2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class holds 185 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 6 per year. E-Class years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 6 complaints per year. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Photo by Navigator84, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Complaints

185

Per year

6

Recalls

0

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (56 of 185), then Service brakes (33) and Structure (22). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 11 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 E-Class has 235 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2014 has 304 complaints, 13 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (0)

No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Complaints by component (185 total)

Air bags
56
Service brakes
33
Structure
22
Engine
17
Suspension
16
Electrical system
15
Steering
11
Speed control
9
Wheels
9
Powertrain
8
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Visibility
6
Forward collision avoidance
5
Fuel system, gasoline
4
Tires
3
Seat belts
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Exterior lighting
1
Fuel system, other
1
Hydraulic brakes
1
Seats
1
Show 14 more Show less
Crash-flagged

16

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

11

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

520136201482015420168201717201833201922202020202115202214202318202412202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Last April, during our routine oil change our mechanic pointed out that our Cam sensors were wicking oil into the harness and making its way to the ECM. This is the first we had ever heard of this issue and the repair…"
    Engine · filed 2026-04-08
  • "1: The accelerator was sticking and i could not get the car to stop even when i was pressing on the brakes . Unfortunately, due to this scary event i hit the car in front of me injuring the the gentleman. the vehicle…"
    Electrical system, Speed control, Service brakes · filed 2026-02-17
  • "The contact owns a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that after taking the vehicle through a car wash, water started leaking into the vehicle from around the sunroof frame. The vehicle was not taken to a local…"
    Visibility · filed 2026-01-30
  • "The rear subframe needs fixing. And they are putting my car on hold for 3 weeks, denied a loaner car, and I have to get back to work."
    Wheels, Service brakes · filed 2025-10-13
  • "I took car to dealer to have subframe repaired due to rust and the brake lines are rusted as well due to this issue and i am being charged for the brake lines."
    Structure, Service brakes · filed 2025-09-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2 DR 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4 DR AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet C RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid 4 DR AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Hybrid 4 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 5 stars
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon SW 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon SW RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

W212, 2012–2016
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-40 full synthetic (MB-approved; common US E350 fill) , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 245/45R17 to 255/35R18 (trim-dependent; E350 pages)

Known issues for this generation

For 2014 E350 sedans, NHTSA campaign 16V-899 covers certain 2014-2016 E350 vehicles (with SL, S-Class, and other models): the electric power steering control unit may have improperly soldered contacts, which can cause loss of power-steering assist or a fire risk even when parked; dealers replace the EPS control unit. Campaign 19V-010 names certain 2014 E350 coupe/cabrio and related models for a Takata passenger frontal air bag inflator that may explode and send metal fragments into the cabin; dealers replace the passenger frontal air bag module. Confirm open campaigns by VIN under trim strings such as E350.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class holds 185 complaints after 14 years, a rate of 6 per year. E-Class years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 6 complaints per year. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

What are common problems with a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (56 of 185), then Service brakes (33) and Structure (22). Those filings include 16 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 11 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 E-Class has 235 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2014 has 304 complaints, 13 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class been recalled?

NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Owners have filed 185 complaints about the 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with NHTSA.

What generation is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

W213 generation (2017-2023).

What oil does a US Mercedes-Benz E-Class typically take?

Generation notes list MB-approved 0W-40 full synthetic for common US E350/E300 fills; confirm the approval sheet in the manual.

What tire sizes does a Mercedes-Benz E-Class use?

Sizes vary widely by chassis and trim; W213 E300 pages span about 225/55R17 to 245/40R19.