NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
My car is not accelerating when I shift into drive or reverse. It says “reversing not possile-service required” error. Out the blue. There is a known recall on these model cars but Mercedes benz is saying its vin specific and mine is not covered even though I am experiencing the exact same issue. Recall date- 2017-02-07 Recall no. 17V078000
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E400 Coupe. The contact stated that the silver metal coating on the seat release lever was rough and jagged on both driver and passenger sides of the two door vehicle. The contact's son had grabbed the front seat release lever to access the rear passenger’s side seat and cut his hand. The cut was approximately 2-3 inches long. No medical attention was needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the failure was common with the vehicle and that the coating was known to peel due to heat. The contact was concerned that the failure occurred as his vehicle was stored in the garage and sustained less heat exposure due to its maintenance/care. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The message "Reverse not Possible - Service Required" was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact waited for approximately five to ten minutes, and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic shift lever had failed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact picked up the vehicle from the dealer, and two days later, the same message was displayed. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle stalled. The message "Reverse not Possible - Service Required” was displayed. The vehicle was coasted to the side of the road, and the contact waited before restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
Strong smell of Fuel or exhaust fumes in the cabin, while vehicle is idling, parked or stoped at the light.
The Air bag light just came on when I turned the car on I had it checked by a mechanic and by an electrician. The code is B000113 The Squib For The Driver Airbag (Stage 1) Has A Malfunction. There Is An Open Circuit. They checked the clock spring it’s plugged in and even tried using a new air bag but they believe the clock spring is broken.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a strong gasoline odor entering the vehicle through the vents, and the odor was on the interior and exterior of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change; however, the vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V961000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding serious and repeated issues with my 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300, purchased and serviced exclusively by authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships. 1. Repeated OEM Run-Flat Tire Failures Within the past two years, I have been forced to replace nine OEM run-flat tires, including: • 3 replacements at Mercedes-Benz of Tysons Corner, VA • 2 replacements at Goodyear Tires, Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, FL • 4 additional replacements at certified service centers These failures occur under normal driving conditions, often without visible punctures or road hazards, and at safe speeds. Each tire replacement costs approximately $550, plus towing, diagnostic fees, and rental car costs. The financial and safety burdens are substantial, and this level of tire failure is not normal for any vehicle—particularly a low-mileage, luxury sedan. 2. Electrical/Dashboard Recording Malfunction My dashboard service history fails to record service visits, even when performed at Mercedes-Benz dealerships. This is deeply concerning as it compromises vehicle resale value, warranty tracking, and transparency of maintenance records. Despite multiple visits and attempts by service centers, the issue persists without resolution. 3. Financial Impact and Brand Reputation The total cost of repeated tire replacements and unresolved electrical issues has reached several thousand dollars, despite my vehicle having relatively low mileage and receiving all recommended service at authorized dealers. This experience is completely inconsistent with the quality and reliability promised by the Mercedes-Benz brand. I am requesting the following: • Full investigation into the defect rate of OEM run-flat tires on the 2017 E-Class models • Immediate inspection and repair of the dashboard/electrical recording issue at no cost to me • Reimbursement for tire-related costs and associated expenses incurred due to repeated failures.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure occurred increasingly while turning. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and to the dealer, but no DTC was retrieved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V714000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle hesitated before shifting to a higher gear. The contact stated that the transmission was also slipping out of gear, and the vehicle shifted into LIMP Mode. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission was not shifting above second gear. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission control module (TCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V078000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
When using Map apps through CarPlay, I’ve noticed two consistent problems: Inaccurate Vehicle Speed: The carplay speedometor does not match the the actual speedometer of the vehicle, which seems always 1.6 times higher than the actual(seems to be the metric confusion from mph to kmh). GPS Drift: The location shown on the map is frequently ahead of my actual position, which causes navigation directions (especially turns and exits) to be slightly mistimed. However, when the speedometer is correct, the GPS drift issue would disappear automatically. So I assume that these two issues are correlated. These issues can be confusing and potentially unsafe while driving. I’ve tested other navigation apps on CarPlay and found they do exhibit the same behavior, so I suspect the issue may be general to Mercedes E300 and probably other vehicles. I did a bit of research and found it to be a common issue of Mercedes E300 2017. Please see attached link for the threads from MB forum. https://mbworld.org/forums/gls-class-x167/843643-wrong-speed-limit-detected.html Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to your reply. Best regards
Mercedes-Benz E300 is affected by a Transmission Control Module (TCM) recall, you might notice these symptoms: - Delayed or rough shifting: The transmission may hesitate or struggle to change gears. - Slipping gears: The car might unexpectedly shift out of gear or fail to stay in the correct gear. - Unresponsive transmission: You may experience difficulty accelerating or feel like the car is stuck in a lower gear. - Warning lights: The check engine or transmission warning light may illuminate on the dashboard. - Limp mode activation: The vehicle may enter a fail-safe mode, restricting speed and performance to prevent further damage.
