YearToAvoid

2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

85/100

#3 most-complained of 14 E350 years

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

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 ranks 3rd worst out of 14 model years, with a Complaint Index of 85 and 161 complaints across 6 recalls. NHTSA data shows Airbags as the top problem area, at 29% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other E350 years.

Complaints
161
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
15 / 4
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 28 hwy

Top 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

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

  1. Airbags47 (29%)
  2. Brakes30 (19%)
  3. Engine24 (15%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (14%)
  5. Structure & Body19 (12%)
  6. Other15 (9%)
  7. Electrical System12 (7%)
  8. Fuel System11 (7%)
  9. Steering10 (6%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain7 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration at low speed while parking, in some cases crashing into garages, poles, or other vehicles with no air bag deployment.
  • Some describe the engine area catching fire while the vehicle was parked.
  • Suspension and wheel complaints describe a sensation of wheels loosening while driving, leading to a loss of control near 100,000 miles.
  • One owner reported the vehicle rolling backward unexpectedly while parking on an incline shortly after purchase.
  • Airbag-related complaints include crashes where air bags failed to deploy on impact, including one case reaching 120,000 miles.
2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152013 Q12015 Q22017 Q22019 Q22021 Q12022 Q42024 Q32026 Q2
210 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q1 to 2026 Q2; peak 2019 Q2 (15).

2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls

6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 19V787000Nov 1, 2019Other24,226 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Communication

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

    Risk: An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

  3. 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 →

2013 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.

2013 compared with other E350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid92223520
2012Avoid77217722
2013Avoid85161622
2014Avoid100278823
2015Good3831623

All Mercedes-Benz E350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 E350 ranks 3rd worst of 14 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 85 and a verdict of Avoid relative to other E350 years.
What is the top problem area for the 2013 E350?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 47 complaints, or 29% of all complaints filed for this model year, with a median mileage at failure of 49,500 miles.
Does the 2013 E350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2013 E350, covering airbags, structure and body, electrical system, and an eCall software fault, with none classified as do-not-drive.
How many complaints does the 2013 E350 have?
NHTSA has logged 161 complaints for the 2013 E350, including 15 crashes, 4 fires, and 13 injuries reported.
How does the 2013 E350 compare to other years?
The 2013 E350 has a Complaint Index of 85, higher than 2010 (69), 2015 (38), and 2017 (15), but lower than 2011 (92) and 2014 (100), which is the worst year in the dataset.

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.