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

Last April, during our routine oil change our mechanic pointed out that our Cam sensors were wicking oil into the harness and making its way to the ECM. This is the first we had ever heard of this issue and the repair was $2400 or so. After researching the problem we wrote to MB USA and never got any response until we filed a lawsuit in sessions court. Turns out we cant do that locally. Mercedes has never contacted us since we registered the car in 2016 and never even acknowledged us until after we filed the attempt to collect the cost of repair. THE problem is endemic and well known. MB put a poorly designed part on their 270 engines and it could have had a worse outcome had the ECM failed while my wife was driving on the interstate Please let me know what has already been done about this problem and if they are required to notify owners. MB is silent on the issue to the point I feel as though they are hiding something.

NHTSA ODI 11729841

Car difficult to control found to have corroded sub frame and rear break lines. Very unsafe to drive brought to independent dealer who had car towed back to Mercedes. No warning lamps, or other symptoms prior to failure. Scary situation.

NHTSA ODI 11688243

Automatic Transmission shifts into Park while driving under 6km/h - resulting in sudden stops when pulling onto a road or into an intersection. The creates very unsafe driving conditions. Please refer to attached XENTRY Bulletin issued: Daimler AG 7-09-2015

NHTSA ODI 11442072

The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was smoking with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle had been taken to the local dealer an hour before the failure and was diagnosed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil. Additionally, the contact was informed that the alternator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the local dealer had concealed the condition of the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 141,499.

NHTSA ODI 11424080

A Summary of the May 9, 2021, event follows: 6:30 a.m: I Woke up, put on gym clothes and shoes and drove to gym (1 mile from home). 7:01:40 a.m. Turned into the gym parking lot and slowly inched into a parking space. (my Mercedes rides low in the front so I pull in slowly so the block will not scrape my bumper). 7:02:00 a.m. As I pull slowly into the parking space the car stalls and the engine begins revving very loud. I firmly press my right foot (foot was already on the brake as I was inching into the space) on the brake because the car is still making that revving sound. 7:02:15 a.m. The car is at a complete stop for some time. The engine begins revving even louder and surges forward (foot was still on the brake) four feet. The car hits the brick gym building and comes to a standstill. I turn off the engine and sit there stunned. ( A witness signed a statement and said "car was at a complete stop for some time...thought driver would open her door and get out but then the car suddenly surged forward and hit the building"). After getting out of my car and inspecting the wrecked car, I notice the gas cap is open and I shut it. The police show up, and say "no police report" will be made. I have some injuries (concussion, bruises over full torso and legs) but I treat patients with TBIs so self-diagnosed and treated my injuries without seeking additional medical attention. On May 9, 2021, I call CSAA and report the accident. After several conversations with CSAA Claims Advisor Karl Arnold, it appears the car frame is damaged, and repair costs exceed value of car. The building had no damage. I then attempted to access relevant data on the EDR and was misled by the Mercedes Fairfield dealership, Service Unit. I was told by Josh “the data is irretrievable, and you can’t get it”. I asked why would Congress pass the EDR in to law making EDRs mandatory and data belongs to owner, if it is not retrievable? He had no answer. [xxx] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *cc

NHTSA ODI 11418645

FAILED CAM SELENOID TRIGGERED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THROWING CODES BECAUSE OIL HAS TRAVELED INTO THE WIRE HARNESS. BODY/WIRE HARNESS REPLACEMENT AS WELL AS AFFECTED 02 SENSORS FROM OIL SATURATION

NHTSA ODI 11404258

TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED WATER INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND POSSIBLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. OUR MERCEDES ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11366677

THE VEHICLE JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT STARTED SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGINE WHILE BEING PARKED.

NHTSA ODI 11365290

I AM REPORTING A FINDING ON MY ENGINE (M276) THAT IS THE SAME RELATED TO OTHER MERCEDES ENGINE MODELS M272 AND M273. RECENTLY, I DISCOVERED OIL IN ALL FOUR (4) ENGINE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID (P/N 276-156-07-90) CONNECTORS AND THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN MERCEDES BENZ CAMPAIGN NO. 2012070002, DATED SEPTEMBER 2012. THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY MIGRATION OF OIL BEYOND THE HOUSING OF THE CAMSHAFT SOLENOID. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT IF LEFT UNCORRECTED CAN CAUSE STOPPAGE OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI 11321826

I HAVE SHOWN THE CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAY I HAVE PPAY $4000 FOR REPALCEMENT OF CHAIN TENSIONER. THE SAME TIME FOR SECOND OPENION I SHOWED THE CAR TO ANOTHER EXPERT, THEY SAY THAT IF THE TENSIONER WAS BAD ENGINE LIGHT WILL APEAR AND CAR WILL NOT RUN. THE CAR DOES HAVE 100000 MILES POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND MY CAR SERVICES AT DEALERSHIP SINCE I BOUGHT IT.WHEN I START THE VEHICLE IT SOUND LIKE SOME PARTS SOUND HITTING BODY OF ENGINE. ALSO THEY SAY THAT THIS CAR COME WITH HYDROLIC PUMP PUSHES OIL TO TOP OF ENGINE MAY BE THE PROBLEM. BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $4000.

