What 295 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-benz E-class Cabrio

EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING FROM 50-40MPH. TOLD BY A DEALER THAT ALL BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE (ESTIMATED $1200). CREATES UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT, KNOWN PROBLEM ON 2010-2012 E350/E550, YET MB REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627403

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT DETECTED A STRONG BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND THE FOUR PASSENGERS EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND CONTINUED TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AS WELL AS AN INCIDENT REPORT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI 10610482

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT DUE TO EXCESSIVE BIO DIESEL, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10551326

2011 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY TURNS ON WHEN GEAR SHIFT IS PLACED IN REVERSE MODE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER MANUALLY TURNING OFF THE RADIO, THEN PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT IN REVERSE MODE, THE RADIO AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATED TO THE ON MODE WHICH DISTRACTED AND INTERFERED HIS CONCENTRATION AND AWARENESS WITH REGARD TO SAFE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10550207

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DRIVER'S SIDE RIM BECAME BENT, CREATING A SHARP EDGE WHICH SLICED INTO THE TIRES. THE RIMS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,100.

NHTSA ODI 10549383

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

NHTSA ODI 10543982

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

NHTSA ODI 10543992

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON LAYTON AVE AND 43RD STREET, AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE HEADRESTS OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED, PUSHING MY NECK FORWARD. GRANTED I WENT OVER A HOLE NOT THAT BIG, BUT THE EXPLOSION WAS SO DRASTIC THAT IT PUSHED MY SEAT FORWARD AND MY NECK IS NOW SORE AND TENDER FROM THE IMPACT. I AM REALLY SCARE NOW THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WANT ME TO BRING THE CAR SO THE CAN RESET THE SYSTEM. I DON'T LIKE THAT IDEA, BECAUSE I GOT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND NOW THE VALUE REALLY CHANGE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN IT ANYMORE. I DON'T THINK MERCEDES IS WILLING TO TAKE THE CAR BACK EITHER. SHOULD I FOLLOW A LAWSUIT? I HAVE 5 MONTHS LEFT ON THIS LEASE BUT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WITH THIS CAR NOW SINCE ALREADY SHOWED SOME MALFUNCTION. HEADRESTS ARE SUPPOSED TO POPPED OUT ONLY IF YOU ARE REAR ENDED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543847

I WAS COMING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE. I PROCEEDED TO THE ENTRANCE TO GARAGE. THE STREET WAS NARROW FOR TWO CARS TO PASS BY. I MADE A RIGHT TURN FROM THE GARAGE EXIT TO THE NARROW STREET WITH 5 MPH SPEED. THERE WERE TWO CARS ABOUT 25 FEET AWAY ALREADY ON THAT STREET. THOSE TWO CARS WERE WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN ON MAIN STREET AT THE T JUNCTION. SUDDENLY MY CAR ACCELERATED TO 45 MPH APPROXIMATELY. I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKE DID NOT EVEN SLOW DOWN THE CAR. WITH THE BRAKE NOT WORKING AND THE CAR ACCELERATING VERY FAST, THE CAR BECAME OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS APPROACHING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME, I STEERED MY CAR TO THE LEFT OF THESE TWO CARS. I WENT FAST BEYOND THESE TWO CARS AND CAME ON THE MAIN ROAD. I NOTICED A CAR WAS COMING CLOSE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE WHICH WOULD HAVE HIT MY CAR. AT THE SAME TIME, I NOTICED THAT ON THE LANE ON LEFT SIDE THERE WAS NO CAR IN CLOSE VICINITY. TO PROTECT OTHER CARS HITTING MY CAR, I STEERED MY CAR TO THE LEFT LANE AND DROVE MY CAR OVER THE CURB. THE CAR WENT OVER THE CURB AND HIT A STREET ELECTRIC POLE. THE CURB AND THE POLE STOPPED THE CAR. THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE FRONT OF MY CAR HIT THE POLE. THE IMPACT OF SUDDEN STOP DESTROYED THE FRONT MIDDLE PART OF THE CAR AND ALSO SHATTERED THE GLASS WINDSHIELD. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. UPON MY INSISTING, MERCEDES BENZ CHECKED THE CAR FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND BRAKE FAILURE. THEY TOLD US THAT NOTHING WAS MALFUNCTIONING IN MY CAR. I DO NOT TRUST THEM: SO I SEEK YOUR HELP IN THIS INVESTIGATION FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND BRAKE FAILURE AS THEY DID NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF CAR MALFUNCTIONING. I WAS TAKEN TO EMERGENCY FOR TREATMENT IN AN AMBULANCE. I MISSED SEVERAL DAYS FROM OFFICE. I AM STILL PHYSICALLY HURTING ON NECK/SHOULDERS AND CONTINUE TO TAKE PRESCRIPTION PAIN KILLERS; BUT LUCKY TO BE LIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10522362

