What breaks most · 2015 to 2017 model years
Mercedes-Benz E400 problems by year
Owners have filed 69 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz E400 across model years 2015 to 2017. Three years stand out: 2016 for air bags complaints, 2017 for air bags complaints and 2015 for air bags complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2016, 2017, 2015
- Complaints on file
- 692015 to 2017, all trims
- Worst year
- 201634 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 30 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 23kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 22Across 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 2 | 7 | Air bags (8) | |
| 34 | 1 | 7 | Air bags (22) | |
| 20 | 0 | 8 | Air bags (16) |
What fails on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 65% |
22 | 1 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 12% |
4 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 6% |
2 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
2 | 1 | Shop brakes parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 |
| Wheels | 3% |
1 | 0 | — |
| Unknown or other | 3% |
1 | 0 | — |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 3% |
1 | 0 | Shop suspension parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 |
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 3% |
1 | 0 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E400 |
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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Takata recall #17v627, i was notified of the recall but unable to get the defective parts replaced as the dealer reported that replacement parts are still not available.
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 E400 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2016, 2017, 2015 carry the most filings on the Mercedes-Benz E400. The 2016 alone has 34 complaints, led by air bags.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz E400 problem?
On the 2016 model year, the most-reported component is air bags with 22 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E400 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mercedes-Benz E400 complaints that include mileage is about 23,000 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.