NHTSA ODI 11195266

FROM THE FIRST DAY THE CAR WAS DELIVERED, THE ENGINE HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS ENGINE MISS-FIRES WHERE IT WOULD NOT RUN ON ALL OF ITS CYLINDERS. DISABLING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WOULD RE-FLASH THE COMPUTER. FROM THE FIRST DAY THE CAR WAS DELIVERED, THE BODY FELL APART, REQUIRING A SPECIALIST FROM GERMANY TO RE-WELD AND REINFORCE THE BODY AROUND THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT. I HAVE THE WORK ORDERS, BUT THEY HAVE PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THEM, PREVENTING ME FROM UPLOADING THEM.

NHTSA ODI 10965984

CAR: 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ E-350 4-DOOR V6 SEDAN WITH SPORTS PACKAGE, 28,000 MILES. INCIDENT: VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING FROM 25 MPH ON RAMP TO ENTER FREEWAY. BEFORE REACHING FREEWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD NOISES FROM THE FRONT AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. ACCELERATING MADE IT WORSE. AT 35-40 MPH, DRIVER DECIDED TO EASE BACK TO 25-30, TURN ON HAZARD LIGHTS, AND TAKE NEXT EXIT. CAR WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICING. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALERSHIP: "CAR HAS A BAD CYLINDER HEAD THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CYLINDER HEAD #3 IS THE BAD ONE. THIS IS ALSO CAUSING THE MISFIRING OF CYLINDER #1 AND #2." SERVICE REQUEST: "R/S CYLINDER HEAD COMPLETE COOLANT GASKETS EST HOLE JOB PARTS". OVER $11,000 PARTS AND LABOR. COMMENTS: CAR HAD VERY RECENTLY BEEN SERVICED AS PER RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE BY SAME DEALERSHIP. EVEN THOUGH I AM SECOND OWNER AND BOUGHT CAR FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, MBUSA CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AS PER SCHEDULE FROM THE BEGINNING, AND THERE WAS NO HISTORY OF MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIRD-PARTY MECHANICS HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A 2013 MB E-CLASS WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES SUFFERING FROM THIS KIND OF ENGINE PROBLEM UNLESS IT MISSED SERVICING ALONG THE WAY.

NHTSA ODI 10958543

"TAKATA RECALL" ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN I TRAVEL BACK HOME FROM WORK (DRIVING 85+MILES), I HEAR THIS BUBBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOLD THEM TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND THEN PARK THE CAR AND TURN OFF AND YOU SHOULD HEAR THE SOUND. IT SOUNDS AS THO SOMETHING IS BOILING. DEALER CLAIM THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT I'M AFRAID THAT ONE DAY SOMETHING WILL BURST AND I GET SCULLED.

NHTSA ODI 10958565

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION AND THEN JOLT FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 10,200. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10582893

WHEN YOU START UP THE CAR THERE IS A LOUD TAPPING/RATTLING NOISE SOUND. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR THIS NOISE WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC. IF I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE NOISE APPEARED TO GET LOUDER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT M BENZ HAS RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE BY PUTTING INSULATION. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNERS WHO HAD TO REBUILD THE ENTIRE MOTOR IN ODOR TO STOP THE NOISE. AS A CONSUMER, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR AS IT GIVES OFF AN ODOR AND I AM NOT SURE IF THE FUEL INJECTORS ARE LEAKING. PLEASE HELP AS I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY IN DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543266

GOOD DAY! I GOT MY CAR JUNE 2, 2013 WITH 12 MILES ON IT. IF I START MY CAR, THERE IS A 3-4 SECONDS OF KNOCKING SOUND. IT DOES HAPPEN RANDOMLY (WARM OR COLD ENGINE), NOT ALL THE TIME. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE INJECTORS. SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING THERE MY2012/13MERCEDES E350 ENGINE REBUILT (CONNECTING RODS, PISTONS, WRIST PINS), MY ENGINE IS THE NEW DIRECT INJECTION. LI03.10-P-054702 IS THE MERCEDES MEMO OR TSB? IT WOULD BE A LET DOWN KNOWING MY CAR WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE AN ENGINE REBUILD ALSO LOW RESALE VALUE. I THINK THIS IS DEFECT COMPLAINT THOUGH. I NEED YOUR HELP OR IF YOU CAN DIRECT ME TO MAYBE CONSUMER PROTECTION. THANK YOU AND KEEP IN TOUCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10532088

THE CAR STOP INOPERATIVE AND STOP BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY CONTROL NO MATTER ON FREEWAY IN LOCAL,EVEN IN GARAGE. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK. AFTER CHECKING, DEALER THINK IT IS NOT A BIG PROBLEM, THEY ONLY UPDATE THE SOFTWARE OF CPU,AND TOLD ME IT WON'T HAPPENED AGAIN. AT THE SAME DAY OF PICKING UP THE CAR, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ON FREEWAY. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED, AND I COULDN'T CONTROL ANYTHING. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A UPS COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND DEAD ON THAT DAY. THE CAR WAS TOWING TO DEALER FOR REPAIRING AGAIN. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACTLY PROBLEM IS. THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE WHOLE CPU THIS TIME. NOW THE CAR IS STILL IN DEALER'S REPAIR PLACE. I CALLED THE LOCAL CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FILING A LEMON CAR. THE GUY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO FILE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ONLY REPAIRED TWICE. OBVIOUSLY,IT IS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. I AM SO YOUNG I DON'T WANT TO DIE ONLY BECAUSE I DRIVE MERCEDES-BENZ. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10503698