SUBJECT: FORWARDED FROM FMCSA REGARDING CONSUMERS COMPLAINT ABOUT MERCEDES BENZ TIRES. *SMD 2011 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED THE SPORT PACKAGE VEHICLE, TWO YEARS AGO. HE HAD CHROME PUT ON THE WHEELS; THE ALLOY WHEELS WERE ORIGINAL. JUST CHROMED ON THE EXTERIOR. WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGED, THE TIRES DEFLATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, TO HAVE THE TIRES FILLED WITH NITROGEN. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE CONSUMER RAN OVER A POT HOLE AND TWO WHEELS AND TWO TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN JUNE 2012, HIS WIFE RAN OVER A POT HOLE AND THE WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE TIRE RE-MOUNTED, WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE RE-MOUNTED TIRE WENT FLAT, AND THE SPARE TIRE HAD TO BE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED HER SHE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. ON OCTOBER 19, 2012, THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT OVER A SPEED BUMP AND THE WHEELS AND TIRES WERE CRUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE DID A SEARCH ON PROBLEMS WITH WHEELS AND TIRES AND FOUND MULTIPLE STORIES FROM OTHER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL THE LOW PROFILE TIRES AS WELL AS THE WHEELS, WHICH WERE MORE SUBSTANTIAL. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10488321

THIS VEHICLE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ, IN PARTICULAR 2011 E350 4MATIC WITH 18IN WHEELS DOES NOT MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS OF QUALITY AND DURABILITY AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS ALL 4 WHEELS DENTED AND CRACKED FROM ROADS WITH NORMAL TO MINOR ROAD SURFACE ABNORMALITIES. THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE AND DOES NOT MEET THE QUALITY STANDARDS EXPECTED, THEY CANNOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THESE WHEELS EASILY DENT AND CRACK AND CAN LEAD TO A DRIVER LOSING CONTROL OF THERE VEHICLE. I HAVE SO FAR EXPERIENCED 3 FLATS OVER THE COURSE OF 1.5 YEARS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER REPAIRED DENTED WHEELS AND SOON AFTER, THE WHEELS WERE DAMAGED AGAIN. THE STEERING CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PULLS SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGED WHEELS. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS CUSTOMER WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE WHEEL QUALITY AND EVEN THE DEALER IS AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE BUT STATES ITS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NOTHING THEY CAN DO. AS OF NOW I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES TO INSPECT THE WHEELS AND REPAIR THE DAMAGES WHICH THEY ARE NOT COVERING. I DRIVE ANOTHER VEHICLE, 2011 INFINITI M, WHICH HAS LARGER 20IN WHEELS AND IT'S BEEN DRIVEN THROUGH THE SAME ROADS WITH NOT ONE ISSUE AT ALL WITH THE WHEELS. AFTER DRIVEN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS, THE INFINITI STILL DRIVES WITH NO VIBRATIONS AND WHEELS THAT ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IF THE WHEELS FROM MERCEDES-BENZ CANNOT HANDLE THE WEIGHT AND OEM TIRE THAT COMES FROM THE FACTORY, THEN THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10464808

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 E350 MERCEDES BENZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL GATE WOULD UNLATCH AND OPEN SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10441324

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

NHTSA ODI 10440487

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.

NHTSA ODI 10419189

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

NHTSA ODI 10403630

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

NHTSA ODI 10394295

E 350 2011 MERCEDES BENZ I OWN HAS PROBLEMS WITH GEAR SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING UPHILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10392911

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

NHTSA ODI 10380206

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 IS IN PARK OR DRIVE OR REVERSE TO ENSURE IT IS IN THE PROPER GEAR. THE SAME THING GOES FOR WHEN YOU ARE IN PARK AND PUT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL TIME THAT I LEFT MY CAR WHILE RUNNING THINKING IT WAS IN PARK AND IT START TO DRIVE FORWARD ONLY TO JUMP BACK IN AND PHYSICALLY TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS ISSUE OCCURS ONE OR TWICE A MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10359582

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 ADJUST THE COMPUTER SO THAT IF THE CAR ISN'T IN PARK AND THE KEY IS TURNED OFF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SENSE NO ONE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK INTO PARK. HE EXPLAINED WITH THE KEY OFF HAD SHE OPENED THE DOOR THE PARK WOULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY HAPPENED. IT SEEMS THERE IS A SIMPLE FIX. IF THE VEHICLE IS BELOW 5 MPH AND SOMEONE HAS THE ENGINE RUNNING BUT OPENS THE DOOR TO GET OUT IT STILL SHOULD GO INTO PARK. THIS IS A SIMPLE PROGRAM FIX I WOULD GUESS. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A WARNING BELL OR VOICE COMMAND ALERTING THE DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE ISN'T IN PARK. IT CAME TOO LATE FOR MY WIFE TO KNOW HAD SHE OPENED THE DOOR THE CAR WOULD HAVE LOCKED INTO PARK WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF. THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING POSTED TO ALL NEW OWNERS AND A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW TO BEST UTILIZE THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS KILLED BUT MY WIFE BEING TWISTED HEART HER BACK. NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM SINCE THE DEALER HAS NO DESIGNATED FIX. *TR

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