2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

20Engine complaints

9.3%Of all 215 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS83 · 38.6%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM27 · 12.6%

ENGINE20 · 9.3%

SERVICE BRAKES19 · 8.8%

Unspecified / other17 · 7.9%

Share of the 215 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 overview page.

What owners report

“THE CAR SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY AT STOP LIGHTS. I CANNOT TELL IT IS OFF UNTIL WE ARE A GREEN LIGHT AND THEN I HAVE TO…”NHTSA complaint 11400301 — filed 03/11/2021

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ…”NHTSA complaint 11338209 — filed 07/08/2020

“'EXPERIENCED RATTLING SOUNDS AND TOOK VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF TUCSON (MBT) ON 5/9/18 'INSPECTION FOUND SECONDARY CHAIN TENSIONERS PRODUCING RATTLING NOISE UNTIL OIL…”NHTSA complaint 11319793 — filed 03/31/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350: 20 of 215 complaints on file (9.3%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 have in total?

215 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 5 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.