What 300 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that the Push to START button failed to operate as needed. Due to the failure, the contact was only able to start the vehicle using the key fob. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where she was informed that due to an apparent electrical failure, the vehicle would also fail to start with the key fob. The contact was informed that the failure was unrepairable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The contact has stated that they continue to have issues with their vehicle. The relationship with their local dealership has been unpleasant as they do not have a remedy for the vehicle, yet they often state that there is nothing wrong with it.

NHTSA ODI 11502666

While driving down the road at 60mph, I hit the brakes to slow down. I heard a pop and thunk from the rear of the vehicle. I thought it was some boxes in the back of my car and forgot about it. I then brought my car into the dealer for an engine computer update and during the inspection they found that the passenger rear control arm mount broke away from the sub frame and that the rear brake lines were heavily rusted. They quoted a new rear subframe and brake lines. If I was on the freeway and this happened or I had to take evasive maneuvers I most likely would have crashed. The mechanic told me the weld broke where the control arm mounts to the subframe. He inspected the rest of the vehicle and everything looks good. On a less than 9 year old vehicle the subframe should not have rusted enough to break. Especially on a safety issue like the suspension and brakes. Mercedes should have done a better job with their welds and with their rust proofing especially on safety components.

NHTSA ODI 11502210

I brought my car into Mercedes on 9/13/2022 and was told my brake lines and subframe were rusting. It's a 2014 with only 80k miles on it. I was told I had a year before it needed to be replaced/addressed. I brought the car in again on December 12, 2022 and they said on a scale of 1-10 the subframes and brake lines were a 7 and were a safety issue. After doing some research, I am clearly not the only owner of this model dealing with this issue. This is safety issue and should be recalled. Subframes and brake lines should not rust so quickly.

NHTSA ODI 11501601

The contact’s wife owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear of the vehicle was swerving. The contact stated while the brake pedal was depressed, the rear of the vehicle shifted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear subframe was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11501098

I own a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350, 4matic. that yeah car has approximately 64,500 miles on it. I recently Took it in for service and was advised that the rear subframe has a whole rusted through on the left side. The dealers advice was to replace the rear subframe. I was advised that it is not presently a safety issue, but it was going to be a safety issue as the rust continued. I was dubious about this advice, so I took the vehicle to a second dealer, who also identified the rust issue in the same area. Both dealer representatives advised that they had seen these issues before with the 350 class, and that there had been many complaints about them. I am aware that MB has replaced subframes on this group of cars in Germany and in Canada already—this is a well-known issue. The repair will cost between 3,800-5,000, but my real concern is that the subframe will fail and cause injury or death before it can be repaired. I do not believe this to be ordinary wear and tear as the car is relatively young, and rust is a very controllable problem with current vehicle technology. I am concerned that the scope of this problem is widespread, as both dealer representatives said that they had seen many cars with this issue. It needs to be recalled and repaired before people are injured or die.

NHTSA ODI 11498696

Very strong gas smell enters the cabin and surrounding exterior of the car after fill up. Seems to be a very common problem with this model and follows the same issues with previous years that were filed with the NHTSA and ultimately needed to be repaired by MB. The problem appears to be with the components of the fuel tank immediately under the rear seat. I am at the point where this has become a very dangerous hazard that consumers should know that the manufacturer should address and that consumers should not have to pay for repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11498504

I own a 2014 E350 mercedes benz the transmission was recalled a while back but long story short my car has all the same exact problems a lot of e350 owners are having with the conductor plate witch causes rough shifts between 1st and 3rd gear car went to Mercedes’ for more testing now I’ve got a 13000 dollar estimate and problem is even though the vin doesn’t show it was recalled for that reason the problem is spread world wide cuz my car only has 60000 miles and every one’s Mercedes’ is giving same exact problems not just mine so it has to be a recall

NHTSA ODI 11497357

The car lost the brakes as I was driving. This was very sudden and there was no prior sensor indication. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the brake line broke and leaked the brake fluid as I was driving, causing the car to loose braking ability. Inspection of the brake line also showed severe rust in multiple parts of the brake line.

NHTSA ODI 11495576

Parking brake pedal assembly failed. Yes it's available for inspection. My home is on a hill, a functioning parking brake is required to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Personal mechanic identified issue and replaced part. There were no warning lights or lamps indicating an issue.

NHTSA ODI 11495654

Brake line to rear completely rusted through. Lost brake control while driving. Upon further inspection, the entire rear subframe has significant rust damage that warrants replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11495481

Driver's side rear subframe has rusted to the point metal is split open. This was found during routine maintenance service at dealer. While braking the vehicle pulls to the left. If not replaced, wheel can fall off.

NHTSA ODI 11495536

Our mechanic reports a dime-sized rust hole in the rear subframe.

NHTSA ODI 11494601

--Rear sub-frame broken. Part is available upon request. --Rear of car swerved when turning and breaking, probably due to control arm dislocation. --Dealer is aware of problem and has in fact replaced many sub-frames. --The dealer has inspected the sub-frame and determined that it is broken. --No warnings prior to failure.

