Total Complaints
11 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ E · model year
11 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011MERCEDES-BENZE carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2011 E is power train:automatic transmission with 3 filings, followed by tires (3) and electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2011 E. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
11 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
TIRE TREAD IS SEPARATING FROM TIRE ON BACK OF TIRE. ALL FOUR TIRES ON VEHICLE DISPLAY TREAD SEPARATION APPROXIMATELY HALF CIRCUMFERENCE OF TIRE IS AFFECTED. *TR
Mileage: 38,000
ALL FOUR TIRES ON 2011 MERCEDES E550 HAVE TREAD SEPARATION. TREAD SEPARATION IS OCCURRING ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE TIRE AND IS UNKNOWN UNTIL THE TIRE BEGINS TO LOSE TIRE PRESSURE. TIRES ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN RADIAL X TIRES. FAILURE BETWEEN 38,000-40,000 MILES. *TR
Mileage: 42,000
5 MONTHS INTO MY 2011 MB E350 BLUETECH LEASE THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BLOWS ON A HIGHWAY. THE TIRES ARE RUNFLAT BRIDGESTONE TURANZA EL400-02 MOEXTENDED 245/45R17 95H. STOPPED THE CAR AND SAW THE RIM MADE A CUT IN A SIDEWALL. NOT REPAIRABLE, HAD IT REPLACED. 45 DAYS LATER ANOTHER FRONT TIRE IS AGAIN BLOWN ON A HIGHWAY THE SAME WAY. PUT ON A SPARE AND ORDERED REPLACEMENT. 2 DAYS LATER - THIRD TIRE BLOWS THE SAME EXACT WAY. ALL INCIDENTS ARE ON THE ROADS I TRAVEL FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY PREVIOUS CARS. COMPLAINED TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY MY "WAY OF DRIVING". RIDICULOUS! TIRE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME THESE RUN-FLATS ARE NOT FLEXIBLE AND HAVE A VERY THIN SIDEWALL SO IT GETS PUNCTURED BY THE RIM. SINCE MERCEDES DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE TIRES FOR FREE, HOW DO I GET COMPENSATED FOR WHAT I PAID REPLACING THEIR TIRES? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END CRASH. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS BUT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE REDUCTION IN THE INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Mileage: 7,000
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MERCEDES 2011 E550. I FOUND THE SPEEDOMETER VERY DIFFICULT TO READ DURING DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS IT IS NOT LIGHTED. MY EYESIGHT IS 20/20). THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE IT TAKES YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD TOO LONG TO READ THE VERY DIM SPEEDOMETER. IT ALSO CAUSES ONE TO GO AT SPEEDS NOT EASILY CONTROLLED BY A NORMAL "GLANCE"AT THE SPEEDOMETER. *TR
Mileage: 100
MERCEDES 2011 E550 HAS A SPEEDOMETER THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ AND REQUIRES EYE DIVERSION FROM THE ROAD TO AN UNSAFE EXTENT TO VIEW YOUR DRIVING SPEED. *TR
Mileage: 10
E 350 2011 MERCEDES BENZ I OWN HAS PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. *TR
Mileage: 100
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN REVERSE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 350. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF UPDATED 10/26/11
Mileage: 300
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH IN REVERSE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 350. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF UPDATED 10/26/11
Mileage: 300
YOU PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE DIGITAL DISPLAY SAYS "PARK" BUT IT IS NOT. YOU PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE DIGITAL DISPLAY SAYS DRIVE OR REVERSE AND CAR DOES NOT MOVE. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON THEN IT WILL START TO WORK PROPERLY AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN PHOTO'S OF THE ISSUE WITH THE RPM UP TO 4K AND THE CAR MPH AT ZERO AND IT SAYS "DRIVE" IN THE DISPLAY. I PROVIDED THE PHOTO'S MERCEDES AND THE DEALER AND THEY KEEP SAYING THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. I SPENT SOME TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT GETS IN THIS MODE AND FROM WHAT I DETERMINED IS WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE IF YOU MOVE THE LEVER TO GO IN PARK YOU DON'T HEAR THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGE WHEN IT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY BUT THE DIGITAL DISPLAY SAYS "PARK". THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT TRIGGER THE DISPLAY WHEN IT SHOULD IT SEEMS TO ME THE SHIFT LEVER DOES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD TRIGGER THE DASH DISPLAY IF IT
Mileage: 9,898
2011 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS-THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRONIC SHIFTER JUST BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL IF IT GOES INTO PARK OR NOT. MY WIFE HAD ENGINE RUNNING, GOT OUT OF CAR TO CHECK THE TRUNK AND THOUGHT SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. IT STARTED TO MOVE AND SHE WAS ABLE TO JUMP INSIDE AND HIT THE BRAKE. LATER THAT MORNING I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THOUGHT I HIT THE PARK. I GOT OUT LEAVING THE ENGINE RUNNING WITH MY WIFE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ON THE PHONE. WHEN FINISHED SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. SHE COULDN'T REACH OVER THE CONSOLE TO HIT THE BRAKE. SHE TRIED PUSHING THE PARK BUTTON AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE (72 HOURS OLD) STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A CAR BEHIND IT IN ANOTHER PARKING SPACE. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY WAS BEHIND THE CAR OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I SPOKE WITH MERCEDES CORPORATE WHO SAID THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTER HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2006. THE SERVICE FOREMAN AT MY DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJU
Mileage: 100
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.