NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
On my way to work lady Tuesday 11/1/22 just a few blocks from my AT&T office I started smelling fuel. I thought it was an lad car next to me. Looking at the rear mirror I noticed a line of fuel following me. By the time I pulled a side and shut down the vehicle I lost the full tank. The vehicle was towed and is still at Mercedes Benz of Plano, Plano, TX. The tech said the orings had gone bad and the hose deteriorated. It seems very similar to this recall https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2014-mercedes-benz-e350-recalled-for-fuel-line-problem.html I called Mercedes USA and opened CASE [XXX]. No reply yet. Fortunate the car didn’t catch on fire or someone thrower a cigarette while I was driving they downtown. Leaking fuel should not happen INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
When I took my vehicle to the dealership for service to have it inspected, I was told that it would not pass inspection due to the corrosion of the rear subframe. They told me this is a serious safety issue and that they are seeing a lot of Mercedes, especially in the last year and a half, that have this issue. The repair will cost me $4,500, Mercedes does not cover the cost even though it is a major structural issue. The subframe should last the life of the vehicle which is only 8 years old/60,000 miles and has been garage kept with all recommended services done by the dealer. My life and and the life of others is at risk as if the subframe fails, it causes loss of control of the car. Mercedes will not issue a recall. Mercedes owners don't even know to look out for this problem. Why do they have air bag recall and braking system recall but not a recall for this as Mercedes Benz in the UK does??
Speaker(s) caught fire and sent smoke into car while driving. Dealer recognized issue immediately and said they have seen this before a few times. Mercedes said car is not in warranty son they will not support approx. bill of $4,000. The issue was discussed in various forums by several owners. I would like to see that Mercdes act responsibly and address the issue appropriately. Smoke coming into car while driving is hazardous in addition to hindering visibility and potentially cause serious accidents. Please make sure that Mercedes is reprimanded and have them recall vehicles to address the issue.
I was driving on the highway and braked for traffic ahead of me. My car swerved hard to the right; however, I got it under control and brought it into the Mercedes dealer as soon as they had an opening. Upon examination, the dealer told me that the sub-chassis had corroded and broken away, damaging the torsion bar and denting the gas tank. A search online quickly showed that this is a common issue with Mercedes, and in some countries, they have issued a recall. The dealer quoted $5,250 to fix the car. This easily could have been a tragedy on the road with a less experienced driver behind the wheel. Mercedes must issue a recall for the inspection and repair of all affected vehicles.
The 2014 E350 4matic was diagnosed by the Dealer with a cracked rear subframe. When I questioned that is this common with a 2014 model EClass they were not sure. Calling MB USA they felt there weren't any complaints. When I called 9 different dealers in the USA looking for a NEW subframe for the E-Class, the common response was we are receiving many calls about replacing the subframe due to issues / cracked frame/rust, etc. They were all surprised and felt this is odd that this model would have so many subframe issues. MBUSA denied any issues as far as any structural issues. Very odd that my 2014 with approx 100k miles (garaged all the time) has subframe issues.
The rear sub-frame involving vehicle stability under braking and turning. A component that should remain attached to the vehicle has broken off due to corrosion. My vehicle is not that old that a key structural component of the car should break at the weld/attachment point. I have video of this defect. But its greater than 10MB and will not let me upload it is there an email I can send it to ?
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the subframe was rusted. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
The subframe on this vehicle is broken I took it to an independent dealer and they said they have never seen anything like this on a car this old. The Mercedes dealer told me that it would cost me $5000 for them to fix it about 3 weeks ago but said it's rusting and beginning to crack. But never said it was something that needed to be addressed immediately. Upon further research it seems to be a common issue on this make and model on the right side. https://www.carproblemzoo.com/mercedesbenz/e350/2014/2014-mercedesbenz-e350-suspension-problems.php
I am losing brake fluid. Likely from rotted brake lines. Was given a quote attached below for repair of rotten brake lines 2 years ago. My friend has the same vehicle (a 2014 model) and had to replace brake lines for the same issue. I've never heard of break lines rotting and leaking on another make of vehicle after only 8 years of use at 70K. The car is always garaged, washed weekly and currently at 91K miles. I believe the coverage of the rear subframe should be extended to the break lines for this model of vehicle since it is a commonly reported problem per the dealer.
