The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while at a complete stop and releasing the brake pedal, the Eco Mode system failed to engage, and the engine failed to restart. The contact stated that upon depressing the Push to Start button, the vehicle restarted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the battery was replaced;…
2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 59,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 E-Class | 11 |
| 2014 E-Class | 28 |
| 2015 E-Class | 7 |
| 2016 E-Class | 9 |
| 2017 E-Class (this page) | 14 |
| 2018 E-Class | 7 |
| 2019 E-Class | 3 |
When does it fail?
Of the 14 steering complaints filed for the 2017 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
Among the 15 model years of Mercedes-Benz E-Class in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2017 E-Class sedans report three distinct steering problems. The most common is power steering loss, triggered at highway and parking speeds. The "Steering Malfunction" or "Increased Physical Effort" warning appears, and the wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn. One owner at 35,000 miles had oil in the engine harness feeding the electric steering rack, with clicking noises from the bay—the dealer said the harness needed replacement. At higher mileage (80,000–104,000 miles), owners describe intermittent failures that worsen during turning; dealers either find nothing wrong or diagnose internal rack failure (Part 213460480280).
Second, owners report steering wheel seizure—complete inability to turn left or right, or locked height adjustment switches. One happened at 130,000 miles after the vehicle experienced starting issues tied to a separate electrical recall.
Third, one owner documented steering wheel vibration and shaking with unusual column noise at 26,000 miles, followed by sudden engine shutdown. Multiple owners found NHTSA Campaigns 17V714000 and 17V574000 online but learned their VINs weren't flagged in the recalls despite matching failures exactly. Several say Mercedes and dealers refused to repair or acknowledge the problem, directing them to file with NHTSA instead.
Same Mercedes-Benz E-Class steering reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Power steering loss / steering malfunction
Loss of power steering assist, ranging from intermittent to complete failure. Warning message 'Steering Malfunction' and/or 'Increased Physical Effort' appears on instrument panel. Requires forceful manual steering. Failure occurs at various vehicle speeds, including highway speeds (55-65 MPH) and during parking attempts.
When: 16,000 to 104,000 miles; one report at 26,000 miles with steering wheel shaking and unusual noise from steering column before vehicle shut off
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering function; 'Steering Malfunction' warning message; 'Increased Physical Effort' warning message; 'Steering Malfunction, Increased Physical Effort' and 'Active Brake Assist' warnings together; Steering wheel becomes nearly impossible to turn left or right; Requires forceful manual steering; Intermittent failures, increasingly intense during turns; Steering wheel shaking and vibration; Unusual noise from steering column
Repairs/costs cited: One report: engine wiring harness replacement recommended due to oil in harness going to electric steering rack; clicking noise in engine bay heard. One report: internal failure of power steering rack, Part Number 213460480280, with replacement parts not covered under recall. Multiple reports: dealer could not duplicate, no DTC retrieved, or diagnosis incomplete.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Numbers referenced: 17V714000 (Steering), 17V574000 (Steering). Multiple owners report their VINs not included in identified recalls despite matching symptoms. One owner called dealer after researching online and was told VIN not in recall. One owner received recall notice from Mercedes but vehicle not repaired. One owner states MB referred him to NHTSA Hotline.
Steering wheel seizure / inability to adjust
Steering wheel locked or seized in position, unable to be repositioned. Includes both complete failure to turn the wheel (left/right) and failure of height adjustment mechanism.
When: One at 130,000 miles; one at 84,000 miles; one undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seized in incorrect position; Steering wheel will not turn left or right; Steering wheel locked in up position; Height adjustment switch (up & down) stopped working
Repairs/costs cited: One report: TSB Number 2017020018 referenced. One report: height adjustment switch failure. Vehicles not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner referenced TSB 2017020018. Dealer referred contact to NHTSA Hotline.
Oil leakage into electric steering system
Engine oil migrating into the wiring harness that feeds the electric steering rack, causing moisture and electrical issues. Accompanied by clicking noise from engine bay.
When: 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil on engine harness; Oil going to electric steering rack; Clicking noise inside engine bay after starting car; Power steering loss (secondary effect)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed the issue and informed contact that engine wiring harness needed replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 17V714000 (Steering) referenced by owner.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
THE STEERING WHEEL HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT SWITCH (UP & DOWN) STOPPED WORKING. The wheel is locked in the up position making driving difficult
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle intermittently lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure occurred increasingly while turning. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics and to the dealer, but no DTC was retrieved. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related…
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-benz e300. After starting the engine, the message "steering malfunction stop the vehicle" suddenly displayed and the steering wheel shook and vibrated. The contact stated that an unusual noise was also present coming from the steering column before the vehicle suddenly shut off. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed, the steering wheel seized and failed to turn to the left or the right. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with an internal failure of the power steering rack, Part Number: 213460480280. The vehicle was not repaired and…
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 steering problem on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 26,000 and 84,000 miles, with the median around 59,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,000; a quarter make it past 84,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2017/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.