YearToAvoid

2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 Steering Problems

NHTSA lists 27 steering complaints for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350, 10% of all 278 complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 50,000. A related recall (16V899000) covers the electric power steering control unit.

Steering complaints
27
10% of 278
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
50,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical steering symptoms owners report

  • Power steering suddenly stops working while driving, with a dash warning reading power steering malfunction and difficulty turning the wheel.
  • Steering seizes momentarily while the vehicle is stopped, with the power steering indicator lit, then the problem recurs after restarting the car.
  • Onboard computer or warning-light failures disable power steering assist, in one case traced to corroded blind-spot sensors in the rear bumper.
  • Complete loss of steering assist at low speed, forcing the driver to go straight or reverse only, sometimes on hilly or curved roads.
  • Steering failure occurs alongside broader vehicle control loss, including stalling and loss of braking and speed control, requiring towing.
  • Owners report being told by dealers that no recall applied to their steering failure despite matching symptoms described in the recall notice.

When 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 steering complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 28, 2015, latest Jul 21, 2026.

2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 steering complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2015Dec 2019Sep 2020Mar 2021Mar 2023Jan 2025Dec 2025
27 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2015 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2024 (2).

Steering recalls for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350

  1. NHTSA 16V899000Dec 14, 2016Steering70 vehicles

    Steering:electric power assist system

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 SL550, 2013-2014 SL63 AMG, 2014-2016 E350, 2014 E350 Cabriolet, E350 Coupe, 2014-2015 S550, 2015 E350 Bluetec, 2015-2016 E400, 2016 E550 Coupe, and Maybach S600 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to August 14, 2015. The affected vehicles use an electric power steering system that may have improperly soldered contacts inside the control unit, potentially resulting in the power steering system deactivating while driving.

    Risk: If the control unit pins lose connection, there would be a loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The increase in pin contact resistance can also increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Steering complaints by E350 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20107 (4%)
  2. 201111 (5%)
  3. 20129 (4%)
  4. 201310 (6%)
  5. 201427 (10%)
  6. 20155 (16%)
  7. 20165 (10%)
  8. 20170 (0%)
  9. 20200 (0%)
  10. 20210 (0%)
  11. 20220 (0%)
  12. 20230 (0%)
  13. 20240 (0%)
  14. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are steering complaints on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350?
NHTSA has logged 27 steering complaints for this model year, accounting for 10% of the 278 total complaints filed, the highest share among the years listed except 2015.
Is there a steering recall for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350?
Yes. Recall 16V899000, reported December 14, 2016, covers the electric power steering control unit and the remedy is a free replacement by dealers.
At what mileage do steering problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure for steering complaints on this model year is 50,000 miles.
Did the steering issue cause any crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to steering complaints for this year shows 2 crashes and 1 injury, with no fires reported.
What do owners describe when the power steering fails?
Owners describe sudden loss of steering assist, a power steering malfunction warning on the dash, and in some cases the steering seizing entirely while driving or stopped.

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.