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

I've had the car for 3 years and its all stock. It has 38,500 miles and today out of no where the driver side speaker in the door started making a crackling and popping noise. Smoke started coming from the speaker and filled the cabin. I quickly pulled over and turned off the car, because the smell of plastic burning was horrible. I was immediately alarmed by this and let the car cool down. I started driving again and it started again crackling and alot of smoke coming from the speaker. I called my mechanic and he said that that car had a known problem for a short and others had complained about their speakers melting due to overheating from the amplifier. He quickly searched the fuse box numbers and had me pull fuse #67 that disarmed the amp and speakers but allowed me to drive the car again. There is no warning and this is extremely dangerous due to a possible car fire. I am just thankful that my wife or children were not driving this car when this happened. I researched the problem more and I can't believe there has not been a serious recall for those amps that came with the car.

NHTSA ODI 11677680

While driving in stop and go traffic I heard a loud popping noise from the dash area and smoke started filling the cabin. I called a DC area dealer service dept and was told to exit the DC beltway and un plug the audio amplifier in the trunk left access door That stopped the popping noise and the smoke .

NHTSA ODI 11633188

While driving in traffic there were loud popping and crackling sounds from the rear speakers. Then smoke appeared and an acrid burning smell. The smoke and loud sounds continued after I pulled over and turned the key off. I removed the fuses for the sound system and it remains inoperable. I went home and searched for this problem on the web and discovered that it is a common problem on 2014 Mercedes E350's. Despite this being cited as a common problem by owners, there is no recall. I called Mercedes-Benz USA and they reported that they were not aware of this problem. This event was very alarming and could have caused an accident when the smoke was coming into the passenger compartment. I believe it qualifies for a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11590052

There have been three events, all the same. Each time a speaker in a door, while driving, has began to squeal, sputter and the smoke. The first occurred while sitting inside a car wash, with the windows up, obviously. I was able to open the window, drenching myself, but venting the acrid electrical smoke. The second was while driving home from a medical clinic. The third was while driving on the interstate, traveling from my mothers funeral in California to Wisconsin It was 2am, just outside of Vail, Colorado in the rain. My wife was driving, while I slept. I woke to her screaming that the car was on fire, she pulled over, taking advantage of the antilock brakes for the first time ever, striking some type of curb, ultimately not killing us, but we lost another speaker, and a tire and rim. I’m, needless to say, displeased with my expensive European wagon, but Mercedes’ does not consider melting and smoking speakers to be a safety issue. Look online, and you’ll see plenty of videos of people with the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11485540

This car has an electrical problem related to the Radio Amplifier and Speakers. many stories on the net of burning wire speakers and amplifier related to this. i will attach link, my story same as all the rest. I have disconnected after wife complained of smell of electrical fire and smoke from speakers. our car hs Apc 56,000 miles now. https://www.carcomplaints.com/Mercedes-Benz/E350/2014/electrical/electrical_system.shtml Control Module - Mercedes-Benz TYP: Sirius – SDAR HW: 212 870 57 89 Date: 12/2019 SW: 212 902 79 03 Date 12/26/2000 Serial: 063005830376 Mercedes A 212 870 56 89 Model# DL5938 DELPHI Q01 PN: 28335938 Bar Code# A21287056890128335938E1361307 I am unable to access the speakers that burned and let the smoke out. Kurt Kaufman

NHTSA ODI 11477048

I was driving in the Dallas area at highway speed (approx 70mph) during rush-hour traffic when a crackling sound presented in the dashboard area from what appeared to be the sound system (Harmon Kardon surround system). This was immediately followed by the unmistakable smell of burning plastic or something similar. Smoke coming from the center speaker in the dashboard followed subjecting car occupants to potentially hazardous smoke and chemicals resulting from the fire.All signs suggested an electrical fire which was alarming considering this occurred at highway speed. Turning off the sound system did not stop the issue. My safety and that of others on the highway were put at risk because a fire of unknown origin occurred while driving at highway speeds. No accident occurred. Further exploration of the issue from a safe area off of the highway confirmed the following: 1) possible electrical fire emanating from the center speaker of the dashboard 2) center speaker was damaged and appeared melted 3) the only way to stop the fire was to remove the fuse powering the sound amplifier which allowed the car to be driven to the local Mercedes Benz dealer/repair center The car was inspected by the local Mercedes Benz dealer who confirmed: 1) the center speaker was damaged and not repairable 2) the cause of the problem was a "shorted" and otherwise faulty amplifier. 3) the cost to replace the speaker estimated over $400 4) the cost to replace the amplifier estimated over $2700 There are no safety recalls on this particular issue. However, an investigation of the matter on NHTSA and Mercedes Benz user groups has identified numerous occurrences of a similar nature in the 2014 "e" class vehicles. The amplifier, which was confirmed to be the cause of the fire, would appear to have a documentable and reproduceable fault which: 1) presents a safety hazard to owners/drivers of the vehicle, 2) puts other drivers as risk drivers, 3) subjects vehicle occupants to hazardous fumes

