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

The failed component is a fuel pump, and it is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others was put at risk due to the following: 1) Sudden engine stalling 2) Dangerous power loss while accelerating 3) Potential fire risks; a damaged fuel pump assembley can cause fuel leaks and overheating due to insufficient fuel supply can increase the risk of explosion or fire. 4) Gas fumes from a fuel leak are highly harmful and dangerous. They are toxic to inhale causing dizziness, headaches, nausea or respitory issues.

NHTSA ODI 11735613

Brake line is thoroughly corroded, went to a repair shop, when they brought it back down, the Subframe collapsed. Mercedes has a 20 yr warranty on the subframe so they will cover that but want another $3K to fix the brake line that was obviously tied to the same mfr issue that the sub frame was in regards to rusting. Dealer won't take any responsibility for anything but the subframe.

NHTSA ODI 11683155

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated his wife had noticed that the steering wheel was off-center and turned to the left independently. Additionally, the contact stated while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle flipped sideways. The contact's wife was able to exit the highway and pull into a gas station. The contact met his wife at the gas station. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the failure recurred, with the front end shifted to the left and the rear end shifting to the right. The contact returned to the parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that as an independent mechanic, he inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear subframe was corroded severely inside out and a wheel had detached. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ODI 11647634

Rear subframe corrosion and in addition, rear break line corrosion.

NHTSA ODI 11635072

Rear subframe has rust perforation causing instability and stopping issues with the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11599557

On April 29, 2024, I was driving my 2012 E350 Mercedes and the brakes failed upon leaving an appointment. There was less than 10% stopping ability. Fortunately, I was able to use my transmission toggles and Emergency brake as back up, if needed. I immediately stopped to pick up brake fluid and filled the reservoir which was virtually empty. Drove the vehicle home, left it parked for two hours and then tried to then drive it again but to no avail. The system had "bled" all over my garage floor and driveway. As such it was taken to the dealership on a flatbed. Estimated repair... $1,700 This follows having to replace the cargo springs due to corrosion and breakage, the rear suspension sub assembly currently being replaced due to corrosion which Mercedes acknowledged is a problem and is covering under an extended warranty. In my mind, all of this is related and certainly a safety concern, beyond the expensive repair costs already and now currently being incurred. Can you help?

NHTSA ODI 11586710

On my recent visit to my trusted independent service center, which specializes in Mercedes-Benz, they noticed serious corrosion problems. There were no symptoms to alert me to any problem. Also, I never received the notice from MB so how would I know? My mechanic asked me to sign a waiver (which I never have had to do before) that stated the rear subframe was rotted completely through; needs to be replaced ASAP; and is unsafe to drive. The rear brakes lines also had corrosion. This tells me the car is unsafe to drive, and must be fixed. It seems that MB issued an "extended warranty" to cover the rear subframe, but not the rear brake lines. I contacted MB Corporate who said they 'may' offer some assistance. I have an appointment next week with a MB dealer who must provide an estimate of the damage and cost to MB for their approval before doing any work. As a result of learning what's eating my car underneath, I won't take it on any extended trips. I really am afraid of something bad happening. And it has, to many others. No one should ever have to get into a car and worry about these two safety issues. It’s very important that Mercedes-Benz recognizes its responsibility to not only its customers, but to all the other drivers on the road who can be negatively affected through accidents caused by these corrosion issues.

NHTSA ODI 11586178

My 2012 Mercedes E350 has rear sub-frame is starting to rust/corrode and I need to replace it within 3 months. This could cause the rear end to break free and forcing the back of the vehicle to swerve while braking. My Mercedes authorized repair shop stated that similar problems have been identified in other models using same rear subframe and they have replaced them. I have 143K miles and the car is garaged year round. It will cost $5K to repair. Mercedes USA will not fix this for free while all European Mercedes group repair this for free as a defect.

NHTSA ODI 11506183

Rear sub-frame rotted out and would not pass state inspection. Repair shop contacted local Mercedes dealer and was told they were not aware of a problem. However if you perform an internet search, it is a problem. Dealer had two sub-frames in stock, however they were reserved for scheduled repairs and did not know when they. My repair shop located an after market frame and the car was repaired. In addition, the repair shops opinion is the design of the sub-frame is at fault as it retains water leading to corrosion. I performed my own internet search and it is a very known problem not only with the E350 model but also others.

NHTSA ODI 11503389

I have video available that shows significant premature corrosion of the rear subframe and brake line. The safety of others will be put at risk at the time of failure. Failed subframes can lead to loss of control. This problem has been identified and the part inspected by a Mercedes dealership. There are no warning lamps or messages to alert the driver that failure is imminent. This was discovered in the process of the car being serviced for an unrelated emissions recall. Many Mercedes owners report having severe rear subframe and brake line corrosion issues on message boards. Some reported their cars unexpectedly sway and drift to one side while breaking. In multiple European countries, Mercedes is apparently aware of the problem and is voluntarily replacing the rear subframe for free. However, in the USA, Mercedes is quoting their customers approximately 6,000 to 7,000 to rectify the issue. Without NHTSAs intervention, dealer service departments will continue to profit from the failure of this critical component. Customers unprepared to pay for such a significant repair will defer maintenance until they can afford to address the matter. Some of these cars will be dumped at trade in and passed on to unsuspecting consumers. Those consumers may be your friends and loved ones. We need government to step in and protect the public interest. “If not you, then who? If not now, when?”

NHTSA ODI 11499614

A state inspection identified that the rear subframe is rusted through. Per the service advisor, the failure of the rear subframe is a safety hazard because it effects steering and braking, and complete failure can cause loss of brakes. Service advisor advised not to drive the vehicle until repairs are made due to safety concerns. Vehicle failed inspection because the issue is a safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11494095

The rear subframe is broken. I was braking and the car lost control about two weeks ago. Ever since then the car feels like it's slipping whenever I brake or on a turn. I lose control of the car and I'm endangering my life and others. I went to take my vehicle to get inspected today and the said the rear subframe is broken and no fault of my own. The car was kept in a garage for years and only has 55k miles on it. There's no reason a subframe should be broken.

NHTSA ODI 11491677

In having maintenance on my vehicle, the dealer advised that the subframe is corroding and needs to be replaced. I searched several Mercedes forums and found a number of owners citing similar corroding subframes yet no other undercarriage components showed rust or corrosion. All owners felt that this should be remedied by Mercedes before a failure causes injuries. Forum participants suggested and encouraged to file a complaint to NHTSA for investigation.

NHTSA ODI 11487500

I found that the subframe had been recalled in other countries, but not in the united states? The large number of failures on this subframe across multiple models is concerning. This is a gross failure of a major safety component that can cause serious injury or death. My research showed this part has been recalled in Canada; MBUSA feels the need to wait to do so until a serious injury or death has occurred. The defective subframe is known and the new part’s design has been amended to take into account this rust issue. This is especially concerning considering the recent recall on the brake boosters due to advanced corrosion. MBUSA’s decision exhibits a lack of accountability for a defective part and this issue needs to be promptly addressed for the safety of its customers.

NHTSA ODI 11468693

I AM NOW OFFICIALLY ON MY 3RD SET OF WHEELS, 16 FLAT TIRES, AND NOW HAD TO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE COMPONENT IN THE AIR SUSPENSION ALMOST 8K INTO THE REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI 11205025