I brought my car into Mercedes on 9/13/2022 and was told my brake lines and subframe were rusting. It's a 2014 with only 80k miles on it. I was told I had a year before it needed to be replaced/addressed. I brought the car in again on December 12, 2022 and they said on a scale of 1-10 the subframes and brake lines were a 7 and were a safety issue. After doing some research, I am clearly not the only owner of this model dealing with this issue. This is safety issue and should be recalled. Subframes and brake lines should not rust so quickly.
In a routine oil change, Mercedes dealership reports poorly rusted subframe. 2014 E350 with 160,000.
The parking brake frequently gets stuck and will not release when prompted even while driving the vehicle. Usually takes several attempts before the parking brake will release and disengage. The vehicle cannot be driven with the parking brake engaged.
2014 E350 with 41,000 miles. Rusted subframe and was informed that it represented unsafe and risky driving conditions. Reported this to manufacturer as, apparently, it is a very common problem with certain Mercedes classes. No recall and very expensive fix ($4500)! Not my idea of a safe and reliable car, as Mercedes likes to advertise. Consumers should not be responsible for manufacturing defects/ poor quality of materials used ..... and should definitely not be exposed to unsafe conditions when operating their vehicle!
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof made abnormal creaking noises while it was closed. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking brake fluid. The brakes were inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the contact was informed that the brake lines were rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. The contact has stated that the brakes lines were replaced at the owner's expense. The contact believes that the state that they live in as well as Mercedes which is held responsible for the erosion of the brake lines.
This issue is pertaining to a 2014 E350 Mercedes Benz. The brake system is in jeopardy. The subframe has rotted and cracked. Mercedes Benz is aware that this is a problem for many of their vehicles. While the right side of the subframe is rusted and beginning to crack, the left side of the subframe is totally rusted and busted out. The vehicle is routinely brought to the Mercedes Benz dealership for maintenance visits. It was making cracking sound in 2021, we brought it in to be serviced for that reason on 11/23/21. This issue was not noted at that time. Mercedes Benz indicated the solution was a lube. The issue persisted post visit. The car is infrequently driven because the primary driver teleworks. We returned the car to the dealership for an assessment 8/6/2022 due to ongoing concerns for our safety. The first indicator that there was a problem was the unfamiliar cracking sound as if the car could snap in half, then hard pulling to the left when braking. There was never a warning light or any other indicator on the dashboard or otherwise. The owners initiated the visit to the Mercedes Benz dealership. Mercedes Benz reported that they did not see the rust when they assessed the car for the cracking sound in 11/2021, furthermore that the rust and deterioration happens rapidly. Had the right side of the subframe also rusted and rotted out, this could have resulted in a total loss of control over the vehicle and been needlessly catastrophic. Warning indicators necessary and routine free inspection are warranted. Repairs for the subframe alone will cost more than $4000. This is a hardship. Further, it's unclear if the malfunctioning rear left caliper resulted from the rotted subframe. The vehicle appears to be in otherwise pristine condition. Mercedes Benz has never indicated there were any issues with the vehicle's subframe despite routine class service visits at the dealership. An internet search confirms this issue is not uncommon and possibly negligible.
This car has an electrical problem related to the Radio Amplifier and Speakers. many stories on the net of burning wire speakers and amplifier related to this. i will attach link, my story same as all the rest. I have disconnected after wife complained of smell of electrical fire and smoke from speakers. our car hs Apc 56,000 miles now. https://www.carcomplaints.com/Mercedes-Benz/E350/2014/electrical/electrical_system.shtml Control Module - Mercedes-Benz TYP: Sirius – SDAR HW: 212 870 57 89 Date: 12/2019 SW: 212 902 79 03 Date 12/26/2000 Serial: 063005830376 Mercedes A 212 870 56 89 Model# DL5938 DELPHI Q01 PN: 28335938 Bar Code# A21287056890128335938E1361307 I am unable to access the speakers that burned and let the smoke out. Kurt Kaufman
Car was being driven at secondary road speed (~40MPH). Engine suddenly began to spudder and misfire terribly. Came to a stop light engine was idled roughly. Accelerated from stop, when check engine light turned on. Car went into limp MODE at a very dangerous rail road crossing and left turn intersection. Without acceleration, family was in danger of being hit by train and incoming traffic. Took car to Mercedes mechanic. Faulty parts were the Camshaft Position Solenoid valve, ignition cool. Short circuit in one part caused blown ignition fuse and cascading mechanical problems and safety risks. Repair cost so far is $1,100. Concern is the placement of the faulty part. It is exposed to high heat in the motor compartment and poses a fire hazard as well as a personal injury hazard to the occupants and driver.
