2012 Mercedes-Benz E550: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550: 4 recalls, 17 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
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Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V492000 · 2012 · 499 vehicles
What's wrong: Improper stitching of the right side window curtain air bag May cause it to not deploy as intended in the affected vehicles.
Why it matters: In the event of an accident necessitating the deployment of the right window curtain air bag, the improper stitching May cause it to deflate more quickly than intended, reducing the protection it May provide, resulting in an increased risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Mercedes-benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the right side window curtain air bag. The recall began on December 21, 2012.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V017000 · 2017 · 104,119 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above mbusa is recalling certain 2009 c300 4matic, c300, c350 and c63 amg vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia, and…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag modules, free of charge. Owners were sent an interim notification in March 2017. Second notices started going out in October 2018 and continue to be mailed as parts become available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V627000 · 2017 · 495,290 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 coupe, glk250 4matic bluetec, glk350, glk350 4matic, 2016-2017 c350e, c43 amg, 2015 c400…
Why it matters: If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017.
Airbags Vehicle recall #19V010000 · 2019 · 288,779 vehicles
What's wrong: " additionally, mbusa is recalling certain 2012-2014 c250, e350 4matic coupe, sls amg cabrio, 2012-2015 c250 coupe, c350 4matic coupe, c350 coupe, c63 amg coupe, 2011 c300, 2011-2014 c300 4matic, c350, c63 amg, e350 cabrio, e350 coupe, sls amg coupe, 2015-2016 e400 4matic coupe, e400 cabrio, e400 coupe, 2011-2016 e550 cabrio, e550 coupe, 2011-2015 glk350 4matic, glk350 rwd, and 2013-2015 glk250 bluetec 4matic…
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mbusa will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (8): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (4): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
- Steering (4): the most common themes are steering problems (3).
- Seat belts (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 has 17 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 12 E550 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 20). Complaints peaked in 2017 (3 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 7 years old, at a median of 52,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (61 complaints, 3 recalls), 2013 (16 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic 7-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 27 | 21 | Premium |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic 7-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 26 | 20 | Premium |
| 4.7 L 8-cyl turbo | Automatic 7-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 25 | 19 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 problems?
Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (8), electrical (4), steering (4).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (4.7 L, Automatic 7-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E550 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.