Most common 2014 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 →
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 recalls (4)
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
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 2014 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 owners say
Air bags
Both driver and front passenger headrest airbags have deployed for no cause. This is is the second time this has occurred on both sides. No collision occurred in both incidents. First time it occurred under warranty and Mercedes fixed the issue. This time it occurred again and the car is not in warranty. Without functional headrest airbags the safety is greatly compromised for the occupants of the car and can lead to fatal incidents. It seems like a recurring problem with this model as it has occurred twice over 9+ years and both times there was no collision etc.
In stop and go traffic approaching an intersection on a wet road, the can bus failed, disabling all or nearly all safety systems. At the time, numerous warning messages and lights appeared on the dash for SRS, ABS, seatbelt pretensioner, etc. The engine would not turn off using the start-stop button, and the vehicle would not shift out of drive. According the dealer service center, a rear blind spot radar sensor is corroded, and caused a short in the can bus. This exact failure has occurred with at least one other vehicle, documented here: https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w212-e-class/2911098-lane-assist-radar-sensor-failure-causes.html it appears that while corroded radar sensors are fairly common, water from the road can sometimes cause the sensor to short the entire can bus. I can provide the extended printout of stored can failure messages if necessary.
Brakes
Dealer reports that, in addition to the dangerous corrosion on rear subframe covered by the extended warranty program, the rear brake lines are dangerously corroded and may fail at any time. I inquired about how this is even possible as I am accustomed to vehicles with cupronickel brake lines that do not corrode. I was told they are merely enameled steel on this model and prone to premature corrosion where they are mounted to the chassis with plastic clips that wear off the enamel and allow premature corrosion and eventually catastrophic failure. I was also told the replacement parts are now cupronickel, indicating Mercedes understands the original design was defective. I believe this should have been covered under the same program as the rear subframe, not be used as an upsell tool to customers affected by that issue. …
Parking brake pedal assembly failed. Yes it's available for inspection. My home is on a hill, a functioning parking brake is required to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Personal mechanic identified issue and replaced part. There were no warning lights or lamps indicating an issue.
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 E550 rates average: 1.3× 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550?
The air bags — 9 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2014 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 2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 62,000 miles; 25% 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.