The instrument panel that displays the digital speed, warning lights, etc. went black suddenly when turning on the car. It came back on suddenly while driving on the highway but after the car was turned off and restarted, the instrument panel has remained black. This is a huge safety issue as there is no warning light indicators, merging lanes does not signal if another car is present, among many other concerns. The vehicle has been inspected by mechanic. There was no warning indicators that instrument panel would go black suddenly. It happened in February 2025.
Crankcase ventilation system has failed. Spending $1700 because Mercedes won’t fix it because it’s a known issue and requires a lot of work. They left my car sitting in their parking lot for a week. I have the screen shots to prove it.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed to shift into drive as intended. In addition, the contact stated that when the gear shifter was shifted into drive after several attempts, the gear shifter shifted to drive three instead of drive one. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission control module and a shift level module failure. The contact was informed that the transmission control module and shift level module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that when the failure had started, the transmission slipped, and the gear shifter independently shifted into neutral. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
The automatic breaking assist is malfunctioning most of the time it just gives me a warning on the dash that it is limited a few times it has bumped the brakes briefly like it was sensing something in front of the car the perimeter sensors are malfunctioning as well like it’s sensing something all around the car very close then those sensors completely shut off and don’t work again until the car is shut off and started again
A warning saying Front Right Malfunction Service Required. I took my vehicle to a mercedes dealership to have my vehicle inspected. I was told that the Airbag seat cushion/weight sensing control unit all needed to be repaired/fixed. I have an extended warranty but this was not covered. I was told my Airbag might not be deployed if I was involved in an accident and someone was in my front passenger seat. "No one should ride in the front passenger seat until this situation is taken care of." I feel strongly that this should have been covered, plus it should've been a recall on this. It's a real safety issue!!! This need to be on the recall list for all mercedes or other vehicles with this particular issue.
While getting in to start my vehicle I got a message code on my screen saying Steering Malfunction, Increased Physical Effort. I contacted Mercedes USA and was told they had a recall on my vehicle which is a 2017 E300 Mercedes Benz. The recall effected vehicles made from July 29,2016 - February 14-2017. My vehicle was within this range being as though it was produced in 08/16. My car only has around 20k miles, basically a new vehicle inside and out. Even though my vin # is not showing as being part of this recall, I'm having the exact same issue and would like my vin# to be included. Thanks kindly.
P052E code. my car is only have 18455 mileage.
Smell of Gas coming from the the fuel line, and the radio changes stations on its own
The vehicle is getting stuck in parking and can not shift out of park. The issue first happened at the dealership when looking into an auxillary battery issue which has since been resolved. After over 30 minutes of trying to resolved the dealer was able to get the vehicle off the lift and switch the gear back into drive. Since then two days later the batteries were replaced and the same issue happen again (stuck in park) and now I see a transmission light on as well. I am not sure if the dealership noticed this when they had the issue in the shop. There was a previous transmission recall on the vehicle, which Mercedes said was previously addressed. My concern is that this can happen while driving which would be an extreme safety risks to myself and others. I don't believe I had any gear shift repairs since I owned the vehicle and the recall for my specific VIN may have been missed or not fully addressed. As of now I am unable to operate the vehicle and would like a recall reissued to resolve the problem. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while at a complete stop and releasing the brake pedal, the Eco Mode system failed to engage, and the engine failed to restart. The contact stated that upon depressing the Push to Start button, the vehicle restarted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure progressively worsened. The contact stated that while at a complete stop with Eco Mode activated, the vehicle would only restart after pressing the Push to Start button several times. The contact used a vehicle scanner and was able to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes related to the Starting Current Limiter. The contact referenced TSB Number: 2017020021 and NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V114000 (Electrical System, Engine and Engine Cooling). Additionally, the contact stated that the steering wheel had seized in an incorrect position and could not be readjusted. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 2017020018. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
THE STEERING WHEEL HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH (UP & DOWN) STOPPED WORKING. The wheel is locked in the up position making driving difficult
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while coming to a stop at red traffic lights or stop signs, on several occasions the gear shifter inadvertently shifted into neutral(N). Additionally, on several occasions when the gear shift lever was shifted in gear, the gear shifter unintendedly shifted into neutral(N). The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V078000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
I was driving on a highway. All of the sudden sunroof glass explored and shattered. There was no rock chip or any cracks on the sunroof it happen instantly.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed, the steering wheel seized and failed to turn to the left or the right. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with an internal failure of the power steering rack, Part Number: 213460480280. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the local dealer for further repairs. The contact was informed that the parts to the repair were not covered, and the failure might be related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V574000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
malfunctioning positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve: Issue: The partial-load ventilation valve in the intake line assembly does not work as intended, causing the check engine light to come on. Recommended action: the intake line assembly may need to be replaced. A malfunctioning positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve can cause a number of engine issues, including: Increased oil consumption, Leaks, Reduced fuel efficiency, and The engine releasing more pollutants.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fuel leak. The contact was informed that the fuel rail and fuel injector needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V961000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,100.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted inadvertently. The contact stated that the vehicle was jerking while shifting from neutral to park. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was confirmed, that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,981.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that when the gear shifter was shifted into reverse, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the transmission. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle had self-corrected the issue. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with solenoid failure in the valve body. The contact was informed that the solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
I am writing in regards to a constant issue that a great percentage of people including myself, are experiencing with the engine within the 2017 Mercedes E300. The cam adjusters are easily going bad or are malfunctioning causing the timing in the motor to be defected which makes the car stall and shut off even while driving. Giving that this is happening to a great amount of people with this particular vehicle across the US, we feel that mercedes benz should take some responsibility in fixing this issue and not just post bulletins on the problem, cause its a safety issue and it costs people alot of money for a defect of this sort.
