Most common 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz R350 complaints by model year
Best R350 years: 2012, 2010, 2009. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster.
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 a possible defect involving the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350:
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.
What 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 owners say
Air bags
Takata recall, as I received 2 recall letters that has lied to me and keep giving me no time table on when it will be repaired, first letter I received was December 2017 it stated the airbags will be repaired in March 2018, then I received another letter the following month January 2018 the second letter now states it will be repaired sometime in September 2018, now I strongly believe I'm being stalled hoping that I will give up and impatient , hoping that I will turn in the vehicle and they wont have to worry about me down the road, both recall letters states the risk which is in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.I no longer feel safe driving this car and should not be force to drive it til they replace the airbags and …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350. The contact took the vehicle to lober Mercedes-Benz (4255 west touhy avenue, lincolnwood, il 60712, [phone]) to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 16V081000 (air bags). When the contact arrived at the dealer for the scheduled repair, the dealer stated that the part was not available. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag indicator illuminated. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Brakes
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350. The vehicle had previously had the wheel speed sensors replaced eight times since September 2016. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the ABS inadvertently engaged, causing the front end of the vehicle to dip while the brake pedal was depressed. Additionally, there were grinding sounds coming from the vehicle as it came to a full stop. The ABS and Traction Control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the wheel speed sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle remained with the mechanic, awaiting diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 80,200. …
The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 R350 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the R350 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350?
The air bags — 12 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350, the most recent from April 26, 2024 (vacuum). 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 R350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2010 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2007. See the full Mercedes-Benz R350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Mercedes-Benz R350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 20% 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.