NHTSA ODI 11494611

I was driving on the highway and braked for traffic ahead of me. My car swerved hard to the right; however, I got it under control and brought it into the Mercedes dealer as soon as they had an opening. Upon examination, the dealer told me that the sub-chassis had corroded and broken away, damaging the torsion bar and denting the gas tank. A search online quickly showed that this is a common issue with Mercedes, and in some countries, they have issued a recall. The dealer quoted $5,250 to fix the car. This easily could have been a tragedy on the road with a less experienced driver behind the wheel. Mercedes must issue a recall for the inspection and repair of all affected vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11493847

On my way to work lady Tuesday 11/1/22 just a few blocks from my AT&T office I started smelling fuel. I thought it was an lad car next to me. Looking at the rear mirror I noticed a line of fuel following me. By the time I pulled a side and shut down the vehicle I lost the full tank. The vehicle was towed and is still at Mercedes Benz of Plano, Plano, TX. The tech said the orings had gone bad and the hose deteriorated. It seems very similar to this recall https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/2014-mercedes-benz-e350-recalled-for-fuel-line-problem.html I called Mercedes USA and opened CASE [XXX]. No reply yet. Fortunate the car didn’t catch on fire or someone thrower a cigarette while I was driving they downtown. Leaking fuel should not happen INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11492738

When I took my vehicle to the dealership for service to have it inspected, I was told that it would not pass inspection due to the corrosion of the rear subframe. They told me this is a serious safety issue and that they are seeing a lot of Mercedes, especially in the last year and a half, that have this issue. The repair will cost me $4,500, Mercedes does not cover the cost even though it is a major structural issue. The subframe should last the life of the vehicle which is only 8 years old/60,000 miles and has been garage kept with all recommended services done by the dealer. My life and and the life of others is at risk as if the subframe fails, it causes loss of control of the car. Mercedes will not issue a recall. Mercedes owners don't even know to look out for this problem. Why do they have air bag recall and braking system recall but not a recall for this as Mercedes Benz in the UK does??

NHTSA ODI 11491328

Owned the car for only ONE winter season and it failed to pass a vehicle safety inspection required in my state for operation. Mechanic reported a rear subframe deteriorating from winter road salts and related weather conditions, and that this was a common issue for my car in these particular climates, but Mercedes refuses to cover the cost in the US, but is currently covering the cost of repair in Europe and Canada. This us ridiculous my car warranty will not cover it and I can’t afford $3500 to repair and replace. The vehicle only had 58,000 miles on it at the time of diagnosis. What’s worse is it could technically happen again even when repaired because the subframe lacks the special coatings needed for winter protection. Now my beautiful car is not safe and I’m subject to municipal fines and penalties. OUTRAGEOUS.

NHTSA ODI 11490720

Speaker(s) caught fire and sent smoke into car while driving. Dealer recognized issue immediately and said they have seen this before a few times. Mercedes said car is not in warranty son they will not support approx. bill of $4,000. The issue was discussed in various forums by several owners. I would like to see that Mercdes act responsibly and address the issue appropriately. Smoke coming into car while driving is hazardous in addition to hindering visibility and potentially cause serious accidents. Please make sure that Mercedes is reprimanded and have them recall vehicles to address the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11490698

The rear sub-frame involving vehicle stability under braking and turning. A component that should remain attached to the vehicle has broken off due to corrosion. My vehicle is not that old that a key structural component of the car should break at the weld/attachment point. I have video of this defect. But its greater than 10MB and will not let me upload it is there an email I can send it to ?

NHTSA ODI 11490604

The 2014 E350 4matic was diagnosed by the Dealer with a cracked rear subframe. When I questioned that is this common with a 2014 model EClass they were not sure. Calling MB USA they felt there weren't any complaints. When I called 9 different dealers in the USA looking for a NEW subframe for the E-Class, the common response was we are receiving many calls about replacing the subframe due to issues / cracked frame/rust, etc. They were all surprised and felt this is odd that this model would have so many subframe issues. MBUSA denied any issues as far as any structural issues. Very odd that my 2014 with approx 100k miles (garaged all the time) has subframe issues.

NHTSA ODI 11490187

In a routine oil change, Mercedes dealership reports poorly rusted subframe. 2014 E350 with 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11489879

2014 E350 with 41,000 miles. Rusted subframe and was informed that it represented unsafe and risky driving conditions. Reported this to manufacturer as, apparently, it is a very common problem with certain Mercedes classes. No recall and very expensive fix ($4500)! Not my idea of a safe and reliable car, as Mercedes likes to advertise. Consumers should not be responsible for manufacturing defects/ poor quality of materials used ..... and should definitely not be exposed to unsafe conditions when operating their vehicle!

NHTSA ODI 11488610

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the subframe was rusted. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11487676

I brought in my car to M1 Mercedes, Fremont, CA for service after “check engine” light was on and running rough on idle. I told them I started using ethanol (E85) fuel recently but my car is spec for that. The shop replaced spark plugs and ignition coils but the issue didn’t go away. While the car is parked overnight at the shop garage, on Jun 21, 2022, around 11pm, the engine exploded. The incident was caught on camera by the shop. The intake manifold was blown open. The car was tolled to Fletcher Jones Mercedes Fremont, CA (authorized Mercedes dealer) for diagnostic. However, they didn’t offer any solution or attempt to find out what caused the explosion. They offered to replace the intake manifold for $1200. I declined as I believe this is a serious safety issue. What happen if it explodes again? Since the cause of the explosion is not found and address. It could happen again anywhere, anytime. Fletcher Jones Fremont charged me $265 for labor and I tolled my car back home. I attempted to contact Mercedes USA via their website to alert them about this problem and seek resolution. However I never hear back from them. I hope you can help to look into this serious safety issue. Attached please find the blown intake picture and report from M1 Mercedes. I have the explosion video as well.

NHTSA ODI 11487246

Rear subframe crossmember that connects to rear suspension is cracked and rusted resulting in dangerous handling characteristics. Part is severely back-ordered due to volume of consumers facing this problem. When braking hard, car swerves to right and can cross lanes. While this part broke, the car is otherwise rust-free. Brakes have been recently updated. If this is a common complaint, there should be a recall. The severe parts back-order leads me to believe that there are significant failures in the field.

NHTSA ODI 11486713