2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 11, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350, most often about fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion. There are 4 recalls for this model year.

Complaints: 51
Recalls: 4
Crashes: 3
Fires: 3
Injuries: 3
Median mileage: 123,000 mi

Key facts

Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion is the most-reported problem area, named in 16 of 51 complaints (31%).
Visibility & Wipers (9) and seats & seat belts (7) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 123,000 mi.
Owners reported 3 crashes, 3 fires and 3 injuries.
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 has 4 recalls on file.
NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
It ranks 5th of 13 Mercedes-Benz E350 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
That is 34% more complaints than the 2007 model year (38).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Fuel/propulsion system	14
Seats	7
Engine	6
Electrical system	6
Unknown or other	5
Air bags	4
Structure:body	4
Visibility	4

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints that list mileage.

2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 recalls (4)

Recall 24V874000Nov 19, 202433,456 vehicles
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Recall 22V954000Dec 23, 2022131,653 vehicles
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Recall 19V918000Dec 20, 2019747,928 vehicles
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
Recall 12V264000Jun 12, 20123,613 vehicles
SUSPENSION:REAR
Mercedes-benz is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 e350 4matic wagon vehicles manufactured from july 1, 2006, through april 30, 2009. A connecting rod for the load leveling rear suspension system may fail.
Risk: If this occurs, the driver may have reduced vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mercedes-benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace all the connecting rods, free of charge. The safety recall began on september 7, 2012. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA13003Opened Mar 15, 2013Closed Dec 19, 2014
Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on January 23, 2012 as PE12-001 based on 20 consumer reports in model year (MY) 2003-2006 E55 AMG vehicles.Based on new reports in other E-Class vehicles, ODI upgraded the investigation to Engineering Analysis (EA) 13-003 on March 15, 2013, and expanded the scope to all E-Class vehicles through MY 2008.The complainants alleged a strong odor of gasoline fuel both inside and outside of their vehicle, particularly after refilling the fuel tank.Many of the complainants noted that the odor subsided or went away after driving some d…

Recent 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Apr 29, 2026GABody & Structure
Driving down Interstate 65 just south of Bay Minette Alabama and doing approximately 70MPH, there was a total failure of the sunroof. This happened where crazing started and then a catastrophic failure of the glass, blowing out the sunroof. This happened in the space of about 30 seconds. It appears to be the exact circumstance outlined in NHTSA Recall #24V874000. Shards of glass entered the cabin, and while there were no injuries, the passenger was hit in the face with…
NHTSA complaint #11734513 · source
Filed Feb 20, 2026GAVisibility & Wipers
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility). The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact informed the dealer that the sunroof had not been used in 10 years. In addition, the contact informed the dealer of an issue while attempting to close the sunroof ten years ago. The vehicle was not inspected, and the dealer declined the recall repair. The contact was informed that if the recall…
NHTSA complaint #11719333 · source
Filed Dec 31, 2025SCElectrical SystemFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
My car displayed all of the issues listed below for the Electrical system recall. The fuel gague went "blank", other gagues acting irradical, the check engine light stay on, etc. My car make and model fall under this recall but have been excluded. I had to pay out of pocket $4678.50 to replace the entire fuel tank due to this and the Manufacture (Mercedes Benz) is refusing to reimburse me. (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE…
NHTSA complaint #11708086 · source
Filed Dec 20, 2025DCFireElectrical SystemOther / UnknownSeats & Seat Belts
2008 MercedesE350 (W211) Driver’s seat heater, ~11:48am Location: Lidl Parking Lot, 2017 St. Joseph’s Dr., Bowie/Upper Marlboro, MD While I was sitting in the driver’s seat with my back fully against it, the seat heater burned through the leather on the left side of the seat. The cabin immediately filled with smoke. The burning stopped only after I turned off the seat‑heater button. I was inside the vehicle during the failure, and the situation created a direct fire hazard;…
NHTSA complaint #11706318 · source
Filed May 22, 2025COAirbagsTransmission & Drivetrain
While driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 on 5/21/2025 around 1:50pm, the transmission suddenly failed while I was traveling at approximately 75 mph was on highway 76. As a result of the failure, the driver's side airbag deployed unexpectedly.
NHTSA complaint #11662587 · source
Filed Feb 13, 2025OKBody & Structure
The trunk safety release inside the trunk will not open the trunk. It is an electrical switch and not a cable pull release. If you get in the trunk and the battery is low, you cannot get out. There is not a passage between the rear seat and the trunk. There is not a manual release for the trunk. The only way to get inside is cutting through the trunk lid or deck.
NHTSA complaint #11642583 · source
Filed Jan 13, 2025116,000 miLAElectrical SystemSuspensionVisibility & Wipers
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle overnight, the vehicle failed to start the following morning. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to Combels Customs - Collision Repair, Auto Body Shop, where the alternator and the battery were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the speedometer, the clock, and the infotainment system were inoperable. Additionally, the…
NHTSA complaint #11635613 · source
Filed Sep 27, 2024GAFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
This is a PZEV vehicle. When the car is filled over 3/4th of the way, the driver's side near the back tire starts to leak the fuel. There was no warning lights, just the smell and the leaks. It's obvious why this is a safety hazard. This was not inspected by anyone other than myself as it was quite obvious after removing the back seat and accessing the sending unit location. This started after I resolved a fuel pump issue (back in March, resolved this month) Mercedes refused…
NHTSA complaint #11616902 · source

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Other 2008 Mercedes-Benz models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology