Home · 2013 Mercedes-benz E-class Cabrio · Complaints

What 185 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Mercedes-benz E-class Cabrio

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (185)Crash / fire / injury (19)Airbags (56)Brakes (34)Body & structure (22)Engine (17)Suspension (16)Electrical system (15)Fuel system (11)Steering (11)Speed control (9)Wheels (9)

Newest first · 185 complaints · page 5 of 8

Jan 16, 2020Electrical system

ENGINE WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK WITH OUT TURNING VEHICLE ON AND OFF A FEW TIMES. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11299725

Jan 8, 2020Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES- BENZ E550. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. A FAILURE WAS NOT EXPERIENCED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11297996

Jan 6, 2020Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MERCEDES-BENZ OF FORT WAYNE (LOCATED AT 7227 W JEFFERSON BLVD #6279, FORT WAYNE, IN 46804, (260) 488-7529) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11297464

Jan 3, 2020Airbags

BEEN OVER A YEAR WAITING FOR THIS AIR BAG RECALL TO BE FIXED

NHTSA ODI 11296827

Dec 30, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V010000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED PRIME MOTOR CARS AT 207-510-2250 (LOCATED AT 137 US ROUTE 1, SCARBOROUGH, ME 04074) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11292073

Dec 29, 2019Steering

THE ELECTRIC STEERING COLUMN ADJUSTMENT TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL UP AND/OR DOWN (TILT FEATURE) HAS BECOMES INOPERABLE (THE TELESCOPIC ADJUSTMENT FEATURE STILL WORKS). THIS MAKES PROPER STEERING WHEEL AND AIR BAG LOCATION IMPOSSIBLE. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED UPON STARTING THE CAR AT WORK THAT THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IN THE UP POSITION (ENTRY/EXIT). THIS APPARENTLY IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM THAT IMPACTS MULTIPLE MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. MY FRIEND'S 2013 C250 ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL / TSB. THE BROKEN PART IS INEXPENSIVE, BUT THE LABOR REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE LOWER DRIVER'S DASH COMPONENTS, WHICH CAN BE COSTLY.

NHTSA ODI 11291841

Dec 18, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350A. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL DATE WAS CHANGED BY THE MANUFACTURER FROM JANUARY 10, 2016 TO JANUARY 10, 2018 AFTER SHE CALLED ABOUT THE RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALERS, INCLUDING MERCEDES-BENZ OF HOUSTON NORTH AT 281-305-8970 (LOCATED AT 17510 I-45 NORTH FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TX 77090) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI 11289893

Nov 23, 2019Airbags

ACCORDING TO TAKATA, IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR EXPLOSION, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIR BAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR!!!! EVERY TIME I LOG IN TO SEE IF THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE IT SAYS NO. THIS IS A DEATH RISK AND LAW SUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11281929

Sep 30, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS (1705 BOGGS RD NW, DULUTH, GA 30096, (770) 279-3600) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11258984

Sep 30, 2019Airbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL IN 2016. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH FIELDS MOTORCARS MERCEDES-BENZ (4141 NORTH FLORIDA AVENUE, LAKELAND FL, 33805, (863) 688-8111) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11259037

Sep 13, 2019Airbags

2013 MERCEDES BENZ E350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME COMPLETING THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11254921

Aug 26, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS). MERCEDES-BENZ OF CALABASAS (24181 CALABASAS RD, CALABASAS, CA) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR CONSUMER STATED I AM RETURNING THE QUESTION WITH NO CHANGES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE PAIR WILL BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE I AM CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY. *JB

NHTSA ODI 11246334

Aug 5, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E350A. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. MERCEDES-BENZ OF HILTON HEAD (155 FORDING ISLAND RD, BLUFFTON, SC 29910, (843) 815-0300) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11241730

Jul 29, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E330. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE "VEHICLE INOPERATIVE, SEE OWNER'S MANUAL" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILMINGTON (LOCATED AT 3801 LANCASTER PIKE, WILMINGTON, DE 19805, (302) 995-2211) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DEFINITE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE MAY BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE SOFTWARE UPDATE STILL HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11240408

Jul 15, 2019Airbags

TAKATA RECALL" THE RECALL ON MY AIR BAG HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE JAN 2019 AND THE PART STILL ISN'T IN. IT SAYS IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOY, METAL FRAGMENTS CAN FLY OUT AND KILL THE PERSON, THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS AND SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF ASAP! IT DIDN'T HAPPEN YET BUT I WANT A PUSH TO GET THIS RECALL COMPLETED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

NHTSA ODI 11232062

Jun 6, 2019Airbags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V043000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (MERCEDES BENZ OF SARASOTA, 4754 CLARK RD, SARASOTA, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11218309

May 25, 2019Airbags

TAKATA RECALL - MANUFACTURER HAS STONEWALLED AND SLOW WALKED A RESOLUTION TO REPLACEMENT OF THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY AND DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAGS. CONSEQUENTLY, I DO NOT ALLOW MY WIFE AND FAMILY TO DRIVE THIS CAR FEARFUL OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CAR BASICALLY SITS IN MY GARAGE AND HAS LOW MILES. MERCEDES COMMUNICATED A SOLUTION IN FEBRUARY 2018 VIA THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE BUT HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. I'M STUCK WITH THIS CAR SINCE ITS TRADE-IN VALUE IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED UNTIL THE AIRBAG IS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11209942

May 1, 2019SuspensionBody & structureWheelsCrash

SUSPENSION ISSUES, I JUST PLACED 4 NEW TIRES ON MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2018. ON DEC 28, 2019 MY CAR FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS UNSCREWING ALL OF MY WHEELS OFF AND I SPENT OUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 100.000 MILES. MBUSA DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK AND NEVER DID. I GOOGLED INFO REGARDING MY ISSUES AND SAW THIS SITE AND WAS LIKE WOW.

