YearToAvoid

2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#3 most-complained of 4 E400 years

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 has a complaint index of 33, ranking 3rd best out of 4 model years tracked, with a 'Good' verdict. NHTSA lists 23 complaints and 13 recalls for this year, led by Electrical System issues.

Complaints
23
Recalls
13
Crashes / fires
1 / 2
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
20 city / 26 hwy

Top 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 problems

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

  1. Other6 (26%)
  2. Electrical System5 (22%)
  3. Engine4 (17%)
  4. Seat Belts3 (13%)
  5. Steering3 (13%)
  6. Brakes2 (9%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (9%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (9%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain2 (9%)
  10. Airbags1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report engine bay fires occurring while the vehicle was parked and not running, with median engine-related failure mileage at 13,750 miles.
  • Electrical system faults include the vehicle suddenly stopping while driving with all dashboard lights activating and an 'inoperable' message displayed, at a median mileage of 23,238.5 miles.
  • Some owners describe a headlight becoming inoperable with an 'Inoperable Headlight' message, sometimes recurring on the opposite side after dealer service.
  • Backup cameras reportedly fail intermittently, showing a black screen with a slash mark instead of the rearview image.
  • Steering complaints include a clunking noise from the automatic steering wheel adjustment and grease found near the wheel area, with owners reporting the issue was not addressed under warranty.
  • Brakes have been reported to stop the car suddenly and without warning while driving through an intersection, at a median mileage of 8,125 miles.
2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2018Jun 2019Mar 2021Aug 2023Jan 2024Sep 2025Feb 2026
32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2026 (4).

2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 recalls

13 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V023000Jan 17, 2025Suspension, Wheels & Tires165 vehicles

    Tires

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 E 400 Cabriolet, E 400 Coupe, 2019 E 450 Cabriolet, and E 450 Coupe vehicles. The tires were incorrectly marked with the wrong maximum inflation pressure and may not meet the strength requirements for the stated pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 139, "New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles."

    Risk: Tires inflated to an incorrect maximum pressure may have insufficient strength, allowing the tires to fail and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the tires as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 7, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025010008.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 21V072000Feb 12, 2021Other67 vehicles

    Communication

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.

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

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.

See all 13 recalls for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 →

2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
26 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.

2018 compared with other E400 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002015201620172018
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution6734723
2017Avoid10020823
2018Good33231322

All Mercedes-Benz E400 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 E400 has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 3rd best of the 4 model years with data, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other E400 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400?
NHTSA data shows the Electrical System is the top problem area with 5 complaints (22% share), followed by Engine issues with 4 complaints (17%), including 2 reported fires.
Does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 13 recalls for the 2018 E400, covering areas including Suspension/Wheels/Tires, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Electrical System, Seat Belts, and Structure & Body. None are marked as do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2018 E400 compare to other E400 years?
The 2018 E400 has a complaint index of 33, better than the 2016 (67, Caution) and 2017 (100, Avoid) model years, but not as strong as the 2015 model year, which has a complaint index of 0 and a 'Best' verdict.

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.