Most common 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems
Share of the 16 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 →
2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 recalls (5)
Communication
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge.
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
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.
Structure › Body › Hood
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 E350 Sedan, E350 4Matic Sedan, E350 4Matic Station Wagon, E400 Hybrid Sedan, CLS 550 CGI, and CLS550 4Matic, 2013-2014 E550 4Matic Sedan, 2013 E63 Sedan, E63 Station Wagon and CLS63, 2014-2015 CLS63 4Matic, E63 4Matic Sedan, E63 4Matic Sedan "S", and E63…
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will attach four additional retaining clips to the rubber seal, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-201-573-5339.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550:
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 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 owners say
Air bags
Tamara recall. I learned today that mb sent notices supposedly in February of 2018 about cars that were now or ever have been in the state of georgia. Mine was sold in atlanta. I bought it as a certified preowned in 2014. I have received no notices. I also owned a 2011 ml 350 bluetec that I bought new in dec 2010. I have periodically received notices on that car for several years now, but still no action either. What is up? They know we own it. We always service it at a mb dealer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz e550c. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V010000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Mercedes-Benz of oklahoma city (14240 broadway extension hwy, edmond, OK 73013, [phone]) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Brakes
Rear frame and brake line damage due to rust and corrosion Problems identified by euro Motorcars Devon (car dealer) Car will not pass safety inspection Outside manufacturer warranty considerations Outside extended warranty considerations
I have had a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 for nearly three years now and like it in many respects except one. It bothers me every time I drive so much so that I feel compelled to get it off my chest. When I slow the vehicle to an imperceptible crawl, the automatic adaptive brake assist kicks in, bringing the vehicle to a sudden, abrupt and jerky stop unless the gear is in neutral. It is annoying, especially when you have guest passengers. It reflects poorly on the driver and the embarrassment is regretful. I have owned and operated luxury cars including Mercedes-Benz for years but have never experienced this nuisance like this. I could not understand the justification on account of safety, convenience or comfort for Mercedes-Benz engineer to implement such a measure. …
Body & structure
Rear frame and brake line damage due to rust and corrosion Problems identified by euro Motorcars Devon (car dealer) Car will not pass safety inspection Outside manufacturer warranty considerations Outside extended warranty considerations
While under a hard stop the vehicle's rear end started to swing back and forth suddenly causing loss of control of the vehicle. Mercedes Benz diagnosed the problem as a rusted through subframe which they've said is a "known issue" and extended the warranty on the part. The part is unavailable and there's no ETA from Mercedes which means that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and cannot be repaired.
2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 E550 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the E550 at the same age. 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (3) and body & structure (3).
How many recalls does the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550, the most recent from November 1, 2019 (communication). 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 2013 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 24,000 miles; 63% 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.