The Rear Subframe Unit of this 2014 E-Class E212 is diagnosed as rusted and rotted out on this 8 year old vehicle. The poor quality of this part from Mercedes Benz is known to be an underlying, hidden risk factor to the stability of the vehicle. This is a hidden/underlying area of the vehicle, not visible to the driver/owners, that without cause, can break free from the main frame structure of the vehicle and create a stability factor when cornering and braking, causing swaying of the rear and owner panic when abruptly stopping. I had this vehicle serviced at Catonsville Mercedes-Benz since I purchased the vehicle on April 14, 2017. On my last visit on December 19, 2019 having only 40,051 miles. No physical evidence know to me during this inspection. The vehicle has been hardly used. My next service was done on July 28,2022, having only 49,250 miles. That's just 9,299 miles and just over 2 years later, no harsh weather conditions, and the dealership has confirmed that this subframe has rotted out and rusted nearly thru. The service writer informed me that this is a serious condition that can break apart and lead to a very serious accident. Depending on certain driving conditions, if this breaks apart unknowingly, can be catastrophic. Mercedes Benz advertised greatly the ultimate safety features of its products, only to be realized, that it has used poor quality galvanized steel on a major structure of its framework to save cost. Mercedes provides a 3 year/36,000 mile and a 5 year 50,000 mile powertrain warranty which neither covers this. Galvanized steel has a life expectancy of 6 to 8 years resulting in deterioration, which Mercedes knowingly intends to pass this repair cost to the owners. This vehicle was inspected by a certified authorized Mercedes Benz dealership. Warning lights, message sensors are not installed on this part. No other parts surrounding this component show any signs of rust, rot or deterioration. I feel unsafe to drive or place family within.
Informed by local Mercedes dealer that the vehicle has severe rear brake line corrosion at 55K miles. Stated that the vehicle could suffer loss of braking power if the line(s) ruptured. This is unacceptable for a vehicle with this mileage. According to internet searches this is a widespread problem on 2014 models and earlier. Estimated cost to repair is $3600.
Vehicle is 9 years old, with 73000 miles. Dealer Service has advised that the rear subframe and brake lines are rusting and need to be replaced as a safety issue. Cost quoted was $8800. Mercedes agreed to pick up the cost of the parts and the dealer offered to split the installation cost, bringing my total down to $3150. On-line research reveals this is a common problem across several product lines and has been an issue for 20+ years. Failure at this point could lead to uncontrolled movement of the the rear suspension structure, the rear suspension members, wheels, and electronic sensors in the ABS causing loss of control and brake failure.
Rear subframe crossmember that connects to rear suspension is cracked and rusted resulting in dangerous handling characteristics. Part is severely back-ordered due to volume of consumers facing this problem. When braking hard, car swerves to right and can cross lanes. While this part broke, the car is otherwise rust-free. Brakes have been recently updated. If this is a common complaint, there should be a recall. The severe parts back-order leads me to believe that there are significant failures in the field.
My 2014 Mercedes E350 with 54k miles has a Harmon Kardon sound system. About 4 months ago there was static/popping sound from the rear deck speaker driver side. The radio was turned off but the static sound remained. The popping eventually went away. Today, the static sound came back along with plastic burning that filled the inside of the cabin. This is a safety concern that should be acknowledged as it can cause a fire or electrical shortage. The smoke and scent of burning plastic from the speaker can cause health issues, distract a driver, and lead to a potential fire. Please look into this matter and protect other drivers. Thank you.