NHTSA ODI 11204983

May 1, 2019SteeringBody & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

SUSPENSION ISSUES, I JUST PLACED 4 NEW TIRES ON MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2018. ON DEC 28, 2019 MY CAR FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS UNSCREWING ALL OF MY WHEELS OFF AND I SPENT OUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 100.000 MILES. MBUSA DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK AND NEVER DID. I GOOGLED INFO REGARDING MY ISSUES AND SAW THIS SITE AND WAS LIKE WOW.

NHTSA ODI 11204985

May 1, 2019SteeringSuspensionBody & structureWheelsCrash1 injury

SUSPENSION ISSUES, I JUST PLACED 4 NEW TIRES ON MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2018. ON DEC 28, 2019 MY CAR FELT AS IF SOMEONE WAS UNSCREWING ALL OF MY WHEELS OFF AND I SPENT OUT LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 100.000 MILES. MBUSA DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. I WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK AND NEVER DID. I GOOGLED INFO REGARDING MY ISSUES AND SAW THIS SITE AND WAS LIKE WOW. IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS DOING 60 MILES NOTHING MORE.

NHTSA ODI 11204992

Apr 30, 2019Body & structureVisibility & wipers

I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ONE AFTERNOON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG I PULLED OVER TO SEE IF A ROCK OR ROAD DEBRIS HAD HIT MY CAR. I COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF IMPACT. LATER ON I NOTICED THAT THE PANORAMIC ROOF SECTION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF IMPACT NO ROCK CHIPS, NOTHING.

NHTSA ODI 11204889

Apr 29, 2019Suspension

DESPITE ALL ATTEMPTS, I AM UNABLE TO GET MERCEDES-BENZ USA TO SHARE THE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY VEHICLE. MY CAR HAS 145,000 MILES. I NEED TO REPLACE FRONT SHOCKS/STRUTS. I NEED THE GROUND CLEARANCE SPEC IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO REPLACE FRONT SPRINGS AT THE SAME TIME. GROUND CLEARANCE IS COMMONLY PUBLISHED AS PART OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR ALL OTHER CARS. THIS IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE OWNED FOR WHICH THE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION IS NEITHER PUBLISHED NOR AVAILABLE THROUGH OTHER MEANS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. MBUSA FIRST DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE SPEC. THEN THEY SAID THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THIS SPECIFICATION AND THEY COULDN'T HELP. NEXT, I REACHED OUT TO THE MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN EUROPE. BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND THE SPECIFICATION EITHER. FINALLY, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. THEY GAVE ME A GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION THAT IS FAR LOWER THAN THE CLEARANCE ON MY CAR. FOR HIGH-MILEAGE CARS, THE GROUND CLEARANCE SHOULD BE LOWER THAN SPEC, NOT HIGHER. WHEN I STATED THIS, THEY GAVE ME A DIFFERENT HIGHER NUMBER. BOTTOMLINE - UNLESS I HAVE THE TRUE GROUND CLEARANCE SPECIFICATION FOR MY CAR, I CAN'T DETERMINE WHETHER MY CAR'S SUSPENSION IS IN GOOD HEALTH. A TIRED, SAGGING, SUSPENSION COULD LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES. ON A RELATED NOTE, MERCEDES-BENZ HAS ZERO STOCK WORLDWIDE FOR THE FRONT SPRINGS FOR MY 2013 VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA ODI 11204298

Apr 28, 2019Airbags

TAKATA RECALL. RECEIVED NOTICE ON 2/18/19, AND MERCEDES INFORMS ME THAT REPLACEMENT AIR BAG WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MAY 2020. GIVEN THAT THE AIR BAG FAILURE MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, MERCEDES SHOULD REPLACE IT ASAP, OR DISCONNECT THE POWER TO THE AIR BAG.

NHTSA ODI 11204236

Apr 26, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

ACCIDENT IN WHICH VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HIT A POLE ON CENTER DIVIDER. MERCEDES ROADSIDE WAS ON SCENE IN MINUTES AND TOWED MY CAR. THEY SAID THE SYSTEM ALERTED THEM TO THE CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11203842

Apr 12, 2019Airbags

I RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO. I HAVE BEEN CHECKING WITH MULTIPLE DEALER LOCATIONS AND THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE ADVISE.

NHTSA ODI 11195798

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Working with the data? Download all 185 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Mercedes-benz E-class Cabrio verdict →