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ProblemsByVin Model / MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS
20 model years · 2005–2024

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability by year

0 recalls and 3,612 owner complaints across 20 model years. Best year to buy: 2022. Year to avoid: 2007.

Best year to buy
2022
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
See the 2022 E-Class →
Year to avoid
2007
7.0/10
0 recalls · 435 complaints
See the 2007 E-Class →

Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.

Years to avoid — and why 2 flagged on the NHTSA record

2014 Avoid — the electrical system 10 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the electrical system 2006 High-risk ownership Brakes: 64 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 101,000–149,000 mi

Cleaner on the data: 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and others. Still verify the specific vehicle.

At-a-glance: every year color-coded

Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. best year · year to avoid.

Year-by-year reliability 20 model years · newest first

2024
8.6/10
0 recalls · 19 complaints
OK
2023
8.4/10
0 recalls · 23 complaints
OK
2022
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
OK
2021
8.6/10
0 recalls · 19 complaints
OK
2020
8.6/10
0 recalls · 20 complaints
OK
2019
8.0/10
0 recalls · 54 complaints
OK
2018
8.0/10
0 recalls · 66 complaints
OK
2017
7.6/10
0 recalls · 165 complaints
OK
2016
7.8/10
0 recalls · 88 complaints
OK
2015
8.0/10
0 recalls · 57 complaints
Caveats
2014
7.2/10
0 recalls · 299 complaints
Avoid
2013
7.6/10
0 recalls · 185 complaints
OK
2012
7.4/10
0 recalls · 232 complaints
Caveats
2011
7.2/10
0 recalls · 295 complaints
Caveats
2010
7.4/10
0 recalls · 256 complaints
Caveats
2009
7.8/10
0 recalls · 85 complaints
OK
2008
7.4/10
0 recalls · 226 complaints
Caveats
2007
7.0/10
0 recalls · 435 complaints
Caveats
2006
7.0/10
0 recalls · 536 complaints
High-risk
2005
7.0/10
0 recalls · 532 complaints
Caveats

Common trouble spots across the E-Class aggregated across 20 model years

airbags
548 complaints across 13 years · avg $1,100
fuel system
437 complaints across 11 years · avg $1,200
brakes
263 complaints across 10 years · avg $450
electrical
227 complaints across 18 years · avg $850
engine
224 complaints across 18 years · avg $3,100
suspension
183 complaints across 10 years · avg $900

Common questions

What's the best year to buy a Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class scores 8.6/10 — the strongest in the 2005–2024 range. 20 complaints on file, 0 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.

Which Mercedes-Benz E-Class year should I avoid?

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class scores 7.0/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 435 owner complaints with NHTSA, 0 active recalls. That doesn't mean every 2007 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.

Which years of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class should I avoid?

On the NHTSA complaint and recall record, the model years to be most careful with are 2014 (avoid — the electrical system — 10 fire-related complaints and 1 crash-related complaint on the electrical system); 2006 (high-risk ownership — brakes: 64 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 101,000–149,000 mi). The cleaner years on the data are 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019. This is our read of the federal data, not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection of the specific vehicle.

How many years of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are tracked?

20 model years (2005 through 2024) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 0 recalls and 3,612 owner complaints.

What's the most-reported problem on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

airbags is the most-reported category — 548 complaints across 13 model years. Average shop repair runs about $1,100.

Year-over-year reliability scores derived from NHTSA recall and owner complaint volume, severity weighted by reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Best/worst year calls require a minimum complaint sample per year so single-data-point years aren't crowned by chance. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Mercedes-Benz.
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