Fuel smell really strong & a huge fuel leak started on 6/20/2022. The fuel smell was so strong inside the the car I couldn't stay in it. It started leaking before I fueled up my vehicle. Wen to the back of the car and notice a huge puddle of gas. I didn't know anything about this recall until today. I've owed the car for three years. I hope that Mercedes will fix this issue. Very dangerous.
I brought in my car to M1 Mercedes, Fremont, CA for service after “check engine” light was on and running rough on idle. I told them I started using ethanol (E85) fuel recently but my car is spec for that. The shop replaced spark plugs and ignition coils but the issue didn’t go away. While the car is parked overnight at the shop garage, on Jun 21, 2022, around 11pm, the engine exploded. The incident was caught on camera by the shop. The intake manifold was blown open. The car was tolled to Fletcher Jones Mercedes Fremont, CA (authorized Mercedes dealer) for diagnostic. However, they didn’t offer any solution or attempt to find out what caused the explosion. They offered to replace the intake manifold for $1200. I declined as I believe this is a serious safety issue. What happen if it explodes again? Since the cause of the explosion is not found and address. It could happen again anywhere, anytime. Fletcher Jones Fremont charged me $265 for labor and I tolled my car back home. I attempted to contact Mercedes USA via their website to alert them about this problem and seek resolution. However I never hear back from them. I hope you can help to look into this serious safety issue. Attached please find the blown intake picture and report from M1 Mercedes. I have the explosion video as well.
Strong gas odor inside cabin,whenever gas tank is full I can smell gas for extended time period. May relate to faulty gas line under the back seat.
During state inspection (Pennsylvania) I was told that the rear subframe was rusted. If this part failed the vehicle could become uncontrollable and crash. They are not able to repair this since so many other vehicles have this problem. They have no idea when they could get a replacement subframe. The car is 8 years old but very low mileage (~34,000). Do to the frequent occurrence of this problem (by their report) and potential safety issues, I believe this should prompt a recall.
Owned the car for only ONE winter season and it failed to pass a vehicle safety inspection required in my state for operation. Mechanic reported a rear subframe deteriorating from winter road salts and related weather conditions, and that this was a common issue for my car in these particular climates, but Mercedes refuses to cover the cost in the US, but is currently covering the cost of repair in Europe and Canada. This us ridiculous my car warranty will not cover it and I can’t afford $3500 to repair and replace. The vehicle only had 58,000 miles on it at the time of diagnosis. What’s worse is it could technically happen again even when repaired because the subframe lacks the special coatings needed for winter protection. Now my beautiful car is not safe and I’m subject to municipal fines and penalties. OUTRAGEOUS.
Rusted Rear Subframe presenting a safety hazard. Possible separation of suspension link could lead to loss of control. Brought the 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 (85000 miles) in to the local dealership today for spark plug replacement. Technician performed a visual inspection of the underside of the vehicle and found that the rear subframe had rusted completely through making the care unsafe to drive. Car has been driven in Maryland since new and never exposed to any extraordinary corrosive elements that you might find on roads in colder climates. Car is in otherwise excellent shape with no other visible rust and has never been involved in an accident. The failure of a major suspension component like this on a car in otherwise excellent condition leads me to believe that there is a defect in the manufacturing of the rear subframe component. A quick Google search shows that other Mercedes vehicles suffer from this same problem. NHTSA ID Number: 11456512 also reports the same problem on the same model car. I have not had the problem repaired yet as I am deciding on next steps. Replacement estimate is approximately $4000. If I have the work done, I will retain the old subframe for inspection by NHTSA.
I want to report a structural issue with the Mercedes rear subframe rusting. Three Mercedes dealers told me that it is common but there is no recall. The mechanic told me that if this is not corrected the back wheel will fall off while you are driving. There are no warning lamps. Please help.