The car is running poorly. Smell of fumes inside the car. Not drive able due to risk of engine damage including fires and exposure to dangerous fumes. Part is on back order and that is not a guarantee that the part will not fail again after fixed. Many people report continual replacement of the part. Positive Crankcase Ventilation Regulator Valve Performance: The valve for crankcase ventilation has a malfunction. Crankcase ventilation actuator is blocked .
Fault code p052E71, the crankcase ventilation valve is faulty. The actuator is blocked. Second time having this issue.
Strong gas fumes smell from vehicle when parked. Issue starts around 50k miles. No lights on dash or anything. Multiple people in forums online experience the same issue around the same mileage. Some say it's a leak from fuel lines to the fuel pump.
PCV FAILURE causes engine light code and emission problem
Check engine light came on and then complete engine failure. Cracked #1 piston, and engine destroyed.
Positive Crankcase ventilation Code P052E Mercedes has redesigned the part to prevent recurrent failure issues. Apparently, a very common fail due to poor design that allows condensation in the line causing the valve to fail. Mercedes charges $1500 to $2300 to repair.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the "steering malfunction" warning light illuminated, and the contact stated that the steering wheel was nearly impossible to turn left or right. The contact was able to pull off the roadway. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering assist failed to regain functionality. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V714000 (Steering). The contact called a local dealer and was advised that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
There is a pvc problem.It has to do with the emission I found that is a common factory problem.Part is back order.Other cars with this issue and same part number are being recalled.
failed or malfunction in PCV valve. Common issue in all 2016-2018 C300, E300, and GLE300. Multiple failed complaints on the part. Nationwide backorder on the part. No recall issued for this common problem. No help from dealerships, will just put you on a waitlist for a nationwide back order.
PCV regulator valve failure at69,000 miles on my 2017 Mercedes E300.. I understand this is common before 100,000 miles with the four cylinder turbo, I feel there should be a recall and be replace at Mercedes dealers cost. (to replace cost is around $2,000 about 7 hours labor I was told)
Vehicle stalled while on the highway on [XXX]. There are open recalls for the fuel pump and components for my vehicle make and model, but not MY vehicle. My VIN doesn’t show active recalls. The recall needs to be extended. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Pulling in the parking spot , looking to my right not noticing light pole on the left , car sensor bumped the pole in the perfect spot to deploy all of the drivers airbags . No warning of front collision , no breaks emergency were activated , seatbelt did not tighten threw me against the wheel : suffered , lacerations , broken forearm requiring surgery . Slight scratch on the bumper not even a dent in the front bumper
Piston failure at 62000 miles. No prior engine lights until it happened suddenly while driving at the highway speed. The car suddenly lost power and started to violently shake and the engine light came on. Was able to pull over without incident and consult MB before bringing for diagnostics. There's a lot of MB with this specific engine piston failure affected according to internet search. The car has been inspected by the MB service dealer confirming piston failure. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that the vehicle was purchased on October 20, 2023. The contact stated that when she entered the vehicle the following day, the exterior of the vehicle smelled of gasoline. The contact stated that the fuel odor had become so abnormally strong inside the vehicle, causing her mother’s asthma to flare up. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with a low-pressure and high-pressure fuel line leak in the engine compartment. The contact was informed that the fuel line and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer advised the contact that the parts to complete the repair were ordered. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,806.
While driving the car on the beltway, the car unexpectedly and suddenly lost drive power. I pushed on the gas pedal and the car did move forward in a jerky motion. A minute or two later, the car again suddenly lost drive power. Again, I pushed on the gas pedal and the car jerked forward. After, these two episodes above, the car behaved normally for the rest of my 90 drive.
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the vehicle stalled, and the engine misfired. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failed fuel injectors and failed fuel rail. The contact was informed that the fuel injectors and the fuel rail needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
The entire driver instrument panel screen went blank, after going blank and coming back on a few times while driving. This is EXTREMELY dangerous. Now, the driver cannot see the speed, odo, fuel gauge, indicators or anything at all. I hope you please investigate and initiate a campaign and get this resolved from Mercedes.
Engine failure due to piston crack. Seems like it is a common issue for mercedes models with this specific engine. A lot of people have their engine needing to be replaced at very low miles such as 10k miles 15k miles. Vehicle was always been serviced on time. Now I need a new engine. Manufacturer needs to take responsibility of this engine defect
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while coming to a stop, the vehicle shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while accelerating from the complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact was able to continue driving at a slower speed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving and the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH. The vehicle was taken an independent mechanic, where the spark plugs, ignition coils, and the fuel injectors were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The mechanic determined that there was low compression on cylinder #1, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.