2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#3 most-complained of 4 E300 years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 has a Complaint Index of 33, ranking 3rd worst out of 4 model years, and NHTSA labels it 'Good' relative to other E300 years. It has 32 complaints, 7 recalls, and a median failure mileage of 15,567 miles.
- Complaints
- 32
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24.5
- 21.5 city / 29.5 hwy
Top 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine10 (31%)
- Electrical System7 (22%)
- Other6 (19%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (16%)
- Steering4 (13%)
- Structure & Body4 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (6%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (6%)
- Airbags1 (3%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in a side-impact collision at 30 mph, leaving the driver's face and chest to strike the steering wheel.
- Owners report the front passenger door requiring excessive force to close while the car sits stationary.
- Some drivers describe poor left-side visibility from the driver seat, especially for shorter drivers, leading to near collisions at intersections.
- Rodents damaged electrical wiring and plastic tubing while the car was parked on the street.
- A rear roof spoiler detached repeatedly, once flying off at highway speed and striking another vehicle, even after a prior recall repair.
- Adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking triggered sudden hard stops with seat belt tightening despite no obstacles present.
2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V072000Feb 12, 2021Other67 vehicles
Communication
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.
Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.
- NHTSA 21V058000Feb 5, 2021Other1,292,258 vehiclesOver-the-air fix
Communication: auto crash notification
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
- NHTSA 20V449000Jul 31, 2020Electrical System56 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300, C300 Coupe, CLS450, E450 Coupe and S450, 2017-2019 E300, 2018 E400 Coupe, E400 Stationwagon, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced. The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if either the driver or passenger seat belt is unfastened, instead of a blinking light with an audible tone.
Risk: Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020080015.
2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29.5 MPG
- Combined
- 24.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,250
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2018 compared with other E300 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 a good model year?
- Compared with other E300 years, 2018 has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 3rd worst out of 4 years tracked, which NHTSA data marks as 'Good' relative to the model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300?
- Engine complaints make up 31% of reports with a median failure mileage of 25,000 miles, followed by electrical system issues at 22% with a median mileage of 13,400 miles.
- Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2018 E300, covering areas including steering, electrical system, seat belts, and airbags.
- How does the 2018 E300 compare to the 2017 E300?
- The 2017 E300 has a much higher Complaint Index of 100 with 132 complaints and 16 recalls, ranked as 'Avoid', while the 2018 model has only 32 complaints and 7 recalls.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E300?
- EPA rates the 2018 E300 at 24.5 mpg combined (21.5 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,250.