YearToAvoid

2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 10th out of 19 model years, with 51 complaints, 5 recalls, and a Caution verdict. Electrical System problems lead at 22% of complaints, followed closely by Engine issues at 20%.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#10 of 19 E350 years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
51
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
4
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 27 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

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

  1. Electrical System11 (22%)
  2. Engine10 (20%)
  3. Other8 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body8 (16%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers7 (14%)
  6. Airbags6 (12%)
  7. Steering5 (10%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain5 (10%)
  9. Fuel System4 (8%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)

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

What owners report

  • Steering can suddenly malfunction at low speed, becoming very hard to turn and triggering a dashboard malfunction message.
  • Airbags have failed to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, leaving occupants unrestrained against the steering wheel.
  • Fuel odor and popping noises from the engine compartment have preceded under-hood flames while driving at low speed.
  • The accelerator has stopped responding at highway speed alongside collision-assist and cruise-control warning lights, with the vehicle failing to downshift.
  • The 7G-Tronic automatic transmission has occasionally stuck in first gear during acceleration, sending engine RPM sharply higher and forcing an immediate restart.
  • Brakes have been reported as unresponsive along with a loose steering wheel during an unintended acceleration event.
2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2015May 2017Feb 2020Apr 2021Apr 2022Jul 2023Jul 2024
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2015 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2016 (3).

2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 17V177000Mar 14, 2017Electrical System51 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014 CLS550, E350 4Matic, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E350 Wagon 4Matic, GLK350 and SL550 vehicles, 2012 CLS550 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2016 E350 vehicles, 2016-2017 GL450 4Matic vehicles, 2012-2014 ML350 4Matic BlueTec vehicles, 2015 S550, S550 4Matic and C300 4Matic Sedan vehicles, 2015-2016 C300 Sedan vehicles, and 2017 SL63 AMG vehicles. Various control units on these vehicles may have been updated with incorrect software, potentially affecting the correct deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash.

    Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update software in the affected control units, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

See all 5 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 →

2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,450
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.

2016 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
2014Avoid94278823
2015Good3331623
2016Caution5051523
2017Best1770—
2020Good398625.5

All Mercedes-Benz E350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2016 E350 a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 10th worst out of 19 model years. Electrical System and Engine problems make up the largest share of complaints.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 E350?
Owners most often reported Electrical System issues (22% of complaints) and Engine issues (20%), followed by Structure & Body concerns at 16%.
Does the 2016 E350 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2016 E350, covering the emergency call system software, airbag grounding, electrical control unit software, steering control unit, and an engine compartment rubber seal.
How does the 2016 E350 compare to other E350 years?
With a Complaint Index of 50, the 2016 E350 falls in the middle of the range; years like 2006 (index 100) and 2014 (index 94) are worse, while 2017 (index 17) and 2024 (index 6) rank as Best.

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.