Was driving the car with my family close to home and the brake light came on. I drove home and noticed break fluid under the car. I took the car to Leober Mercedes in Skokie Il where I purchased the car and where I sometimes had it serviced. They told me my rear brake lining was corroded and it would be close to $4k to repair. I had it repaired but new that had to be a product defect since that just doesn’t happen as part of normal wear and tear and especially not to a car that has 57773 miles and hasn’t been flooded and that was regularly serviced. I’ve also found out that others have had the same issue with their Mercedes.
I was driving in the Dallas area at highway speed (approx 70mph) during rush-hour traffic when a crackling sound presented in the dashboard area from what appeared to be the sound system (Harmon Kardon surround system). This was immediately followed by the unmistakable smell of burning plastic or something similar. Smoke coming from the center speaker in the dashboard followed subjecting car occupants to potentially hazardous smoke and chemicals resulting from the fire.All signs suggested an electrical fire which was alarming considering this occurred at highway speed. Turning off the sound system did not stop the issue. My safety and that of others on the highway were put at risk because a fire of unknown origin occurred while driving at highway speeds. No accident occurred. Further exploration of the issue from a safe area off of the highway confirmed the following: 1) possible electrical fire emanating from the center speaker of the dashboard 2) center speaker was damaged and appeared melted 3) the only way to stop the fire was to remove the fuse powering the sound amplifier which allowed the car to be driven to the local Mercedes Benz dealer/repair center The car was inspected by the local Mercedes Benz dealer who confirmed: 1) the center speaker was damaged and not repairable 2) the cause of the problem was a "shorted" and otherwise faulty amplifier. 3) the cost to replace the speaker estimated over $400 4) the cost to replace the amplifier estimated over $2700 There are no safety recalls on this particular issue. However, an investigation of the matter on NHTSA and Mercedes Benz user groups has identified numerous occurrences of a similar nature in the 2014 "e" class vehicles. The amplifier, which was confirmed to be the cause of the fire, would appear to have a documentable and reproduceable fault which: 1) presents a safety hazard to owners/drivers of the vehicle, 2) puts other drivers as risk drivers, 3) subjects vehicle occupants to hazardous fumes
Intermittently, while driving several of the electrical systems will fail including the lane keep assist and abs. When this happens, it also causes the instrument cluster to rapidly change speeds, making the vehicle unsafe to operate as the driver is unable to tell what speed they are going, which can become extremely hazardous since this happens at random. The issue has been diagnosed to be a faulty Radar Sensor in the rear bumper, however the specific part has been on backorder since February 2022 and Mercedes-Benz has shown no signs of urgency with resolving this issue. I have a video of the ongoing hazard that I can submit as well, it's just too large to attach to this form.
The car was brought in for scheduled maintenance and they told me that my rear sub frame rusted out and had snapped. Car is only 7 years old, always garaged, basically a main part rusted out. Mercedes prides itself on durability and safety. There were no warning lights, alarms, nothing. Whenever I braked the rear end of the car would slide to the left and I had to try and adjust accordingly. Prior to bringing the car in for its maintenance I was reluctant to drive it on highways and at higher speeds. Now that I am aware of the problem, had the rear of the car given out while I was on a highway, I had the potential to roll over and possibly blown up had the gas tank been impacted. I researched the issue on Google and found many instances of others having the same issue, with the same part, luckily no one appears to have been killed as yet. As I mentioned this was never picked up during all the scheduled maintenance work, nor state inspections, all handled by this dealership. The dealership is in the process of replacing the part and all work associated with that replacement. I don't know if they kept the part or tossed it out, but will ask. No one else has seen the car or rusted part other than the dealership. I'm also sending you a copy of the letter I sent to he dealership and Mercedes-Benz Home Office.
The Height adjustment of electric steering column adjustment sticks in adjustment position at the top limit stop. This has been fixed twice!
brake line failed the hard line. lost my brakes . Mercedez Ralley Motors of Roslyn N.Y said that it was normal rust . there was no warning before the failure.
Brake booster starting to squel and squeak. Brakes Not feeling as firm Driver seat leather was torn at stitching.
