What breaks most · 2018 to 2019 model years
Mercedes-Benz E 300 problems by year
Owners have filed 61 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz E 300 across model years 2018 to 2019. Two years stand out: 2018 for engine complaints and 2019 for seat belts complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2018, 2019
- Complaints on file
- 612018 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 201832 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 40 fires · 5 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 12kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 15Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 1 | 7 | Engine (9) | |
| 29 | 3 | 8 | Unknown or other (9) |
What fails on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 28% |
9 | 0 | Shop all engine parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 22% |
7 | 0 | Shop all electrical system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Unknown or other | 19% |
6 | 0 | — |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 16% |
5 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 13% |
4 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop all body and structure parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Wheels | 6% |
2 | 0 | — |
| Forward collision systemRadar and camera sensors | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop all forward collision system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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According to the Mersedes dealer it is Engine Harness it is possible manufacture defect. Car has only 38900 miles on it.
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AI am getting this "P052E" code on a 2019 Mercedes E300 - malfunction with Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mercedes-Benz E 300 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2018, 2019 carry the most filings on the Mercedes-Benz E 300. The 2018 alone has 32 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz E 300 problem?
On the 2018 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 9 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E 300 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mercedes-Benz E 300 complaints that include mileage is about 12,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.