2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 Complaints

The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350.The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to jolt forward. Upon shifting to fourth gear, the vehicle stopped jolting. While depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle jolted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that oil was leaking into the engine and the wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

Hello, A manufacturer should understand that Timing Chain is a vital component in an engine, an so should not say just tell consumer that it goes bad at a particular milage., As such in my MB E350 2012, is difficult to start the car and i think that this should be looked at. Thanks

The rear subframe / axle carrier on vehicle failed. Rear subframe / axle carrier had significant corrosion / rot and large rust holes present. Also, the rear suspension parts & air shocks were seized / corroded to the rear subframe. Dealer advised vehicle was unsafe to drive.

Car won't go forward or reverse smoothly. It acts like a dead pedal then lurches. I traded pain with a safety barrier backing up when it suddenly went backwards. Also sometimes when entering the highway or passing a car it will go into limp mode. Can only be cleared by restarting car. Very dangerous.

My 2012 Mercedes E350 has rear sub-frame is starting to rust/corrode and I need to replace it within 3 months. This could cause the rear end to break free and forcing the back of the vehicle to swerve while braking. My Mercedes authorized repair shop stated that similar problems have been identified in other models using same rear subframe and they have replaced them. I have 143K miles and the car is garaged year round. It will cost $5K to repair. Mercedes USA will not fix this for free while all European Mercedes group repair this for free as a defect.

Rear sub-frame rotted out and would not pass state inspection. Repair shop contacted local Mercedes dealer and was told they were not aware of a problem. However if you perform an internet search, it is a problem. Dealer had two sub-frames in stock, however they were reserved for scheduled repairs and did not know when they. My repair shop located an after market frame and the car was repaired. In addition, the repair shops opinion is the design of the sub-frame is at fault as it retains water leading to corrosion. I performed my own internet search and it is a very known problem not only with the E350 model but also others.

The rear subframe of this vehicle has rusted on a seam and is cracking. I do not know if the seam is a weld or a bend in the metal. There is no corrosion on rest of the underbody. I do not know when the condition started. I noticed it upon braking. It felt as though the rear end of the vehicle was going to swing out around me. It started about three months before this report and got progressively worse. It was only noticeable when braking firmly from moderate or higher speeds, I have taken the vehicle to the Mercedes dealership and they advise the fault is not covered by warranty. A Google search would indicate that this is a problem occurring worldwide with Mercedes vehicles that use the identical sub frame to that in my vehicle.

I have video available that shows significant premature corrosion of the rear subframe and brake line. The safety of others will be put at risk at the time of failure. Failed subframes can lead to loss of control. This problem has been identified and the part inspected by a Mercedes dealership. There are no warning lamps or messages to alert the driver that failure is imminent. This was discovered in the process of the car being serviced for an unrelated emissions recall. Many Mercedes owners report having severe rear subframe and brake line corrosion issues on message boards. Some reported their cars unexpectedly sway and drift to one side while breaking. In multiple European countries, Mercedes is apparently aware of the problem and is voluntarily replacing the rear subframe for free. However, in the USA, Mercedes is quoting their customers approximately 6,000 to 7,000 to rectify the issue. Without NHTSAs intervention, dealer service departments will continue to profit from the failure of this critical component. Customers unprepared to pay for such a significant repair will defer maintenance until they can afford to address the matter. Some of these cars will be dumped at trade in and passed on to unsuspecting consumers. Those consumers may be your friends and loved ones. We need government to step in and protect the public interest. “If not you, then who? If not now, when?”

A state inspection identified that the rear subframe is rusted through. Per the service advisor, the failure of the rear subframe is a safety hazard because it effects steering and braking, and complete failure can cause loss of brakes. Service advisor advised not to drive the vehicle until repairs are made due to safety concerns. Vehicle failed inspection because the issue is a safety issue.

The rear subframe is broken. I was braking and the car lost control about two weeks ago. Ever since then the car feels like it's slipping whenever I brake or on a turn. I lose control of the car and I'm endangering my life and others. I went to take my vehicle to get inspected today and the said the rear subframe is broken and no fault of my own. The car was kept in a garage for years and only has 55k miles on it. There's no reason a subframe should be broken.