Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Have purchased a 2014 mercedes E350 59k miles. This vehicle has an issue as so do many Mercedes with their rear subframes rotted out at the control arm bracket which causes the rear link/thrust arm to detach from the subframe/axle carrier and posses a danger when breaking due to the rear spindle assembly flexing throwing the wheels out of alignment and could be at risk for a car crack. This vehicle has already been in a minor crash as a result of this issue. I personally have not brought it to Mercedes to get it diagnosed inspected or the police law enforcement but there are many cases online on the Mercedes Benz forums to which this has also happened to. This issue applies to other Mercedes models ranging from 2010 all the way to 2016. Videos of the exact vehicle brought to an independent shop available upon request.
On 11/24/23 Mercedes Benz had replaced my subframe which was part of a safety recall. When I arrived home after picking up my vehicle, there was a loud bang from under the vehicle. I immediately called the service department and told them about what happened and also complained that the steering wheel was cocked to the left and pulling in that direction. My service advisor John advised me to bring it back the next day which I did. They never told me what caused the loud bang, but they did say another front end alignment was done. The vehicle still continued to pull and the steering wheel was still off center. On [redacted] I took my car to Mr. Tire for a tire rotation because the car continued to sway and jolt when going over bumps. It also made a popping noise when making a sharp turn. Then on [redacted] as I was driving, the car pulled or slid to the left. …
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rack and steering assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, and occasionally while starting the vehicle, the steering wheel seized, and the message "Power Steering Malfunction" was displayed. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 61,500.
While braking from highway speeds or any other speed, the vehicle becomes unstable and pulls to the left, making it difficult to maintain control. During hard braking, the vehicle does not track straight and requires steering correction to remain in its lane, creating a significant safety hazard. To diagnose the problem, the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic. An alignment was performed, and the suspension and braking systems were inspected. The mechanic determined that the rear subframe has severe rust and corrosion. The rusted rear subframe is available for inspection upon request. Despite the alignment and inspection of the suspension and brakes, the unsafe braking behavior remains. There were no warning lights or messages indicating this condition before it was discovered. The problem has been reproduced multiple times under similar braking conditions. …
While driving on a local road, my wife lost control over the steering wheel of our 2014 Mercedes-Benz (MB) E350 sedan (the instrumental panel showed "Power Steering Malfunction: see attached photo)". It was a very dangerous situation, but she somehow managed to find a place to pull over and call me. It could've been much more dangerous if this occurred on highway. We found some information about the Power Steering Failure recall and our 2014 E350 was included as an affected car. Here is the website with that information: https://repairpal.com/recall/16V899000 However, our local Mercedes Dealer checked and found our car was not included in the recall list. The problem we encountered is identical to the nature of the recall, so we don't understand why our car is not included. …
Driving on a highway approximately 65 MPH. Had to break fairly hard due to unexpected traffic. When breaking, my car fishtailed and I thought I was going to hit the vehicle in front of me. I immediately took my car to my independent, Mercedes-certified repair shop. My mechanic informed me that it was a problem with the rear subframe. I then took it to Mercedes for an inspection. They confirmed that the rear subframe was rusted and needs immediate repair. I was told not to drive the vehicle as it is extremely unsafe. Mercedes is aware of this problem. There was a class action lawsuit filed in February of 2023. Mercedes supposedly informed owners of the potential problem, but I was never notified. I only became aware of this dangerous subframe problem as a result of this incident.
My electric power steering failed. It often resets and can be unpredictable when it wants to fail again. It's an intermittent problem that local dealer tried to fix with a software update but did not work. I was told I need a new steering rack at $5-6k which is unacceptable for any vehicle that has been maintained it's whole life . My car is 8 years old with 100,000 miles with full service records I feel like this is a premature failure of the electric power steering
The rear sub-frame involving vehicle stability under braking and turning. A component that should remain attached to the vehicle has broken off due to corrosion. My vehicle is not that old that a key structural component of the car should break at the weld/attachment point. I have video of this defect. But its greater than 10MB and will not let me upload it is there an email I can send it to ?
Issue with steering column Control module there is a recall on the same type issue on same model and my car is having issue from shifting from R to P or D . My car it's not showing up in recall but I am facing the issue ..it's a safety issue
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 SL550, 2013-2014 SL63 AMG, 2014-2016 E350, 2014 E350 Cabriolet, E350 Coupe, 2014-2015 S550, 2015 E350 Bluetec, 2015-2016 E400, 2016 E550 Coupe, and Maybach S600 vehicles manufactured August 23, 2012, to August 14, 2015.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric power steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began October 13, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Steering complaints in other E350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the steering of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350, 10% of the model year's 278 complaints. The component named most often is steering control module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-899 (electric power assist system, Dec 14, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 23% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering 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.