YearToAvoid

2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

0/100

#19 most-complained of 19 E350 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 has a Good verdict, ranked 19th of 19 years with only 15 complaints and 0 recalls, the lowest complaint volume in the lineup. Its verdict is capped to Good rather than Best because NHTSA records for 2005-2009 are less complete.

Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes5 (33%)
  2. Fuel System5 (33%)
  3. Electrical System2 (13%)
  4. Structure & Body2 (13%)
  5. Other1 (7%)
  6. Steering1 (7%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Brake pedal loses pressure or feels empty while driving, sometimes with a dashboard message telling the driver to fully depress the brake pedal for reduced braking power.
  • Owners describe sudden loss of braking power without warning, in one case leading to a curb impact after the steering also became hard to turn.
  • A strong gasoline odor appears inside and outside the car after refueling, sometimes triggering the check engine light.
  • Fuel tank or fuel line leaks are found by dealers, in some cases requiring replacement of the tank or lines.
  • Windshield and window molding reportedly melted, with one owner suspecting vehicle tampering rather than a material defect.
  • A visibility-related recall repair part was reported unavailable for an extended period after the recall notice was issued.
2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2008Apr 2011May 2014Oct 2018Jun 2020Dec 2020Feb 2021
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2008 to Feb 2021; peak May 2014 (2).

2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2005 compared with other E350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good0150—
2006Avoid100399419
2007Avoid89349519

All Mercedes-Benz E350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 reliable?
NHTSA lists only 15 complaints and 0 recalls for the 2005 E350, giving it a complaint index of 0, the lowest of all 19 model years. It carries a Good verdict, though the rating is capped rather than Best because complaint records for 2005-2009 are less complete.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 E350?
Brakes and the fuel system each account for 5 of the 15 complaints (33% each), including reports of reduced braking power and gasoline odor or leaks. Median mileage at failure for brake complaints is 85,000 miles.
Does the 2005 E350 have any recalls?
NHTSA shows 0 recalls for the 2005 E350 specifically, though one sample complaint mentions a visibility campaign (19v918000) affecting the vehicle.
How does the 2005 E350 compare to other years?
The 2005 E350 has far fewer complaints than 2006 (399) and 2007 (349), which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 100 and 89. Among all years, 2005 ranks 19th, the best-performing year by complaint count.

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.