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2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Fuel tank odor and sending-unit leak.” Mercedes-Benz alternates two service events: Service A (oil, filter, inspection) at roughly 10,000 miles or 1 year, then Service B (Service A plus brake fluid, cabin filter, and deeper checks) at roughly 20,000 miles or 2 years — the ASSYST Plus counter in the cluster tells you which is due. Oil must carry the MB-Approval number your engine specifies (commonly 229.5, or 229.71 for newer 0W-20 engines); 'meets or exceeds' marketing language is not an approval. Electric EQB and EQS models keep the A/B rhythm for inspections, brake fluid, and cabin filters — just without oil.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Reported to NHTSA

Fuel tank odor and sending-unit leak

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

38 NHTSA complaints · 2011-07 → 2022-07

“The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving immediately after refueling, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11448993
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE ODOR OF STRONG FUEL WOULD EMIT IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILTER SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10854135
“STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUMES FROM CAR, ESPECIALLY AFTER REFUELING. FUME SMELL GOES AWAY AS TANK LEVEL GOES DOWN. BROUGHT CAR TO FLETCHER JONES MOTOR CARS IN NEWPORT BEACH, CA, AND THEY REPORTED A HIGH GAS TANK FUEL LEAK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10552765

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Suspension spring and air-suspension failure

SUSPENSION

4 NHTSA complaints · 2011-01 → 2020-01

“DUE TO LEAKING REAR AIR SUSPENSION, REAR OF VEHICLE DROPS SO THAT BODY OF CAR RESTSD ON REAR TIRES. VEHICLE IN MOTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11302150
“MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEED ON A SMOOTH ROAD WHEN THE DRIVER'S-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE WITH A LOUD BANG AND THAT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED, FULLY COMPRESSING THE SHOCK ABSORBER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11099858
“HAD A SPRING PERCH FAILURE ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE WHILE I WAS REVERSING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN THE MORNING. THE SPRING FELL ON THE GROUND AND THE BODY OF THE CAR RESTED ON THE WHEEL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10376126

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Balance shaft and camshaft component wear

ENGINE

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-11 → 2022-03

“CRANK SHAFT BALANCER WHICH IS SO COMMON AND AN ALMOST $9000 REPAIR. CAR RUNS BUT CAN'T SMOG OR SELL BECAUSE IT THROWS CODES P0016 P0017”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11457699
“OUR 2009 MERCEDES E350 HAS ONLY 39,574 MILES ON IT. ON OCTOBER 26, 2016, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, AND THERE WAS NO POWER WHEN ACCELERATING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10925525
“THE OIL COOLER ON THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL. THIS IS A LARGE, 15 HOUR REPAIR, THE TOTAL ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE COOLER AND SEALS IS $2350”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10778933

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass bonding recall repair delay

VISIBILITY

4 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2020-09

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11326021
“CHECKING ON UNREPAIRED RECALL NHTSA#19V91832/RECALL#2019120012. THIS RECALL DESCRIBED AS PROBLEM WITH BONDING BETWEEN GLASS PANEL AND THE SLIDING ROOF FRAME, WHICH COULD LEAD IN SEPARATION OF THE GLASS PANEL FROM THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11296704
“I RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL # 2020040011. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT BEVERLY HILLS MERCEDES FOR 9/23/20 AT 10:00AM.(PER LETTER SENT TO ME BY MERCEDEZ BENZ. (NHTSA RECALL #19V918)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11360826

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Wheel rim fracture and material failure

WHEELS

3 NHTSA complaints · 2010-02 → 2012-06

“BOUGHT A CPO CAR FROM MB WEST CHESTER, PA AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED FRONT TIRE(S) MAKING THUD SOUND THAT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AT 25-30 MPS; ALTHOUGH AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE THUD SOUND CONTINUES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10461311
“I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAJOR STREET AND WENT OVER A SMALL POTHOLE. THIS RESULTED IN MAJOR FRACTURES ON BOTH OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEELS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10450676
“WE BOUGHT 2009 MB E-350 W/SPORT PACKAGE WHICH HAS AMG WHEELS ON IT. CAR HAS CURRENTLY 3K MILES ON IT. WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING, SUDDENLY WHEEL MATERIAL POP-OUT FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE BASE (18" WIDTH) AND CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10313322

