YearToAvoid

2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

23/100

#11 most-complained of 14 E350 years

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 13 NHTSA complaints, 12 recalls, and a complaint index of 23, ranking 11th worst out of 14 model years with a "Best" verdict relative to other E350 years. Electrical System and Engine issues each account for 31% of complaints.

Complaints
13
Recalls
12
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22 city / 30.5 hwy

Top 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems

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

  1. Electrical System4 (31%)
  2. Engine4 (31%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (23%)
  4. Fuel System3 (23%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (23%)
  6. Brakes1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the 12-volt battery warning light appearing shortly before the vehicle smoked and caught fire while idling in a driveway.
  • The rearview camera image and parking sensors intermittently fail to display when shifting into reverse, sometimes prompting a "system inoperative" message.
  • At highway speed the check engine light illuminated and the vehicle decelerated on its own; a mechanic traced the fault to a failed fuel pump at 53,200 miles.
  • The engine misfires and loses power during acceleration, in one case nearly causing a collision when the car would not pull away from a stoplight.
  • The parking brake seized unexpectedly while parking, leaving the vehicle unable to move forward or backward at 24,001 miles.
  • The transmission failed suddenly on the highway, leaving the driver stranded after barely reaching an exit.
2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2023Feb 2024May 2024Mar 2025Dec 2025May 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2023 to Aug 2026; peak Feb 2024 (3).

2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls

12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V445000Jun 26, 2023Fuel System143,551 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.

    Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.

  2. NHTSA 22V365000May 20, 2022Electrical System242,722 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system:software

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

    Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

  3. NHTSA 22V232000Apr 8, 2022Collision Avoidance & Cameras126,443 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 CLA-Class, GLE/GLS-Class, A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe/Convertible, GLA/GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and CLS-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022060007.

See all 12 recalls for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 →

2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
30.5 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
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.

2021 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
2017Best1570—
2020Good318625.5
2021Best23131225
2022Best08325
2023Good466325

All Mercedes-Benz E350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 reliable?
NHTSA lists 13 complaints and a complaint index of 23 for the 2021 E350, and it ranks 11th worst out of 14 model years, giving it a "Best" verdict relative to other E350 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 E350?
NHTSA complaint data shows Electrical System and Engine issues each make up 31% of reported problems, followed by Collision Avoidance & Cameras and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 23% each.
Does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E350 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2021 E350, covering areas including the fuel system, electrical system, collision avoidance cameras, steering, airbags, and seat belts.
How does the 2021 E350 compare to other model years?
The 2021 E350 has a complaint index of 23, far lower than the worst year, 2014, which scored 100, making 2021 one of the better years in the lineup.

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.