repaired · 2023 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. An incorrect air bag may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2011 Mercedes-Benz E350Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 223 owner complaints about the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-638 the manufacturer reports only 46% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Michael Gil from Calgary, AB, Canada, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 has problems
223 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
108Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
28Fuel/propulsion system
17Suspension
15Structure3 crash/fire/injury
13Service brakes
13Engine
11Steering
8Seats
6Power train
2810 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 108 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 28 | 0 |
| Suspension | 17 | 0 |
| Structure | 15 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 13 | 1 |
| Engine | 13 | 1 |
| Steering | 11 | 0 |
| Seats | 8 | 2 |
| Power train | 6 | 1 |
| 10 other systems | 28 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Fuel system, gasoline
Risk. If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
50kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 23 air bags complaints. 87% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 34% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
6under 30k miles20under 100k miles3100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other E350 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the E350 median. How we score
'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350, and the recalls they led to.
- Rear brake line failureNo recall
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What E350 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Without an impact or collision, my car's passenger seat headrest shot out. I've been checking and others have done this as well. This morning, the driver's side headrest shot out without impact or collision. There is something wrong with the mechanism or airbags for the headrests. This can be…
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the SRS Malfunction message was displayed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA…
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V081000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and another dealer, Mercedes-Benz of Sacramento (1810 Howe Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825) were…
Own a 2011 E350?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.