What year Mercedes-Benz E300 should I avoid?

The 2017 E300 is the year to avoid, based on NHTSA data. It has a complaint index of 100, the highest of the years covered, along with 132 complaints and 16 recalls.

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 reliable?

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 E300 ranks worst among 2016-2019 model years, with 55 engine complaints across all years, 41 of which come from 2017 alone.

What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz E300?

The 2018 E300 has the lowest complaint index (33) and carries a 'Good' verdict, with only 32 complaints and 7 recalls.

Should I be cautious about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E300?

Yes, the 2019 E300 has a 'Caution' verdict with a complaint index of 67. Seat belt issues are the top problem area, with a median mileage at failure of 6,500 miles.

Are there recalls on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300?

Yes, the 2017 E300 has 16 recall campaigns, including instrument cluster software updates and communication module fixes, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.

Mercedes-Benz E300 Best and Worst Years (2016–2019)

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 is the year to avoid, with a complaint index of 100, 132 complaints, 16 recalls, and 3 fires. The 2018 model is the strongest year (complaint index 33), while 2019 warrants caution due to seat belt issues at a median 6,500 miles.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2017

Model years: 4; 2016–2019
NHTSA complaints: 194
Recall campaigns: 24
Crashes reported: 6
Fires reported: 3
Top problem area: Engine

E300 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Mercedes-Benz E300 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2016	No verdict	0	1	0	0	1	Visibility & Wipers	—	—
2017	Avoid	100	132	2	3	16	Engine	24.5	—
2018	Good	33	32	1	0	7	Engine	24.5	—
2019	Caution	67	29	3	0	8	Seat Belts	24.5	—

E300 years to avoid: what went wrong

2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 Index 100 · 132 complaints · 16 recalls

The 2017 E300 has the highest complaint index (100) among the years covered, with 132 complaints and 16 recalls. Engine problems make up 31% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 19,000 miles, including reports of smoke and oil leaks from the engine compartment. Electrical system issues (20%) surfaced near 28,000 miles, and fuel system complaints (19%) at a median of 59,000 miles. NHTSA also logged 2 crashes, 3 fires, and 7 injuries for this year. Recalls include an instrument cluster software update and communication module inspections.

2017 engine problems →2017 electrical system problems →2017 fuel system problems →

Most common Mercedes-Benz E300 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.

Engine55 (28%)
Electrical System36 (19%)
Other36 (19%)
Fuel System28 (14%)
Transmission & Powertrain21 (11%)
Steering17 (9%)
Structure & Body15 (8%)
Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (6%)
Brakes10 (5%)
Airbags9 (5%)

Frequently asked questions

What year Mercedes-Benz E300 should I avoid?: The 2017 E300 is the year to avoid, based on NHTSA data. It has a complaint index of 100, the highest of the years covered, along with 132 complaints and 16 recalls.
Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 reliable?: Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 E300 ranks worst among 2016-2019 model years, with 55 engine complaints across all years, 41 of which come from 2017 alone.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz E300?: The 2018 E300 has the lowest complaint index (33) and carries a 'Good' verdict, with only 32 complaints and 7 recalls.
Should I be cautious about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E300?: Yes, the 2019 E300 has a 'Caution' verdict with a complaint index of 67. Seat belt issues are the top problem area, with a median mileage at failure of 6,500 miles.
Are there recalls on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300?: Yes, the 2017 E300 has 16 recall campaigns, including instrument cluster software updates and communication module fixes, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.