YearToAvoid

2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 41 engine complaints for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300, 31% of all 132 complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 19,000 miles and one reported fire. No recall is currently listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
41
31% of 132
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
19,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report cracked or broken pistons, sometimes tied to a Cylinder #1 misfire and check engine light.
  • Vehicles reportedly lose power and shake or stall at highway speed, in some cases requiring a tow and further engine diagnostics.
  • Multiple owners describe a Crankcase Ventilation Valve failure (fault code P052E) triggering the check engine light.
  • One case involved smoke and oil leaking from the engine compartment along with a booming noise while driving at highway speed.
  • Some complaints reference an unrelated electrical/airbag recall repair delay rather than a distinct engine defect.

When 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Mar 20, 2017, latest Aug 4, 2026.

2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2017Jul 2018Jun 2022Jan 2023Aug 2023Mar 2024Sep 2024May 2025
41 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2017 to Aug 2026; peak Feb 2023 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by E300 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20160 (0%)
  2. 201741 (31%)
  3. 201810 (31%)
  4. 20194 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300?
NHTSA shows 41 engine complaints for the 2017 E300, which is 31% of all 132 complaints filed for that model year.
At what mileage do 2017 E300 engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on this model year is 19,000 miles.
Is there a recall for the 2017 E300 engine?
No related recall is listed in the NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2017 E300.
Did any 2017 E300 engine complaints involve a fire?
Yes, one of the 41 engine complaints for the 2017 E300 reported a fire; no crashes or injuries were reported.
Do later E300 model years have fewer engine complaints?
NHTSA data shows 41 engine complaints for 2017 (31% share), compared to 10 for 2018 (31% share) and 4 for 2019 (14% share).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.