Suspension complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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.
From the first day the car was delivered, the engine had several serious engine miss-fires where it would not run on all of its cylinders. Disabling the vehicle. The dealer would re-flash the computer. From the first day the car was delivered, the body fell apart, requiring a specialist from Germany to re-weld and reinforce the body around the left rear suspension mount. I have the work orders, but they have personal information on them, preventing me from uploading them.
The vehicle felt like it was all over the road at highway speeds. Took it to a mechanic and the rear subframe had become weakened with premature rust. The mounting point for one of the rear suspension arms had broken off of the subframe and was making contact with my gas tank. I called the dealer to see if there were any recalls. No recalls for this issue however there are a few reports on this website. I have also been on forums for my vehicle and it is a VERY common problem on these vehicles. From what i gather this is a widespread issue, and the fact that it could possibly puncture a gas tank and cause serious injury that something should be done to correct the concern.
When I parked my car there was a loud hissing sound near left front end but no smoke or anything from under the hood. When I drove it again I received a warning of (MALFUNCTION) when I was turning left the front left tire was grinding on the actual car and barely made it home. The car warning turned red and said pull over car too low. When I parked the car the front left side is now sitting on tire and touching the ground. Unable to drive. Not been investigated by a mechanic, insurance, etc. There was also an airbag warning before this issue. The contact has stated that she is disabled, and the vehicle is not currently drivable.
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.
I wish to report an issue with the air-matic suspension on my 2007 Mercedes Benz E550. I had the air struts replaced a few years ago with Mercedes Benz parts at the dealership and have driven approximately 16,000 miles since replacement without accident. The car has 36,000 miles currently and is driven exclusively in town, on paved roads, and garaged at home. On September 25, 2018 the strut on the front left (driver side) catastrophically failed causing the car to pull hard to the right as the front left dropped violently. I have contacted Mercedes Benz USA to report this issue for their investigation. My current information is the strut experienced an internal failure as reported by the mechanic, but would need further investigation to determine exact root cause. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz E550. While driving various speeds, the contact depressed the brake pedal and heard a squeaking noise. The brake pedal traveled to the floorboard. The contact mentioned that the air bag warning indicators were illuminated and the rear brake lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brakes, rotors, and ball joints were faulty, and all four tires were worn. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The contact purchased the vehicle on July 4, 2017. Less than three years after driving off of the used car lot, the serpentine belt fractured, the brakes did not work, the ball joints were faulty, the tires were worn, and the front passenger side air bag did not work. There were no recalls for the vehicle. The failure mileage was 128,000.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz E550 years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (27) and 2011 (20) model years. Suspension complaints make up 40% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz E550 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for any Mercedes-Benz E550 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E550 suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 30% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (1 mentions), followed by the front › springs › air suspension system (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.