What are the most common problems on a 2010 Mercedes E-Class?

Air bags are the largest complaint group with 98 of 252 complaints, followed by suspension with 44. Owners describe recall parts delays and air suspension that sinks overnight in the complaints we read.

Does the 2010 Mercedes E-Class have any recalls?

Yes, NHTSA lists five. Four involve air bag inflators and one involves control unit software. Two of the inflator recalls say a second notice will come when parts are available.

What gas mileage does a 2010 Mercedes E-Class get?

EPA combined ratings run from 15 MPG for the E63 AMG to 21 MPG for the rear-wheel-drive E350. All listed versions use premium fuel.

How much horsepower does a 2010 E-Class have?

EPA lists 268 hp for the 3.5L 6-cylinder, 268 to 382 hp for the 5.5L 8-cylinder and 518 hp for the 6.3L 8-cylinder.

Is 2010 a good year for the E-Class?

It sits mid-range for complaints among 2008 to 2014, with 252 complaints against 284 for 2011 and 79 for 2009. The recall record matters more than the year, so check the VIN.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Problems, Recalls, MPG

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has five NHTSA recalls, and four of them involve air bag inflators^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]. Air bags are also the most named group in owner complaints^[5].

252owner complaints^[6]

5recalls^[7]

15–21MPG combined (EPA)^[8]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 252 owner complaints on file for the 2010 E-Class^[6]. Nine mention a crash and six mention injuries. None report a fire or a death^[6]. These are unverified owner reports, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Component group	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries
Air bags^[5]	98	3	2
Suspension^[9]	44	2	2
Unknown or other^[10]	23	0	0
Electrical system^[11]	20	2	1
Fuel/propulsion system^[12]	19	0	0

We also read a small sample of complaint texts for the biggest groups. This is what owners describe in that sample:

Air bags. Some owners write that they got a recall notice and were still waiting for replacement parts, and that they felt unsafe driving in the meantime^[5].
Suspension. Some owners describe an air suspension that sinks overnight or fails, and some mention expensive strut replacement^[9].
Fuel/propulsion. In the sample we read, owners describe a gasoline smell or leak near the rear of the car^[12].
Electrical. Some owners describe a check engine light that comes and goes. Others describe keyless start trouble, including an engine that would not shut off^[11].

The sample is small, so it shows what owners describe and not how often a problem happens.

Recalls

NHTSA lists five recalls for this model year^[7]. Newest first:

Control unit software (22V168). Issued March 18, 2022^[13]. It covers certain 2010 E350 cars^[13]. Control units may have been loaded with the wrong software settings during a service repair. That can cause loss of drive power, weaker exterior lighting, or loss of stability and traction control, which raises crash risk. Dealers update the software at no charge. The recall record lists 22 potentially affected vehicles^[13].
Passenger air bag inflator (19V010). Issued January 9, 2019^[1]. It covers certain 2010 E350 and E550 Coupes that were ever registered in the states the recall groups as Zone C^[1]. The inflator can explode in a crash because its propellant breaks down after long exposure to humidity and temperature swings. Metal fragments could cause serious injury or death. The recall began March 29, 2019, and dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module at no charge^[1].
Remedy pending
Passenger air bag inflator (18V043). Issued January 10, 2018^[2]. It covers certain 2010 E350 and E550 Coupes ever registered in the states the recall groups as Zone B^[2]. The risk is the same as above, and metal fragments could cause serious injury or death. Remedy pending: owners were sent an interim notice, and a second notice will be mailed when parts are available^[2].
Remedy pending
Passenger air bag inflator (16V363). Issued May 26, 2016^[3]. It covers certain 2010 E350 Coupes sold or ever registered in the states the recall groups as Zone A^[3]. The inflator may rupture in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin. Remedy pending: owners were sent an interim notice, and a second notice will be mailed when parts are available^[3].
Driver air bag inflator (16V081). Issued February 11, 2016^[4]. It covers certain 2010 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic and E63 AMG cars^[4]. When the driver air bag deploys, too much pressure inside the inflator may make it rupture, and metal fragments could cause serious injury or death. This recall began in November 2016, and dealers will replace the driver front air bag module at no charge. It lists 711,159 potentially affected vehicles across many Mercedes-Benz models^[4].

Several of these recalls cover only certain variants or registration states, so coverage depends on the individual car. Contact MBUSA customer service to ask whether a specific car is covered by each recall above^[13].

Fuel economy

EPA lists several versions of the 2010 E-Class. Each one is rated for premium fuel with an Automatic 7-spd^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[8]^[19]. The annual cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices from 2010.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	EPA annual fuel cost
E350, 3.5L 6-cyl, rear-wheel drive^[8]	18 / 26 / 21	$3,900
E350 Coupe, 3.5L 6-cyl, rear-wheel drive^[18]	17 / 26 / 20	$4,100
E350 4matic, 3.5L 6-cyl, 4-wheel drive^[15]	17 / 24 / 19	$4,350
E550, 5.5L 8-cyl, rear-wheel drive^[16]	16 / 24 / 18	$4,550
E550 4matic, 5.5L 8-cyl, 4-wheel drive^[17]	15 / 23 / 18	$4,550
E550 Coupe, 5.5L 8-cyl, rear-wheel drive^[14]	15 / 23 / 18	$4,550
E63 AMG, 6.3L 8-cyl, rear-wheel drive^[19]	13 / 20 / 15	$5,500

The rear-wheel-drive E350 is the most efficient listed at 21 combined MPG^[8]. The E63 AMG is the thirstiest at 15 combined MPG^[19].

