Most common 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E350 complaints by model year
Best E350 years: 2017, 2015, 2020. Years to avoid: 2014, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2006. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350:
Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the…
What 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 owners say
Brakes
Hi, I was driving normaly on a road, no warning, just brake light pops up to reduce power. Pedal was empty and steering got hard no upshift. I hit a curb and cracked my bumper. All brakes are new. When I looked on line, I saw some people developed a device that resets the ABS mudual to 100%. They said Mercedes put a timer in the system that runs out and make you change stuff? This device I just bought to use so I can use my car. I'm an automotive technician and this scraed the hell out of me on a dark night in ohio. I ened up towing my car to my house 60 miles away. Very angery with mb.
2005 Mercedes 350 cdi - brake failure! In fact, car accelerated with pressing brake pedal down. Brake problems on this model have been subject of previous NHTSA recall advisory (please see http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2005/mercedes_benz/e_class/e320_cdi_sedan/616/recalls/). This car serviced was regularly at Mercedes dealership - before and after incidents. There is no documentation of fixing this problem before or after recent event which LED to an mvc. Corporate Mercedes has been rude and recommended we take this matter to court if we wish the car properly serviced. Representative 'jiten' refused to give his last name and refused to give a complaint number. Could this car be unsafe? Mercedes is not being helpful at all. What to do? Please help.
Fuel & propulsion system
My vehicle fills with the smell of gasoline so badly that it makes me physically ill. I have to drive it with all the windows open to try to tolerate the smell and even then, the overwhelming stench of gasoline is palatable enough to taste, cause headaches, and nausea. This started a couple months ago with a slight smell and has gotten steadily worse. In the midst of the "stay at home" orders I left it and drove a different vehicle. In this time I did some online research and was appalled to learn that Mercedes is fully aware of this issue. They extended a warranty period of 15 years to owners but did not consider it a safety issue and send the information to vehicle owners so that they could have the systems checked. I called Mercedes to learn that my warranty period ended in January of this year. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Mercedes Benz E350. The contact noticed the check engine light illuminating along with a leak underneath her vehicle. The vehicle was then inspected by a dealer who advised her that when the fuel level was low and she added fuel outside air was entering the tank causing the leak. The entire fuel line and tank were repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised her that they would not offer any assistance. The VIN was unavailable.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 E350 rates better than average: 92% fewer complaints than a typical year of the E350 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350?
The brakes — 5 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (5) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2015 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2014, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2006. See the full Mercedes-Benz E350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Mercedes-Benz E350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.