Seat complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (seat frames, recliners, heated seats and seat tracks).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Fuel system gasoline smell of gas and the threading in the crease of seats coming apart .. I noticed that some of the E350 2014 has the fuel systems gasoline problem ... all of the E350 are having this fuel gasoline problem
The passenger seat had been moved forward using the lever or handle on the upper seat back side to move the seat forward to enable a woman whjo had recently had bilateral knee replacement surgery to be seated in the back seat. When the seat back was ereturned to its upright position it moved back forcefully into this woman's knees and did not stop until her husband reached the seat back lever rleleased it and moved the seat forward. This caused her pain she screamed and flailed about with her arms damaging a rear wind screen in the car. The car was not in motion. It was stationary in my driveway. There is no safety sensor. There could have been a terrible outcome if her husband had been slower or if there had been a small child or a pet in the wrong place.
The chrome handle on my driver's seat is peeling off and very sharp. It cut my inner wrist really bad last week. I searched online and found many people having the same issues. I was quoted at around $400 to fix this one little handle and I don't have that amount of money right now. This is serious danger and needs to be fixed immediately and it scares me to think of doing it again and cutting into the artery or nerves in that area of my wrist. 1) Yes, you can inspect it or I can send pictures in. 2) The risk it puts on me is cutting my wrist and/or hand, infection, stitches, pain, not being able to work, nerve damage, medical bills, etc 3) There are many accounts online of people experiencing this same problem. I'm surprised someone hasn't gotten seriously hurt from it already. …
The car was parked in the driveway outside. In the AM when getting into the car I saw that the drivers HEAD-REST had engaged by itself during the day. There was no airbag only pieces of plastic and springs on the seat. The headrest was just hanging there and in no way could be reset. Car was taken to the dealer for repair. Extended warranty would not cover it stating airbag issue even though the headrest has no airbag. Dealer is repairing the headrest - total cost $1,800. Mercedes also does no want to cover it since the auto is a 2012. The problem was reported to Mercedes and they stated that there was no recall on the item. And that is it. Spoke to dealer who indicated that they have seen this problem before but not widespread. And that is it!! Mercedes quality is one to be desired.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The back of the driver seat failed due to my car being rear ended. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Unable to sit looking straight forward when driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. By Mercedes Benz dealer Fletcher Jones of Newport Beach, CA. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I have reported the problem to my auto insurance co.: AAA. AAA said they need to send their own appraiser to confirm the finding of the Mercedes Benz dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? None. My auto was rear ended on 3-22-21. …
Without an impact or collision, my car's passenger seat headrest shot out. I've been checking and others have done this as well. This morning, the driver's side headrest shot out without impact or collision. There is something wrong with the mechanism or airbags for the headrests. This can be extremely dangerous when in motion....
At 5 years my front heated seats stopped working and the drivers seat ripped across where I thought there was a seam. After researching other 2010 E350's with mb tech seats, they all appear to have the same problems. I have contacted mbusa many times in the past 3 years and have received no answer or solution. If you also look at ads of these vehicles for sale by owner, you will see the same issue. The only people who drive this car are; me and I'm 135lbs and my mother 93lbs, so we are not over weight and putting extra stress on the seats. This car has been well maintained and has always been garaged. When parked in a lot for shopping, shades on the windows are always used. I can provide photos, but not from the computer I'm using.
The stitch seam of the "mb texture" of the driver's seat spontaneously burst upon my entering and sitting in the vehicle. The driver's door lock freezes and has not been operable via the key remote since then.
Related recalls (3)
Seats
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 C-Class, E-Class, E-Class Coupe and Convertible, GLC, CLS, AMG GT 4-door Coupe and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat position switches, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 21, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 E350, E450, E450 Wagon, E63S AMG, 2020 E63S AMG Wagon, and 2020-2021 E53 AMG vehicles. The passenger seat limiter may allow the seat to be positioned too close to the air bag.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the passenger seat limiter, free of charge. The recall began April 29, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Seats
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 E350 and E450, 2019-2021 AMG E53 and 2020-2021 AMG E63 vehicles. The front passenger seat may be missing the mechanical seat adjustment range limit stop, allowing the seat to move outside of the acceptable range in relation to the air bag.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect for the mechanical seat adjustment range limitation for the front passenger seat and install it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz E350 years have seat problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (17), 2007 (9), 2012 (8), 2014 (8) and 2011 (7) model years. Seat complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz E350 seat problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 21V-230 (seats, Apr 1, 2021); 21V-216 (power adjust, Mar 26, 2021); 20V-673 (seats, Oct 30, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E350 seat problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front assembly › head restraint (2 mentions), followed by the front assembly › power adjust (1).
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.