Pre-safe warning light came on see operators manuel instructed to take to dealer.repair involves defective wiring harness not covered under warranty. Car was in motion when warning light came on.
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class electrical problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 E-Class has multiple electrical and control system issues reported, including unexpected stalling, transmission shifting to Park while driving (a known Mercedes issue with an issued bulletin), steering lock-ups, and accelerator problems. Even at low mileage these failures can occur; some dealerships cannot diagnose them and repairs are not always covered.
Owners of 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles report a cluster of electrical and control system failures, many occurring at relatively low mileage. Stalling with "Vehicle Inoperative" warnings appears early (29,000 miles), sometimes undiagnosed even after dealer visits. Throttle control problems include delayed response followed by sudden acceleration, with backup camera failures coinciding in one case.
Transmission issues stand out as particularly dangerous: multiple owners report the automatic shifting into Park without input while driving at low speeds—during traffic stops, intersections, and highway merging. Mercedes issued an Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) bulletin acknowledging this problem. One owner experienced complete steering wheel lock-up tied to anti-theft system failure; the dealership confirmed other vehicles had the same defect.
Electrical system failures range from total loss of all functions at 900 miles to headlight malfunctions linked to Blind Spot Assist (BSA) malfunction. Owners report intermittent failures that don't always register on dealer diagnostics. Wiring harness defects appeared in multiple complaints—one with oil saturation affecting cam solenoid and O2 sensors, another with Pre-Safe warnings involving defective harness not covered under warranty. One severe case involved a stuck accelerator combined with brake ineffectiveness, resulting in a collision.
Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class electrical reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2012 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Unexpected stalling with 'Vehicle Inoperative' warning
Engine stalls while driving at low speed; warning message appears; vehicle can be restarted but failure recurs. Dealership unable to identify root cause but suggested software update may resolve it.
When: 29,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle inoperative warning message; Engine stalls while driving; Failure recurs after restart
Repairs/costs cited: Software update recommended but not yet performed; vehicle not repaired at time of complaint
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Software update suggested as potential remedy
Unintended acceleration with delayed throttle response
Vehicle does not respond immediately when accelerator is pressed, then suddenly accelerates without driver input. Occurs sporadically in forward and reverse. Backup camera also became inoperative. Dealership unable to diagnose issue; problem does not register in vehicle computer.
When: 3,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Delayed throttle response followed by sudden acceleration; Sporadic unintended acceleration in reverse; Backup camera inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer visits; no solution found; issue not reproducible via computer diagnostics
Steering wheel lock-up with anti-theft system failure
Steering column extension malfunctioned, then entire steering wheel locked up suddenly while driving. Anti-theft system became inoperative. Owner reports dealership confirmed multiple other vehicles had identical problem.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column extension issue; Complete steering wheel lock-up; Anti-theft system malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Required towing; high repair costs; 10-hour roadside delay
Transmission shifts to Park while driving
Vehicle automatically shifts into Park without driver input while slowing down or at low speeds, causing sudden stops. Occurs in heavy traffic and at traffic lights, creating dangerous conditions. Mercedes issued Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) bulletin acknowledging the problem.
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected shift to Park while driving; Sudden stop in traffic; Occurs when slowing down at low speeds
Codes mentioned: EIS (Electronic Ignition Switch)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes issued bulletin for Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) regarding this failure
Blind Spot Assist (BSA) system malfunction affecting electrical systems
BSA system malfunction causes intermittent headlight failures and dashboard warning messages during driving. Owner reports this is a known systemic issue across multiple E350 4MATIC model years. Mercedes has not shared failure data publicly.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight malfunction during driving; Dashboard messages flashing while driving; Intermittent electrical problems
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mercedes aware of issue; has not shared systemic failure data
Accelerator sticking with brake failure
Accelerator pedal became stuck and vehicle would not stop even when brakes were fully applied. Owner was unable to control vehicle deceleration, resulting in collision with another vehicle causing injury and total loss of car.
Symptoms owners cite: Stuck accelerator pedal; Brakes ineffective at stopping vehicle; Uncontrolled acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle declared total loss with over 14,000 in damages
Complete electrical system failure at low speed
All electrical functions in vehicle failed suddenly while driving at 5 mph. Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired at time of complaint.
When: 900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of all electrical functions
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired
Pre-Safe warning with defective wiring harness
Pre-Safe warning light illuminated while vehicle was in motion. Repair determined to involve defective wiring harness, not covered under warranty.
Symptoms owners cite: Pre-Safe warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement required; not covered under warranty
Cam solenoid failure with oil in wiring harness
Cam solenoid failed, triggering check engine light. Oil contaminated the wiring harness, affecting performance. Repair involved body work, full wiring harness replacement, and O2 sensor replacement due to oil saturation.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light; Oil in wiring harness
Codes mentioned: Failed cam solenoid
Repairs/costs cited: Body work, wiring harness replacement, and O2 sensor replacement required due to oil saturation
Transmission stuck in Park requiring multiple restart cycles
Transmission would not shift out of Park without turning vehicle on and off multiple times. Issue recurred over several months.
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission stuck in Park; Requires multiple ignition cycles to release from Park
AdBlue heater failure with check engine light
AdBlue heater system failed with check engine light illumination. Multiple failures and codes reported.
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light; AdBlue heater malfunction
Codes mentioned: AdBlue heater related
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Automatic Transmission shifts into Park while driving under 6km/h - resulting in sudden stops when pulling onto a road or into an intersection. The creates very unsafe driving conditions. Please refer to attached XENTRY Bulletin issued: Daimler AG 7-09-2015
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 38,887 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.