What 233 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mercedes-benz E-class Cabrio

I noticed the strong smell of fuel around the rear of the car especially around the back. Upon inspection I noticed that the corner of the tank on the driver's side was wet with fuel. I took it to my mechanic who on inspecting the car reported that the pump outlet on the driver's side pump (which is accessed from the interior under the back seat) was spraying fuel up against the underside of the car against the rear seat and also noticed that the second pump on the passenger side on top of the tank was also seeping fuel. To have fuel leaking anywhere is dangerous, but to have it happening under the rear seat where my children sit is extremely dangerous. I checked for a recall for this problem with Mercedes but didn't find one on their site. I called them at their corporate HQ and they claimed not having a complaint like this before and didn't want to accept any responsibility for the faulty part/s. This is in need of immediate attention by Mercedes Benz before someone loses their lives because of MB ignoring this serious problem. [XXX]... Phone [XXX] email [XXX] Car fills with strong fuel vapors with raw fuel collecting on top of fuel pump Many more reports for same problem I found online that Mercedes would not react to, here is a typical one... Other Fuel System Pump problem of the 2012 Mercedes Benz E350 Date: 06/01/2020 1) My vehicle is emitting a very strong fuel smell and possible leak coming from the fuel pump. This is located under the rear seat, which had a recall. I believe that the item is faulty and should replace once again. I reached out to the dealership and to mb corp; but they do not want to take responsibility for their faulty design and product. The vehicle is not safe to drive with the strong vapors, which are dangerous to health. Also, I am forced to leave the vehicle outside of the garage because of my fear that this will cause a fire or explosion, resulting in massive house destruction and possible death. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11449892

The camshaft position sensors leak oil into wiring harness. The oil circulates to other engine sensors and the ECU(engine control computer). Oil in the other sensors and the ECU causes the car to stop operating or operate erratically while driving. a real problem. This is a safety issue there should not be oil leaking into the ECU! The mercedes dealer replaced the leaking camshaft position sensors and confirmed oil had leaked into the ECU and wiring harness on december 13,2021. They recommended replacing the wiring harness and ECU at cost of $6500. I have the replaced bad sensors. Mercedes says they have no culpability in this or a fix. The mercedes complaint number is #23264730932. The previous mercedes engine generation had the same problem and mercedes did a recall on that engine.

NHTSA ODI 11443918

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that after retrieving the vehicle from the dealer, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was oil contamination through the camshaft sensor. The contact was informed that the engine wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for confirmation of the diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,700. The VIN was not provided.

NHTSA ODI 11441483

Cam adjustment solenoids leak oil into the engine wiring harness causing component failures, rough running and stalling. This problem was diagnosed and replaced by the dealer at 48k miles and has returned at 116k miles. There is a recall for models prior to 2012 and this car has the same problem. Eventually the engine will quit running at any given moment posing a dangerous situation.

NHTSA ODI 11439339

Stopped at a stop sign and the passenger side seat headrest deployed. Luckily no one was sitting in the seat at the time. This car has the Neck Pro Active Front Head Restraints. The plastic that holds the headrest in place fails after time. There is a class action lawsuit against Mercedes and the manufacturer of the plastic piece Gammer I believe. This failure has caused injuries to people that have been sitting in the seat at the time of deployment for no reason. This is a safety hazard as if it goes off while driving can cause you to loose control of the car and injure anyone in the car as well as other people if you were to get in an accident with another vehicle. This should be a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11438555

My vehicle when coming to a stop throws itself in the park around 5 mph. I have almost gotten hit by vehicles behind me several times.

NHTSA ODI 11432168

There was a recall on my front passenger air bag that was replaced around February 2020, based on a recall. The other day my Front Right Passenger Air Bag Malfunction Warning Signal appeared on the dash board. After bringing it into Mercedes Benz - I was notified that my Passenger Right Side Air Bag needed replacement. I was told it would cost $1,800 to replace. Shouldn't this be a part of the Air Bag Recall?

NHTSA ODI 11430444

50% OF THE TIME CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE BACK UP CAMERA SCREEN HAS NO PICTURE JUST A BLACK SCREEN. MERCEDES BENZ OF AUSTIN RAN DIAGNOSTICS BUT COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODELS ON THE BACK UP CAMERA BUT RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE 2012 E350. PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS OR SO AGO. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM STARTING ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND HAS BEEN ONGOING.

NHTSA ODI 11420474

The key in the electronic ignition switch is not recognized causing the car to suddenly throw itself into park while the vehicle is still in motion, at speeds as high as 6 mph, per service bulletin #LI54.25-P-056472. The issue is intermittent and unpredictable and puts the driver at great risk of an accident because the car stops violently and without warning to the cars behind. The car can be put back into Drive and as soon as you start driving again, it will immediately throw itself back into park, which sometimes happens over and over again. This has put me in the position of having entered an intersection only to have my car stop in the middle of the intersection. I've been nearly hit from behind or side several times due to the unexpected and sudden stop my car made when this happened. Despite reporting the TSB to the Mercedes dealership, they would not cover the out of warranty repair because they said it's "only a service bulletin and not a safety recall." This is VERY CLEARLY a safety issue and there are hundreds if not thousands of drivers and cars affected based on internet searches of MB and auto forums.

NHTSA ODI 11419705

1. Backup camera will periodically display a blank screen when shifted into reverse. System has to be shutdown and restarted to get the camera to work again. Tends to happen on rainy days when camera most needed. No accident has occurred as a result to date. Date of last occurrence is an approximation. 2. Distronic Plus system (Adaptive cruise) will disengage unexpectedly when coming to a stop in traffic or if in stop and go traffic. The system beeps once and a red light flashes, but this is easily missed if radio is playing or driver is distracted. This has almost caused several roll forward rear-end collisions, prevented only by quick driver intervention. Neither issue has been addressed with the dealer since the vehicle is out of warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11418539

RUSTED BRAKE LINES CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AND LOOSE BREAK PEDAL. THIS IS SEVERELY AFFECTING BREAK SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND VEHICLE SAFETY. MB DEALER QUOTED $2910.00 PLUS TAX FOR REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11415345

MY 2012 MERCEDES E350 HAS OIL CONTAMINATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS. THE OIL HAS ALSO DAMAGED OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INCLUDING OXYGEN SENSORS; PROBES AND ECU(COMPUTER) THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE DAMAGE. MERCEDES-BENZ HAD HAD RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST BUT THE RECALL DID NOT EXTEND TO THE 2012 MODEL YEAR. THEY NEED TO DO ANOTHER RECALL FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE CAR COULD STALL IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING

NHTSA ODI 11413931

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 START THE CAR. CARS BEHIND ME HAVE ALMOST HIT ME

NHTSA ODI 11400301

SUB FRAME CRACKED

NHTSA ODI 11398776

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. BERGSTROM MERCEDES-BENZ (ENTERPRISE MOTOR CARS - 3002 N. VICTORY LN, APPLETON, WI 54913, (800) 396-7554) AND MERCEDES-BENZ OF NAPLES (501 AIRPORT-PULLING RD, NAPLES, FL 34104, (239) 227-2622) WERE CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF

NHTSA ODI 11395430

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, AND CONTACTED THE DEALER ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS MERCEDES-BENZ PRE-OWNED (2586 SATELLITE BLVD, DULUTH, GA 30096) WHO INFORMED HIM THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THEY WOULD BE IN CONTACT WHEN PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11394615

THE CAM SOLENOID SENSORS ARE PICKING UP OIL, THEN IT IS BEING DISBURSED IN TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS FLOWING INTO, O2 SENSORS MAKING THE VEHICLE RUN IN A FULL RICH MODE, IT IS REACHING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT RUNS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THIS REPAIR CAN COST UPWARDS OF $8000. I HAVE DONE ONLINE RESEARCH AND IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AMONGST MANY MERCEDES VEHICLES. THE ISSUE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, IT WAS BEING REPAIRED BUT MERCEDES STOPPED THE REPAIR. IT COMES FROM AN INTERNAL ISSUE, NOT A FAIL TO MAINTAIN PROBLEM. I CONTACTED MERCEDES, THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY DID TELL ME, THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A COST OF OVER $ 5000. TO US. ONLINE SEARCHES HAVE RESULTED IN MANY COMPLAINTS BY OWNERS. REGULAR DRIVING IS A RESULT OF THE ISSUE. NOW WE CAN'T DRIVE OUT VEHICLE DUE TO FEAR OF THE OIL IN THE ELECTRICAL LINES REACHING OUR CPU FOR THE ENTIRE CAR, WHICH WILL RESULT SEVERAL THOUSAND MORE DOLLARS ON TOP OF THE REPAIR COST. WE HAVE PAID $ 800. AT THIS POINT ONLY TO BE TOLD, DO NOT DRIVE THE CARE OR WORSE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR. SO WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CAR THAT IS COLLECTING LEAVES AND DUST. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE, GARYW. SMITH. WE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENS OF RALEIGH NC, THEY ARE OUR CONTACT POINT, THEY DON;T KNOW OF AN ISSUE BUT KNOW THE CURE FOR $5000. PLUS DOLLARS, HMMM, CURIOUS...

NHTSA ODI 11389689

TL*LN CONSUMER STATED SEAT BELT SUDDENLY FAILED TO RETRACT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A DEALER BUT MANUFACTERER DECLINED TO REPLACE OR REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11373766

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED VITI MERCEDES-BENZ (975 FISH RD, TIVERTON, RI 02878) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT PARTS MAY BECOME AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER OF 2020. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11353141

THE COLLAR AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL HAS MELTED. HAPPENED WHILE CAR PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW! NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED! DEALER CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY! HOW SAFE IS MY VEHICLE? NEVER HEARD OF SUCH! THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS EXPOSED! THE COST TO REPAIR IS ON ME! WHAT IS GOING ON. THIS IS NOT A WEAR OR TEAR SITUATION! HOW SAFE AM I? MAYBE HEAT INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED IT! DON'T KNOW! MORE PHOTOS AVAILABLE

NHTSA ODI 11351881

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO - ADDRESS: 4301 MILLENIA BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32839; PHONE: (407) 374-0033) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL FILTER FLANGE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V557000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11349046

I WAS BACKING THE CAR WHEN THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND A MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION SEE OWNERS MANUAL' APPEARED. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AN HOUR LATER AND THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED. STEERING WAS VERY DIFFICULT. THANKFULLY, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AT A HIGH SPEED OR TURNING.

NHTSA ODI 11348881

MY VEHICLE IS EMITTING A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL AND POSSIBLE LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT, WHICH HAD A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THE ITEM IS FAULTY AND SHOULD REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. I REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO MB CORP; BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND PRODUCT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE STRONG VAPORS, WHICH ARE DANGEROUS TO HEALTH. ALSO, I AM FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF MY FEAR THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION, RESULTING IN MASSIVE HOUSE DESTRUCTION AND POSSIBLE DEATH.

NHTSA ODI 11348441

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS UNDER 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO PARK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING WARMER WEATHER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INTERNATIONAL AUTOS GROUP LOCATED AT 2400 S. 108TH MILWAUKEE WI 53227, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE IGNITION KEY WAS NOT RECOGNIZED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,400.

NHTSA ODI 11340899

CAR AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS TO PARK WHEN GOING BELOW 10MPH OR WHEN BRAKING

NHTSA ODI 11340752