Home · 2017 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon · Complaints

What 165 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (165)Crash / fire / injury (11)Engine (39)Fuel system (28)Electrical system (27)Airbags (22)Transmission & drivetrain (16)Steering (14)Body & structure (12)Brakes (9)Driver assistance (7)Lights (5)

7 of 165 complaints match · Driver assistance · clear filters

May 2, 2026Transmission & drivetrainDriver assistance

There is a recall on my year model 2017 Mercedes E3 hundred 4matic for the steering column shift module, but I’m being told that my specific vin was not included, but it is having the exact issues as the recall while driving the shift lever will not leave drive to go into reverse. It will only go to park. It refuses shift commands. If I shut the engine off and turn it back on sometimes it will allow me to go into other gears again.

NHTSA ODI 11735276

Mar 11, 2025Driver assistance

The automatic breaking assist is malfunctioning most of the time it just gives me a warning on the dash that it is limited a few times it has bumped the brakes briefly like it was sensing something in front of the car the perimeter sensors are malfunctioning as well like it’s sensing something all around the car very close then those sensors completely shut off and don’t work again until the car is shut off and started again

NHTSA ODI 11647557

Dec 28, 2023AirbagsSeat beltsDriver assistance1 injury

Pulling in the parking spot , looking to my right not noticing light pole on the left , car sensor bumped the pole in the perfect spot to deploy all of the drivers airbags . No warning of front collision , no breaks emergency were activated , seatbelt did not tighten threw me against the wheel : suffered , lacerations , broken forearm requiring surgery . Slight scratch on the bumper not even a dent in the front bumper

NHTSA ODI 11562287

Jan 10, 2022Electrical systemFuel systemDriver assistance

There are three main issues: As the weather got cold here in NJ, whenever the car is started in the morning, there is a strong fuel smell inside the cabin. Also there is a lot of fumes that smell gasoline. I think it is safety issue. The auto braking does not seem to operate right. I do not see any error message, but it had never tried to avoid a collision when I have tried other cars that would have normally applied the brakes in those situations. The garage door opening function does not work as soon as the ignition is turned off. This is an electrical issue in my view.

NHTSA ODI 11446899

Dec 28, 2021Driver assistanceCrash3 injuries

The contact owned a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300W. The contact stated while driving approximately 55mph when the contact heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into another vehicle. The contact stated the crash avoidance system had failed to activate. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained arm bruises but did not seek medical treatment. The other vehicle contained 2 people but the contact does not know what injuries they had sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

NHTSA ODI 11445315

Aug 24, 2021Driver assistance

The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle independently came to an abrupt stop with a beeping sound coming from the vehicle. The contact also stated that an unknown red light began to flash when the failure occurred. The contact stated that there were no vehicles or objects around the vehicle at the time of the failure. After experiencing the failure, the vehicle quickly resumed normal operation. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430340

Jun 27, 2018Driver assistance

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTIVE BRAKING ASSIST DRIVING ASSISTANCE PACKAGE ACTIVATED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING OVER BRIDGES. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP ABRUPTLY SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF ATHENS, 4735 ATLANTA HIGHWAY, BLDG. A, ATHENS, GA 30606, (706) 549-6585) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE FAILURE SITE IS IN BLUFFTON, S.C. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF HILTON HEAD (155 FORDING ISLAND RD, BLUFFTON, SC 29910, (843) 815-0300). THE ASSOCIATES FROM THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WHILE ONE OF THEM RECORDED A VIDEO OF THE SYSTEM ENGAGING. THE SECOND DEALER INDICATED THAT A FORM WOULD NEED TO BE SIGNED TO DEACTIVATE THE SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. A TECHNICIAN WAS SENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHO INDICATED THAT THE ACTIVE BRAKING ASSIST DRIVING ASSISTANCE PACKAGE DETECTED AN OBSTACLE AND WAS ENGAGING WHEN THERE WAS NO OBSTACLE. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO REMEDY AND STATED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11104186

Working with the data? Download all 165 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 2017 Mercedes-benz E-class Wagon verdict →