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Heated seat wiring short and fire

SEATS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2014-11 → 2022-11

“The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact felt heat coming from the rear of the front driver seat and noticed smoke coming from the rear of the seat, causing the back of the driver’s seat to catch on fire”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11493045
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 WAGON. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT FIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11278271
“AS DRIVING NOTICED STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE. THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM LEFT SIDE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I PULLED OVER HOLE BURNED IN SEAT AND SPARKS AND FLAMES POURED OUT FROM BURNING HOLE IN SEAT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10779166

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and no-start while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2009-12 → 2020-08

“I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET MY CAR JUST STOPPED I TRIED TO PUT IT IN GEAR WOULD NOT MOVE..MY EPS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DASH SAID INOPERATIVE PLEASE SEE MANUAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11349608
“TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10724738
“2 HIGHWAY STALLINGS: 1) DEC.1. 2009 TRAVELING ON I-95 SOUTH AT 70MPH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CAR SUDDENLY STALLED, MANAGED TO PULL TO SHOULDER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10296303

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Service A — Oil & Filter + Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Every 10,000 miles or 12 months: oil and filter with MB-Approved oil, fluid top-offs, tire check, and inspection. AMG models driven hard: many owners service at 5,000-7,500 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Service B — Major Inspection

Every 20,000 mi

Every 20,000 miles or 2 years, alternating with Service A: everything in A plus brake-fluid replacement, cabin filter, and a deeper multi-point inspection of brakes, suspension, and driveline.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free with any paid service. A flashlight and 10 minutes covers the basics yourself.

Tire Rotation

Every 10,000 mi

Rotate at every Service A where the tire sizes allow. Many AMG and 4MATIC+ models run staggered widths that can't rotate front-to-rear — check your spec before paying for a rotation.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 10,000 mi

Checked at every A/B service via electronic pad-wear sensors. Replace sensors with pads. Heavy EQS models wear pads slowly (regen braking) but rotors can corrode from disuse — an inspection catches that.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 20,000 mi

Replaced every 2 years as part of Service B — Mercedes schedules it on time, not miles, because DOT 4 fluid absorbs moisture regardless of driving.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (7G / 9G-Tronic)

Every 70,000 mi

Mercedes specifies fluid and filter service around 70,000 miles on most 7G- and 9G-Tronic gearboxes — check your year's sheet. Use only the MB-spec fluid for your transmission code; independent specialists often service at 60,000 on hard-driven cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Most modern MB gas engines: plugs around 60,000 miles — AMG engines often sooner. Check your engine's sheet; twin-turbo V8 plug jobs are labor-heavy, so pair with other scheduled work.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 40,000 mi

Replace around every 40,000 miles (twin-filter setups on V6/V8 engines double the parts bill). Inspected at every Service B.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Combination / Dust Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replaced with every Service B. Models with the ENERGIZING air package use a higher-grade filter — priced accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Engine Coolant

On condition / lifetime

MB-spec coolant is long-life (typically ~10 years / 150,000 miles on the sheet). Refresh only with MB 325/326-spec coolant — the wrong chemistry attacks aluminum and head gaskets.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

12V & Auxiliary Battery

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Most modern Mercedes carry a second auxiliary battery; a weak one triggers cascading warning messages long before a no-start. EQ models also depend on the 12V system to boot.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

11 crashes 1990–2024

How the 11 occupant deaths break down

7

driver deaths

4

passenger deaths

11

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2011 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

3

complaints mentioning a crash

5

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reflects Mercedes-Benz's published service intervals and the ASSYST Plus (Service A / Service B) system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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