2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
77/100
#4 most-complained of 14 E350 years
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 ranks 4th worst out of 14 model years, with a complaint index of 77 and 217 complaints. Airbags are the top problem area (84 complaints, 39% share), backed by 7 recalls. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other E350 years.
- Complaints
- 217
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes / fires
- 6 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 19 city / 28 hwy
Top 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags84 (39%)
- Fuel System35 (16%)
- Brakes21 (10%)
- Engine21 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires20 (9%)
- Electrical System19 (9%)
- Other17 (8%)
- Structure & Body15 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain10 (5%)
- Steering9 (4%)
What owners report
- Vehicles reportedly rolled backward on their own after being parked with the engine off or key removed, in some cases causing a crash.
- Owners describe front passenger and side-curtain airbags that were subject to recall but took months or years to be replaced by dealers.
- Some owners were involved in low-speed or side-impact collisions where the airbags did not deploy as expected.
- Front driver and passenger seat belts reportedly vibrated uncontrollably at highway speed, forcing drivers to tuck the belt under an arm.
- A power steering warning light appeared after a failed engine start, making the car difficult to control while parking.
- Original equipment Continental tires developed sidewall bubbles and cuts, with some owners reporting repeat tire failures.
2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls
7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V638000Aug 13, 2021Airbags205 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2015-2016 E400 Coupe, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Coupe, and 2012-2014 E350 Cabrio vehicles. An incorrect front passenger air bag may have been installed during a prior repair.
Risk: An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag on the affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
- NHTSA 19V010000Jan 9, 2019Airbags288,779 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic 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." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger 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. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
- NHTSA 17V627000Oct 6, 2017Airbags495,290 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
Risk: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 19 MPG
- Highway
- 28 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,650
- 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.
2012 compared with other E350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 a good year to buy used?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 E350 ranks 4th worst of 14 model years with a complaint index of 77, so other years generally show fewer reported problems.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 84 of 217 complaints (39% share), with a median failure mileage of 65,500 miles.
- Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 have airbag recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists multiple airbag-related recalls for the 2012 E350, including campaigns 21V638000, 19V010000, 17V017000, and 12V492000, covering passenger and side-curtain airbags.
- How many complaints and recalls does the 2012 E350 have?
- NHTSA lists 217 complaints and 7 recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350, with 6 crashes and 1 fire reported.
- How does the 2012 E350 compare to the 2011 and 2013 model years?
- The 2011 E350 has a higher complaint index of 92 and is also rated Avoid, while the 2013 E350 has a complaint index of 85 and is also rated Avoid, so the 2012 falls between them but still ranks among the worse years.