10/14/21 Was cautioned that the rear brake lines and caliper hoses were very corroded. Mileage 43,185 10/19/22 Cautioned about rear brake lines. Mileage 48,459 12/11/23 Rear brake lines replacement cost $4497. Repair not done at that time. Mileage 53,375. Again cautioned. 10/30/24 service date- Was informed that the rear subframe was corroded and would be replaced by Mercedes-Benz. I have photos from the dealer. There are holes in the rear subframe.The brake lines could be replaced at the same time at a cost of $2820 due to the fact it is in same area. Mileage 58,597 I asked M-B Customer Service to cover the rear brake lines as the under coating was not sufficient to protect the rear subframe and brake lines. They rejected my claim. I was told others have also tried to get M-B to cover this cost and were rejected. My vehicle has very few miles for its age. I have never had to replace rear brake lines in the 40 years I have owned a Mercedes Benz vehicle. I believe that they have not adequately protected the undercarriage from weather. The rear subframe is my evidence. At some point these brake lines could fail. They will be replaced. I want the manufacturer to cover the cost of the brake lines when the rear subframe is replaced. Please advise.
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but no cause for the odor was found. The vehicle continued to experience failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Severe gasoline leak smell inside and outside the vehicle. Smell is so bad as to make it impossible to stand next to the vehicle without gasping for air and watering eyes. Due to a fire hazard situation, car can not be parked inside the garage as there is a gas water heater installed in the vicinity. Fuel leak in the feed system has been a known problem in Mercedes vehicles in the past. A recall was even issued on E350, 2014 model (Recall # 15V792000). However, my vehicle was excluded from the recall on account of mfg. date not matching with the recall notice. But here we are same problem showing up in the vehicle even after so called fuel leak probe was closed. Took it to the dealer for diagnosis and repair was quoted to be $2297. That's an outrageous amount of money to repair a problem which should not have happened as part of regular wear and tear and is most certainly a fire-hazard and safety issue. My wife and kids ride in this vehicle several times a day and currently I can't let them in this car due to the fear of fire. I would kindly request you to reopen the fuel leak matter with Mercedes and look into the matter while I seek a reimbursement of the repair cost from Mercedes Corporate.
Very strong gas smell enters the cabin and surrounding exterior of the car after fill up. Seems to be a very common problem with this model and follows the same issues with previous years that were filed with the NHTSA and ultimately needed to be repaired by MB. The problem appears to be with the components of the fuel tank immediately under the rear seat. I am at the point where this has become a very dangerous hazard that consumers should know that the manufacturer should address and that consumers should not have to pay for repairs.
Mercedes Benz E350 2014 - Panoramic Sunroof rattling and squeaking noise/sound: This issue has been reported by many online, and it is a well known problem with E350. It starts with a little bit of squeak and metallic rattle noise here and there, and then after a year or so it is almost happening all the time as you drive the car. Dealer states that Sunroof Frame bolts have to be retorqued and loose bolts which rattle around have to be put back on. Estimated cost $712. If not a safety risk causing Pano sunroof to eventually fly off, it should definitely be a recall as many E350 owners have reported the same issue, and it is a manufacturer defect.
Mercedes Benz had a previous recall Campaign # 2009100001 which affected vehicles until 2012 and mine is a 2014 model E350. It has the same issue with Engine severely misfiring and jerky on the road as if it is going to STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF FREEWAY while driving and cause a SAFETY RISK for my family and others on the road. Specific component is Oil leaks from transmission wiring harness and ECM connector. The leak is from camshaft hall sensors and transmission drain plug. Mercedes Benz dealer in Pleasanton, CA has confirmed the issue after I paid $218 for diagnosis.
There have been three events, all the same. Each time a speaker in a door, while driving, has began to squeal, sputter and the smoke. The first occurred while sitting inside a car wash, with the windows up, obviously. I was able to open the window, drenching myself, but venting the acrid electrical smoke. The second was while driving home from a medical clinic. The third was while driving on the interstate, traveling from my mothers funeral in California to Wisconsin It was 2am, just outside of Vail, Colorado in the rain. My wife was driving, while I slept. I woke to her screaming that the car was on fire, she pulled over, taking advantage of the antilock brakes for the first time ever, striking some type of curb, ultimately not killing us, but we lost another speaker, and a tire and rim. I’m, needless to say, displeased with my expensive European wagon, but Mercedes’ does not consider melting and smoking speakers to be a safety issue. Look online, and you’ll see plenty of videos of people with the same issue.