NHTSA ODI 11458582

BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND STATIC/CRACKLINGS NOISE FROM THE SPEAKER SYSTEM. NOISE CONTINUED WITH ENGINE OFF AS WELL AS ENGINE ON. SPEAKERS STARTED POPPING WITH SOUND LIKE GUNFIRE. SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL FIRE WAS HAPPENING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HUGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE BACK INSIDE OF CAR AROUND THE BACK DOOR PASSENGER SIDE AS I SAT IN THE CAR. CAR WAS IN PARKED POSITION AT THIS MOMENT N ENGINE WAS RUNNING N RADIO ON. I TURNED OFF CAR AND STREAM N JUMPED OUT OF CAR WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING MOMENT. STILL POPPING SOUND AFTER ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF SO I CALL 911. FIRE DEPT N POLICE CAME OUT N SMELT BURNING SMELL FROM SMOKE N HEARD POPPING FROM BELIEVE SPEAKERS THEREFORE FIRE DEPT DISMANTLE SEVERAL FUSES FROM UNDER HOOD ETC SINCE THEY COULD NOT DISMANTLE THE DOOR PANEL WHERE THE SMOKE WAS SPILLING FROM. THIS WAS EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL FOR ME. I FEEL THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MERCEDES NEED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR N DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED

NHTSA ODI 11402712

THE VEHICLE WAS IN TRANSIT ON THE HIGHWAY AT CRUISING SPEEDS WHEN SUDDENLY THE RIGHT REAR SPEAKER BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES THAT SOUNDED LIKE A RATTLING OR CRACKLING. PREVIOUSLY, THE CAR HAD BEEN MAKING SIMILAR CRACKLING NOISES FROM THE FRONT DASHBOARD, HOWEVER UPON THE SPREAD OF THIS NOISE TO THE RIGHT REAR SPEAKER, THE CAR SOON FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER AND SMOKE. AS THE SMELL PROGRESSED, I PULLED OVER IN FEAR OF A POTENTIAL FIRE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AFTER I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING IT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT COULD MORE SEVERELY EFFECT ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL SHOULD THEY NOT BE AS KEEN ON NOTICING CABIN SOUNDS AND OR THE SMELL OF SMOKE. THE SMELL OF SMOKE IS RATHER POTENT AND INTENSE THOUGH, SO IT IS UNLIKELY THAT WOULD GO UNNOTICED.

NHTSA ODI 11219879

I WAS DRIVING ON ROUTE 40 (SPEED LIMIT 55MPH, BUT 45 MPH DUE TO CONSTRUCTION) WHEN I BEGAN HEARING RATTLING IN MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKER, THEN CRACKLING, A BURNING SMELL AND THEN SMOKE FILLED MY VEHICLE. I BELIEVED MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. HAD I NOT REMAINED CALM, I COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I ENDED UP DRIVING TO A NEARBY WALMART PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT MY VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO CONFIRMED SMELLING THE BURNING UPON STARTING MY VEHICLE TO PULL IT ONTO THE TOW TRUCK. THIS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH NO AUDIO WAS BEING USED IN THE VEHICLE. I GOOGLED THE ISSUE AND LOCATED SIMILAR STORIES ON MBWORLD.ORG FORUM DATING BACK TO 2016. THE ISSUE IS MELTING HARMON KARDON SPEAKERS IN THE 2014 E350 MODEL. SPEAKERS DO NOT MELT AS A PART OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF POOR WIRING, ADHESIVE AND/OR CRAFTSMANSHIP. MY SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME TODAY AND CONFIRMED MY SUSPICIONS THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SPEAKER HAD IN FACT MELTED AND MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPEAKER IS ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF SUFFERING THE SAME FATE. BOTH NEED REPLACING. BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY FOR JUST OVER A YEAR, THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT IS NOT A "KNOWN ISSUE" I AM EXPECTED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR 2 MALFUNCTIONING/ MELTING SPEAKERS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, COULD HAVE CAUSED BOTH AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY VEHICLE (NEAR MY GAS TANK) AND ME TO HAVE GOTTEN IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT.

NHTSA ODI 11156393

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEAKERS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO, 4301 MILLENIA BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32839, 888-398-3936) WHERE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,968.

NHTSA ODI 11114752