YearToAvoid

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 183 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 78, and 4 recalls, ranking 5th worst of 19 model years with an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 37% of complaints, the largest problem area.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
78/100
#5 of 19 E350 years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
183
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
4
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
9
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
6
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Top 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags68 (37%)
  2. Electrical System22 (12%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (12%)
  4. Other21 (11%)
  5. Engine20 (11%)
  6. Fuel System20 (11%)
  7. Brakes17 (9%)
  8. Structure & Body15 (8%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain14 (8%)
  10. Steering7 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in crashes, including a collision with a snow plow and a head-on collision, at a median mileage of 54,978 miles.
  • Brakes reportedly failed to respond when approached at low speed, causing the driver to run a red light before stopping.
  • A tire went flat while driving at low speed on more than one occasion, with the dealer reportedly saying no replacement tire was available that matched safety specs.
  • Owners report the car pulling in another direction at highway speeds after a brake-related repair.
  • Some owners describe wind pressure entering through open windows at 65 mph strong enough to affect balance and nearly cause a crash.
  • The engine triggered a check engine light along with shaking after a cold start.
2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter322009 Q42014 Q22016 Q22018 Q12019 Q42022 Q12023 Q42026 Q1
183 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q4 to 2026 Q2; peak 2017 Q4 (32).

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 22V168000Mar 18, 2022Engine22 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:engine control module (ecu/ECM):software

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2010 E350, 2014 G550, 2008-2009 C300, 2008 C350, 2009 CLK550, 2007 SL550, SLK280, and 2008 SLK350 vehicles. Various control units may have been updated with incorrect software configuration during a service repair. This can result in various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions, including stability and traction control.

    Risk: Various system failures, such as loss of drive power, reduced exterior lighting, or loss of dynamic control functions including stability and traction control, can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the software configuration on the affected control units, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040003.

  2. NHTSA 18V043000Jan 10, 2018Airbags132,167 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2010 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, E550 Coupe, GLK350, and GLK350 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2009 C300, C300 4Matic, C63 AMG, and C350 vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

  3. NHTSA 16V363000May 26, 2016Airbags258,163 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 C300 Sedan, C300 4matic Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan vehicles, 2010-2011 GLK350, GLK350 4-Matic and E350 Coupe vehicles, 2011 SLS AMG, E350 Convertible, E550 Coupe and E550 Convertible vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, MBUSA is recalling certain model year 2008 C300 Sedan, C350 Sedan, C63 AMG Sedan and C300 4-Matic Sedan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification October 2016. A second notice will be mailed when remedy parts are available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

See all 4 recalls for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 →

2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
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.

2010 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
2008Caution61173418
2009Caution5664418
2010Avoid78183420
2011Avoid83223520
2012Caution72217722

All Mercedes-Benz E350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 E350 ranks 5th worst out of 19 model years for this model, with a complaint index of 78 and an Avoid verdict relative to other E350 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 37% of complaints (68 of 183), with a median failure mileage of 54,978 miles and 3 associated crashes.
Does the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2010 E350, covering airbag modules and engine control unit software; none are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2010 E350 compare to other model years?
The 2010 E350 has a complaint index of 78, worse than 2008 (61), 2009 (56), and 2013 (67), but better than 2006 (100) and 2007 (89).

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.