Have purchased a 2014 mercedes E350 59k miles. This vehicle has an issue as so do many Mercedes with their rear subframes rotted out at the control arm bracket which causes the rear link/thrust arm to detach from the subframe/axle carrier and posses a danger when breaking due to the rear spindle assembly flexing throwing the wheels out of alignment and could be at risk for a car crack. This vehicle has already been in a minor crash as a result of this issue. I personally have not brought it to Mercedes to get it diagnosed inspected or the police law enforcement but there are many cases online on the Mercedes Benz forums to which this has also happened to. This issue applies to other Mercedes models ranging from 2010 all the way to 2016. Videos of the exact vehicle brought to an independent shop available upon request.
BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND STATIC/CRACKLINGS NOISE FROM THE SPEAKER SYSTEM. NOISE CONTINUED WITH ENGINE OFF AS WELL AS ENGINE ON. SPEAKERS STARTED POPPING WITH SOUND LIKE GUNFIRE. SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL FIRE WAS HAPPENING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HUGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE BACK INSIDE OF CAR AROUND THE BACK DOOR PASSENGER SIDE AS I SAT IN THE CAR. CAR WAS IN PARKED POSITION AT THIS MOMENT N ENGINE WAS RUNNING N RADIO ON. I TURNED OFF CAR AND STREAM N JUMPED OUT OF CAR WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING MOMENT. STILL POPPING SOUND AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF SO I CALL 911. FIRE DEPT N POLICE CAME OUT N SMELT BURNING SMELL FROM SMOKE N HEARD POPPING FROM BELIEVE SPEAKERS THEREFORE FIRE DEPT DISMANTLE SEVERAL FUSES FROM UNDER HOOD ETC SINCE THEY COULD NOT DISMANTLE THE DOOR PANEL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS SPILLING FROM. THIS WAS EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL FOR ME. I FEEL THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MERCEDES NEED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR N DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED
MY STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TELESCOPE UP/DOWN. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIRED 2X'S IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. 5/2017, 6/2018, 8/2019, 12/2020 ADDITIONALLY, THE BLIND SPOT ASSIST NOTIFICATION GOES OFF WHEN THERE'S NOT A CAR AROUND ME. TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING AND GO DOWN A SLIGHT DECLINE IN THE ROAD.
WHEN I PUT GAS IN THE CAR BEYOND ONE QUARTER OF A TANK, I GET A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR FENDER AND TIRE AREA.. THERE IS NO VISIBLE GAS LEAK ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. THE CAR IS STATIONARY/PARKED IN THE GARAGE
HEY I HAVE 2014 MERCEDES E350 WITH 57K ON IT. DRIVER SEAT HAS A TEAR AFTER TAKING TO THE MB DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND MY 7 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS KINDA OF A SLIP IN 3 AND 4 GEAR ALSO TOOK TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT ITS ALSO A COMMON PROBLEM
CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN 2016 AND HAS ONLY BEEN SEEN BY MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS FOR SERVICE. IN 2019, A OIL SEEPAGE WAS NOTED DURING ANNUAL MAINTENANCE HOWEVER NO REPAIR OR DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR ONLY HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT. IN NOV OF 2020, THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP FOR ANNUAL SERVICE. THE CAR NOW ONLY HAD 40,000 MILES BUT WAS GIVEN A 50K SERVICE. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE COVER AND HAD ALSO CONTAMINATED THE DRIVE BELTS. REPAIRS TO ENGINE COVER, BELT AND TENSIONER CAME TO $3000+. DEALERSHIP HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR WHY AFTER SUCH A SHORT TIME WITH LIMITED DRIVING, THE CAR HAD SUCH SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS NEEDED. A TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR HAD ALSO FAILED. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN, HOWEVER SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR BEGINNING ONLY 5 YEARS AFTER OF MANUFACTURING WITH LESS THAN 37,000 MILES.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026