RecallMyCar

Mercedes-Benz E Class Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 298 owner complaints across 16 model years of the Mercedes-Benz E Class (1992–2008). The most-complained-about year is 2003.

9
safety recalls, all years
298
owner complaints, all years
2003
year with most recalls
2003
year with most complaints

Pick your Mercedes-Benz E Class model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2008 Mercedes-Benz E Class05
2006 Mercedes-Benz E Class110
2005 Mercedes-Benz E Class39
2004 Mercedes-Benz E Class415
2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class445
2002 Mercedes-Benz E Class08
2001 Mercedes-Benz E Class015
2000 Mercedes-Benz E Class034
1999 Mercedes-Benz E Class113
1998 Mercedes-Benz E Class024
1997 Mercedes-Benz E Class138
1996 Mercedes-Benz E Class116
1995 Mercedes-Benz E Class121
1994 Mercedes-Benz E Class138
1993 Mercedes-Benz E Class17
1992 Mercedes-Benz E Class10

What Mercedes-Benz E Class owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 298 complaints with NHTSA. The 2003 model year has the most, with 45.

All Mercedes-Benz E Class recalls (9)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Mercedes-Benz E Class, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Electrical system

    NHTSA 08V303000 Reported 404 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-benz is recalling my 2006-2008 m-class, r-class, my 2005-2009 slk-class, my 2005-2008 c-class, my 2003-2004 and 2006-2008 clk-class, my 2003-2008 e-class, my 2004 and 2008 cl-class, my 2008 cls-class, my 2004 and 2007-2008 s-class, my 2003 g-class, and my 2003-2004, 2006 and 2009 sl-class vehicles. A software calibration number…

    Remedy: Dealers will recode the scn free of charge. The recall began on august 30, 2008. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

  2. Service brakes, hydraulic

    NHTSA 05V133000 Reported 204,000 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    On certain vehicles, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may prematurely shift to the hydraulic back-up function mode, due to deterioration of the wiring harness connection, or due to premature failure of the hydraulic pump.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a bracket and replacement ground wire to the sbc pump unit on all vehicles free of charge. Additionally dealers will inspect and replace the sbc pump unit in sl vehicles produced during a limited…

    Model years: 2003, 2004, 2005

  3. Service brakes, hydraulic

    NHTSA 04V296000 Reported 143,387 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    On certain vehicles, the electronic monitoring system of the sensotronic brake control (sbc) is designed to monitor the pressure gradient within the high pressure line of the brake system. If an unacceptable pressure gradient is detected, the system will switch, as it is designed to do, into the hydraulic function mode.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sbc hydraulic unit, replacing it if necessary. The recall began on october 21m 2004. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2003, 2004, 2005

  4. Seat belts

    NHTSA 03V534000 Reported 4,348 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    On certain passenger vehicles, some seat belt buckles may have a burr on a metal component of the locking mechanism. The presence of the burr could prevent the seat belt from locking under certain circumstances.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belts. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2004

  5. Steering

    NHTSA 03V289000 Reported 554 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    On certain passenger vehicles, the nut on the bolt which connects the steering gear to the steering coupling may not be tightened correctly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles and tighten the nut on the bolt if necessary. Owner notification began august 21, 2003. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

    Model years: 2003

  6. Air bags: side/window

    NHTSA 00V388000 Reported 16,255 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles have experienced side air bag deployments in the absence of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger door mounted side air bag modules. At the same time, dealers will also inspect the condition of the side air bag module wiring within the doors and replace that wiring if…

    Model years: 1997

  7. Air bags: side/window and air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 98V256000 Reported 4,163 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A wrong clamp may have been installed on the window air bag units.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the window air bag units and, if the wrong or incorrectly installed clamp is found, the entire unit will be replaced.

    Model years: 1999

  8. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 96V058000 Reported 149 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.

    The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine crankshaft damper-pulley on these vehicles.

    Model years: 1996

  9. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 95V031000 Reported 50,000 vehicles potentially affected MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.

    The front passenger metal foot rest can, over time, abrade through the wiring harness under the foot rest causing the wiring harness to short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will install additional wiring harness cable fastener ties and edge protective covering for sharp edges of the metal foot rest.

    Model years: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.