2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 16 NHTSA recalls and 71 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
D
44/100
High Reported Activity — 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class shows high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the issues below and have a thorough pre-purchase inspection done by an independent mechanic.
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16
NHTSA Recalls
16 recalls on record
71
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
2
Crash Reports
3 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (16)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Electrical System: Software
Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021….
🔧 Electrical System: 12v/24v/48v Battery: Cables
If the battery is shorted, the emergency door unlocking would be deactivated for an outside responder and the short circuit could increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive pole cover, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's…
🔧 Steering: Rack And Pinion: Rack
A car that cannot be properly steered has an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering rack, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number…
🔧 Seat Belts
The electric PRE-SAFE®-function and the seat belt pretensioners may not deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front seat belt buckles, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 13, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA…
🔧 Communication
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…
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification
If a child seat is in the front seat and the passenger air bag is not deactivated, in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion, free of charge. The recall began November 26, 2018. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
🔧 Electrical System: Software
Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's…
🔧 Tires
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…
🔧 Seats
If the seatback does not properly lock, in the event of a crash, the seatbacks may fold forward, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the locking of the seatbacks, replacing the seatbacks lock, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 25,…
🔧 Steering
If the steering connection was not properly locked, the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and steering rack may come loose, reducing steering ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling and lock it correctly if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA…
Showing 10 of 16 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Based on 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2018 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Mercedes-Benz E-Class VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2012, 2014 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2020, 2021, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 16 recall campaigns and 71 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have?
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 16 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are: Electrical System, Power Train, Steering, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class safe to buy?
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 16 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Mercedes-Benz E-Class should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are: 2020, 2021, 2022. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2012, 2014.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.