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

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes- Benz E350. The contact stated while operating the vehicle the odor of fuel was present coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection it was discovered that the fuel had leaked from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. Also, the contact indicated that the front driver seat heat element had overheated and cause melting to the seat cushion. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the front driver seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11738080

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550. The contact stated that while occupying the vehicle while the vehicle was parked, the ignition switch failed to detect the key fob. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the electric steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced or reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the vehicle, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 69,000.

NHTSA ODI 11666601

Steering wheel lock module steering wheel was locked in place and vehicle wouldn’t do anything.

NHTSA ODI 11661609

The Electronic Steering Lock (ESL) will fail and cause the vehicle to become disabled. The failure of this part will leave the owner strained and unable to use any functions of the car. You can’t even put the vehicle into neutral to move the vehicle. Everything is locked. There have been numerous reports of this failure on various Mercedes Benz forums on the web. Also, many videos outlining this problem on YouTube. Yes, the problem has been reproduced by an independent repair facility. Mercedes Benz is aware of this problem regarding the ESL part. I believe they even published a TSB regarding the failure of this part. The car did not display any warning lamps or messages. The car is just dead! It’s very scary getting into your car and it doesn’t start when you turn the key. All other systems checked out on the car i.e. battery, voltage, fuses, sensors etc. Once that ESL stops working your car becomes a static display.

NHTSA ODI 11570918

My car will not start and I get a message stating "Remove key from ignition" every time I insert the key to try to start the car. It appears that the ESL has failed. I have visited several MB forums and it appears that this is a common issue, regardless of car mileage. This is a factory defect that really needs to be recalled and fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11521883

Camshaft sensors and solenoid leak oil internally which then gets into the sensors electrical connector. From the the oil enters the engine wire harness through capillary action maki g it’s way to other sensors and ultimately the DME (Digital Motor Electronics). This can cause February DME to fail which in turn can make the engine stop running.

NHTSA ODI 11487171

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

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

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

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

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 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* 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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEFECT CAUSED THE TRUNK LID TO NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF ANN ARBOR (570 AUTO MALL DR, ANN ARBOR, MI 4810 WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. VIN UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11315592

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN JOSE (3000 E CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY, SAN JOSE, CA 95148, (408) 214-3009) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11152075

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE SEAT BELT FRACTURED. THERE WERE ALSO ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10934672

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E-350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A "PRE SAFE INOPERATIVE SEE OWNER MANUAL" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED. THE VEHICLE DECELERATED SPONTANEOUSLY. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10904926

I STARTED MY CAR AND IT MADE A BIG LOUD NOISE FROM ENGINE THEN I START GETTING ALL MESSAGES ON SCREEN THAT EVERY THINGS NOT INOPERABLE. EVEN THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED AND THE MORE I KEPT THE CAR ON THE MORE NOISE WAS MAKING. ITS LIKE I AM PUSHING HARD ON GAS PANEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10676749

I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT CRANK. I CALLED MERCEDES SERVICE AND THEY SENT SERVICE TO JUMPSTART THE CAR. THE CAR FINALLY STARTED. AS I BEGAN TO DRIVE, A WARNING LIGHT STATING "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION - CHECK OWNERS MANUAL" CAME ON. WITH CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULT, I AVOIDED THE CURB IN THE PARKING LOT AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO A PARKING SPACE. THE "POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION" INDICATOR WOULD NOT COME OFF EVEN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN. THE CAR BECAME UNDRIVABLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10458487