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What 88 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon

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 (88)Crash / fire / injury (7)Airbags (30)Electrical system (10)Steering (9)Visibility & wipers (8)Body & structure (7)Engine (7)Transmission & drivetrain (6)Brakes (5)Fuel system (5)Speed control (5)

9 of 88 complaints match · Steering · clear filters

Aug 23, 2023SteeringSpeed controlBrakesCrash1 injury

I was driving my husband's 2016 E350 at 45 mph when the car accelerated. I attempted to control the speed by braking but the brake did not respond well. The steering wheel was also loose. The car sped up and turned left to the opposite side of the road, crossed the two lanes and hit the fence followed by a tree. The car was totaled, and the tree broke down at its branches. I survived the crush with two fractures on my back and on my left thumb.

NHTSA ODI 11540330

Feb 21, 2023Steering

The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, a message indicating a power steering malfunction was displayed and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where an unknown software update was completed. The failure ceased but reoccurred a year and a half later. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V241000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000. The consumer stated the power steering assist assembly needed to be replaced and it was repaired in the amount of $4042.00.

NHTSA ODI 11508308

Jan 12, 2023Steering

Steering wheel stuck in Up Position

NHTSA ODI 11501438

Apr 27, 2022Steering

I was waiting at a light when the message “steering wheel malfunction” can up. I was forced to turn left, which I did with great difficulty as the power assist stop working. I managed to go straight 3 blocks despite the hard steering with my emergency lights on at 5 mph and turn left two short blocks to get home. I was in my car with my two children. If this would have happened in the highway, I am certain that it would have resulted in an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11462520

Mar 30, 2021Steering

ON HIGHWAY I FOUND STEERING WHEEL DOWN IS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11405500

Feb 3, 2021SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE CAR IS STUCK IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. IF THE CAR IS IN REVERSE OR IF THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE AND YOU USE THE GEAR SELECTOR TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK OR CHANGE AND GEAR THE VEHICLE DOES NOT CHANGE THE GEAR. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE CERTIFIED PREOWNED FROM MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2019 THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT CERTIFIED AND THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD HAVE INJURY AND OR DEATH. THE MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER IS STATING THERE WAS A FAULT CODE WITH THE SHIFTER ATTACHED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND NEED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MODULE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAULT. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR DISREPAIR UNDER A SAFETY MAINTENANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURE. I HAVE ESCALATED THIS MATTER TO MERCEDES-BENZ EXECUTIVE RELATIONS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE LAST YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11394574

Oct 9, 2020SteeringCrash

POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION

NHTSA ODI 11363608

Mar 31, 2020SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ E400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES BENZ OF HUNT VALLEY 9800 YORK ROAD COCKEYSVILLE, MD 21030, (410)-666-7777 TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V241000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FREE REPAIR FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SOUND DISAPPEARED WHEN THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,763.

NHTSA ODI 11319853

Jan 15, 2016SteeringCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING SYSTEM SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE MESSAGE "MALFUNCTION" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO BOTH HANDS DURING THE CRASH, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 10820475

Working with the data? Download all 88 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 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 2016 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon verdict →