Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at an undisclosed speed and approaching a traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to function as intended. The brake pedal was depressed down to the floorboard. The contact's mother used the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) system failure. The contact was informed that the Sensotronic Brake Control system needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the mechanic unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle would not stop when depressing the brake pedal. No warning lights were illuminated, however, the contact stated the entire instrument panel was illuminated in red. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where the vehicle's brake line, brakes, and rotors were replaced. The contact stated the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and was not repaired. The contact referenced the manufacturer recall 2005110001 Sensotronic Brake Control as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal, there was a beeping sound coming from the vehicle with a message stating "Stop, Reduced Braking Power, Depress Brake Pedal Fully" displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to shoulder of the road. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V133000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. While driving at 30 MPH, a "Reduced Braking Power" warning message was displayed on the instrument panel followed by an audible alarm. The brake pedal travelled to the floorboard, resulting in a significant loss of braking functionality. Additionally, the vehicle became stuck in second gear, requiring the driver to pull over and have the vehicle towed to the residence. The consumer performed an OBD II scan, but no diagnostic trouble codes related to the brake failure were retrieved. The manufacturer was notified and confirmed that there were no active recalls associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-350. The contact stated that the sensotronic brake control warning was illuminated. The contact researched and found information about warranty coverage for 2006-2010 models with a 25-year warranty. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the main battery needed to be replaced but had not provided the repair. The vehicle was also taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that the brakes were failing and the computer system needed to be reset; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the belts were replaced. The message remained displayed. The failure mileage was 152,786.
February 22, 2022 I was driving from Memphis, TN to Flower Mound,TX. It was raining really bad and once I got to Texas on University Ave. My brakes went completely out. I had to shut the car off to stop. Shortly after I heard about a recall involving this same matter but it was for 2006 Mercedes SUV. However after reading the recall the same thing happened to me E350. I had to pay over $2000 on this repair. I feel I am entitled to be refunded. I also had to get the car towed home. I have tow record and repair record. And you should be able to research the weather on that date from Memphis to Texas. Please give me a response at [redacted] or email me at [redacted].
Mercedes Benz issued a recall and extended a warranty on its 2003-2005 E Class SBC braking systems (recall # 2005110001) and extended the warranty to 25 years; the 2006 E Class models have the exact same SBC braking system but is not included in the recall. Mercedes needs to add the 2006 E Class models to recall # 2005110001. My 2006 is experiencing the same SBC issues the 2003-2005 models are known to have but because my vehicle is 2006 it is not covered by the extended warranty.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes Benz E350. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, a warning message of 'restricting system manufacture' illuminated and 07:02 the vehicle lost all power. The contact lost control of the steering, and the brakes failed. As a result, the contact crashed into a wall at 8-10 MPH, but did not sustained injuries. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normal however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The contact called an unknown dealer and informed them of the failure and was provided with the number to NHTSA. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,663.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact came to an abrupt stop and the brake pedal failed to respond when depressed. As a result, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The brake warning indicator illuminated. The contact sustained lower back and neck injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the hydraulic pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mercedes-Benz e350w. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags deployed. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was towed from the scene to Mercedes-Benz of ontario (3787 e guasti rd, ontario, ca 91761), but was not diagnosed. The contact's insurance company confirmed that the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 143,000.
Brake complaints in other E350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350?
NHTSA has 54 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350, 14% of the model year's 400 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 133,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.