Engine and size

EPA lists three engines for this model year:

3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 268 hp^[20].
5.5L 8-cylinder: rated 268 to 382 hp, depending on version^[21].
6.3L 8-cylinder: rated 518 hp^[22].

Sizes below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, converted to inches and pounds. They can differ slightly from US models. Two variants are listed.

Variant	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
E350 2-door coupe^[23]	185 in	70 in	55 in	109 in	3,759 lb
E350 4MATIC 4-door sedan, AWD^[24]	192 in	70 in	58 in	113 in	4,034 lb

How 2010 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each E-Class model year. The 2010 is highlighted^[7].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	123	1
1996	62	1
1997	114	1
1998	78	0
1999	130	1
2000	97	0
2001	74	0
2002	36	0
2003	391	7
2004	370	7
2005	395	6
2006	503	5
2007	405	5
2008	204	4
2009	79	4
2010	252	5
2011	284	5
2012	234	7
2013	182	7
2014	295	8
2015	48	8
2016	87	9
2017	161	20
2018	58	15
2019	34	9
2020	11	9
2021	13	12
2022	9	3
2023	6	3
2024	10	5
2025	6	2
2026	6	1

The 2010 model year has 252 complaints and 5 recalls on file with NHTSA^[7]. The neighboring years look like this:

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2008^[7]	204	4
2009^[7]	79	4
2010^[7]	252	5
2011^[7]	284	5
2012^[7]	234	7
2013^[7]	182	7
2014^[7]	295	8

Within 2008 to 2014, 2010 ranks third highest on complaints of seven years. It has more than 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013, and fewer than 2011 and 2014^[7]. The highest complaint count for any E-Class year is 503 for 2006^[7]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, and a recall can cover several model years.

Should you buy a used 2010 E-Class?

The main thing to settle is the air bag recalls. Four of the five recalls involve inflators that could rupture or explode in a crash, and two of them say a second notice will come when parts are available^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]. Check the VIN for every open recall before you buy, and ask what has already been replaced. The complaints we read also point to air suspension trouble and fuel smell as things to ask about on a test drive and in service records^[9]^[12]. Fuel cost depends heavily on the version, from $3,900 a year for the rear-wheel-drive E350 to $5,500 for the E63 AMG, on EPA's current price assumptions^[8]^[19].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on a 2010 Mercedes E-Class?: Air bags are the largest complaint group with 98 of 252 complaints, followed by suspension with 44^[6]^[5]^[9]. Owners describe recall parts delays and air suspension that sinks overnight in the complaints we read^[5]^[9].
Does the 2010 Mercedes E-Class have any recalls?: Yes, NHTSA lists five. Four involve air bag inflators and one involves control unit software^[13]^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]. Two of the inflator recalls say a second notice will come when parts are available^[2]^[3].
What gas mileage does a 2010 Mercedes E-Class get?: EPA combined ratings run from 15 MPG for the E63 AMG to 21 MPG for the rear-wheel-drive E350^[8]^[19]. All listed versions use premium fuel^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[8]^[19].
How much horsepower does a 2010 E-Class have?: EPA lists 268 hp for the 3.5L 6-cylinder, 268 to 382 hp for the 5.5L 8-cylinder and 518 hp for the 6.3L 8-cylinder^[20]^[21]^[22].
Is 2010 a good year for the E-Class?: It sits mid-range for complaints among 2008 to 2014, with 252 complaints against 284 for 2011 and 79 for 2009^[7]. The recall record matters more than the year, so check the VIN^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4].

Facts and sources

Recall 19V010, filed January 9, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V043, filed January 10, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V363, filed May 26, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V081, filed February 11, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
98 complaints name the air bags component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 69,500). NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA has 252 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (9 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 6 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercedes-Benz E-Class model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for E350, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
44 complaints name the suspension component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,060). NHTSA vehicle records
23 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 77,002). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 22V168, filed March 18, 2022: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Engine Control Module (Ecu / Ecm) › Software. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for E550 Coupe, 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for E350 4matic, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for E550, 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for E550 4matic, 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for E350 Coupe, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for E63 AMG, 6.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 20 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 268 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with 5.5L 8-cylinder: rated 268 to 382 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with 6.3L 8-cylinder: rated 518 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, E CLASS E350 2DR COUPE: length 185 in, width 70 in, height 55 in, wheelbase 109 in, curb weight 3,759 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, E CLASS E350 4MATIC 4DR SEDAN AWD: length 192 in, width 70 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,034 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: problems, recalls and fuel economy