Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 20% | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2015 | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2014 | 30 | 11% | 84,000 miles |
| 2013 | 13 | 8% | 145,000 miles |
| 2012 | 14 | 6% | 170,000 miles |
| 2011 | 17 | 8% | 156,000 miles |
| 2010 | 17 | 9% | 108,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 5% | 93,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% | 116,000 miles |
| 2007 | 9 | 3% | 99,000 miles |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% | 92,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 14% | 93,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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. …
My vehicle was pulling in the rear when braking. My mechanic informed me that it was a rotted undercarriage. When I called Mercedes they informed me that there is a problem with many models of Mercedes with this. They told me there is a warranty to cover it. This is a very dangerous condition. There should be a recall on all impacted vehicles. This safety failure and lack of transparency by the company (reportedly known for years) puts owners and motorists at risk. Please investigate. To make matters worse, the Dealers are unresponsive and slow to provide service and help. One dealership, Mercedes in New London CT has ignored my repeated phone calls and emails trying to clarify and schedule service. I went to another dealership Mercedes in Warwick RI. …
We have been told by our Mercedes Auto Repair shop and subsequently confirmed by two additional auto repair shops, that our rear sub frame has deteriorated and that the steel brakes lines are also rusting creating a very dangerous situation. We were warned to drive straight home and not to drive it again. We have also been told that this is a "known" problem with Mercedes C and E class cars and that the sub frame deteriorates from the inside out and has nothing to do with salt on the roads or snow or ice. Had we not brought it in for the usual oil change and check up we could have been killed. We understand that there are recalls in the UK, Canada, Ireland, and other countries but not in the US. The repair is $7,000.00+ and the wait for the part is approximately 6 months. Why is there no recall in the US? We have read numerous reports on the Menz World Forum with the same issue. …
The contact owns a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated his wife had noticed that the steering wheel was off-center and turned to the left independently. Additionally, the contact stated while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle flipped sideways. The contact's wife was able to exit the highway and pull into a gas station. The contact met his wife at the gas station. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the failure recurred, with the front end shifted to the left and the rear end shifting to the right. The contact returned to the parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that as an independent mechanic, he inspected the vehicle and noticed that the rear subframe was corroded severely inside out and a wheel had detached. …
I have video available that shows significant premature corrosion of the rear subframe and brake line. The safety of others will be put at risk at the time of failure. Failed subframes can lead to loss of control. This problem has been identified and the part inspected by a Mercedes dealership. There are no warning lamps or messages to alert the driver that failure is imminent. This was discovered in the process of the car being serviced for an unrelated emissions recall. Many Mercedes owners report having severe rear subframe and brake line corrosion issues on message boards. Some reported their cars unexpectedly sway and drift to one side while breaking. In multiple European countries, Mercedes is apparently aware of the problem and is voluntarily replacing the rear subframe for free. …
We took our car into the local Mercedes Benz Dealership at Ft. Washington, PA for a routine service and PA inspection. Our vehicle is a 2011 MB E 4 matic and has ~70K miles. We received a call stating that the rear subframe of the vehicle had failed and was not considered safe and therefore did not pass the PA state inspection. We authorized the dealership to replace the component, which was done. The dealership suggested the corrosion may be caused by salt used for removing snow. The car was garaged routinely, washed including undercarriage routinely and the google search suggested that the amount of snow since 2011 was lower than normal. I explored the internet and it appears that this issue has been documented by others for this and other models of MB vehicles. …
The rear subframe has prematurely rusted. It had a shear failure at speed on the highway when I applied the brakes. The rear end of the car swerved, almost causing me to crash. I did manage to decelerate the car in a controlled fashion. I did not know the rear subframe failed at the time. This was confirmed by an independent mechanic several days later. After research, it looks as though a recall has already been issued for this issue in Canada and potentially Germany. The mechanic tells me that until the issue is repaired the vehicle is unsafe to drive. My and others safety was put at risk due to the failure of vehicle control at 65 mph on a busy road. The problem was verified by an independent mechanic. No police, insurance provider, or Mercedes dealer has inspected the car/damage, only an independent mechanic. …
Related recalls (1)
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz E350 years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (30), 2010 (17), 2011 (17), 2012 (14) and 2013 (13) model years. Suspension complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz E350 suspension problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 12V-264 (rear, Jun 12, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E350 suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles; 9% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the subframe/mounting bracket (3 mentions), followed by the rear (2).
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.