rupture of the fuel tank by metal fragments (per the repair shop).

Rear subframe is rusting out. I reported about a month or two ago and have not heard back from you.

I noticed fluid on the ground under my car in the driveway. Turns out it was brake fluid, the vehicle alerted me to low brake fluid. Here was a broken brake line which appears to have been caused by the subframe being rusted out. The issue is with the rear subframe on the Mercedes’ E and C class dating from 2008 on. Mine is a 2011 E class. The subframes on these vehicles rust and rot out causing issues to the brake lines and rear suspension parts rotting / rusting out due to the subframe being compromised. I’ve taken my vehicle to the dealer to look at the brake line and I was advised that the subframe was rusting out and should be replaced as well, it will only worsen, creating a safety hazard while driving because it can cause the car not to stop properly and difficult to control. I’ve taken the vehicle to repair shop and was told the same. Also was advised by both the dealer and private repair shops that this is a common issue with these vehicles, yet there is no recall by Mercedes in this country. Canada has a recall for this issue and other countries as well but not the USA. I was quoted $5000 to fix the issue by putting a new subframe, repairing is not possible. The part itself is on back order almost everywhere due to the commonality of this issue. This has caused the price to go up in cost due to the demand. A junkyard / car parts quoted me $2000 for a used subframe. As a service connected disabled Veteran I find this issue to be very concerning and ask why this is not a recall that Mercedes should replace without cost to the consumer. I hope that my complaint and hopefully others as well can get this issue resolved and hold Mercedes accountable. The subframe rust out yet other parts around it does not, this has to be a manufacturer issue with the sub frame. Reports of this issue are in warm weather southern states with no snow or salt issues as well as northern states

The passenger front air bag malfunction,the passenger seat head rest deployed and And malfunction with any incident,the driver air bag is light on malfunction.after I took it to the dealership radio stop working no audio

The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the local dealer for a routine oil change, the contact was informed that the rear subframe, control arms, brake lines, and pipe socket were corroded. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

Strong fuel smell after refueling and topping off the gas tank. The smell is inside as well as outside driver side rear door. This occurs each time after I put gas in the car and the smell remains.

The rear subframe failed as a result of pre-mature corrosion while traveling at 70mph. Control of vehicle was lost and could easily have led to a multiple fatality incident if not for luck. The problem has been reproduced in many Mercedes models around this model year and Mercedes is well aware of the issue with their inferior subframe. NTSA needs to order a recall from Mercedes as class action lawsuits are going to be put together if nothing is done. There was no warning that this subframe was going to fail.

The passenger door will not open from the inside. The vehicle has not been inspected by any parties yet. No warning messages are currently displayed.

The sunroof detached and the water from the rain leaked through the faulty sunroof into the interior doors, floorboard and dashboard. This happened to both the passenger side and the driver side. It was repaired out of pocket because of the hazard and lack of dealership accountability. Because the dealership wanted to charge $1000 to provide a water intrusion inspection so we went to an a MB authorization independent mechanic to repair the vehicle.This leaking lead to the growth of mold and lack driver visibility.Lastly they were no warnings before the leak happened.