Most common 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems
Share of the 68 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E550 complaints by model year
Best E550 years: 2016, 2015, 2017. Years to avoid: 2010, 2011, 2007. Compare all years →
2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013 C250, C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C350, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG, C63 Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, E550 Cabrio, E350 Coupe 4Matic, E550 Coupe, GLK350 4Matic, GLK250 Bluetec 4Matic, GLK350, SLS Coupe, SLS AMG GT Coupe, and SLS Roadster vehicles sold, or ever…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. Mercedes issued an interim notification to owners on February 23, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic,…
Remedy: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Rear brake line failure
On April 10, 2020, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition from Mr. Surjit Singh alleging premature corrosion of the rear brake lines in his 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan. The petitioner states that he was recently informed by a Mercedes dealer service department that his car had severely rusted brake lines that need[ed] to be replaced immediately at a cost of about $3300.
What 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 owners say
Air bags all 30 →
I received notification from Mercedes last year that I have a defective airbag, but they have not yet received the replacement part. I called about ten months later they said they did not have the part and my car is not really affected, it was a courtesy notification. I now have a notification that tk holdings inc is flinging for bankruptcy and I still do not have a replacement.
My car was only 7 years old and needed the airbags replace I can be driving my car in my air bags to give out that is very dangerous I was at least going 75 miles per hour scared the hell out of me. And there's a recall for the steering wheel of this vehicle
Suspension all 27 →
Driving Home Late Going 75 mph in Michigan when hitting brakes the car became unstable felt like it wanted to spin out of control. Hitting brakes at speeds above 30mph made car want to spin out of control.. Took car to MB dealer. Told them car was unsafe to drive and almost killed self hitting brakes.They test drove car and confirmed issue. MB mechanic put car on lift found the left control arm trailing arm bracket welds had rust of the rear suspension cross member subframe!! This has rendered car unsafe and Unoperational !! NHTSA needs to get involved force recall ! We are lucky to be alive!
There is an ongoing issue with the front and rear air shocks. They don't inflate properly. Sometimes they inflate and sometimes they don't. This is a risk because my suspension system is not stable. The problem has been confirmed by Astorg Mercedes-Benz. Yes, the problem has been inspected by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealership. There was no indication beit warning lamps, messages, etc., before the issue happened.
Body & structure
The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-550. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the rear subframe fractured. The contact went across the highway but was able to regain control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 149,200.
The subframe on the back of the car starts to rust and potentially just breaks without warning which can cause loss of control of vehicle. This is an ongoing issue for all w212 Mercedes models.
2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 a good car?
Based on 68 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 E550 rates avoid: 4.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the E550 at the same age. It is one of the E550 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550?
The air bags — 30 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the suspension (27) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550, the most recent from January 9, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E550?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2015 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2011 and 2007. See the full Mercedes-Benz E550 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 31% 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.