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2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
28%
16 of 58 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 28% of relevant complaints.

Better than 75% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 31 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 18%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 16 of 58 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 18% and the 2017 scores 52%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
16
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
89
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
6 crashes · 4 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS30 · 34%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER9 · 10%
STEERING9 · 10%
STRUCTURE8 · 9%
ENGINE7 · 8%

The years either side

2010
34%
53 of 258
2011
35%
53 of 296
2012
38%
53 of 235
2013
25%
31 of 185
2014
23%
56 of 304
2015
18%
8 of 57
2016
28%
16 of 89
2017
52%
75 of 167
2018
33%
20 of 68
2019
35%
15 of 54
2020
too few complaints
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM01/27/2026
Fuel odor is very apparent (while idle) but difficult to identify location. Same models seem to have recalls for fuel injectors/rails but not this specific VIN. I believe the issue might be of similar recall. I will have the car diagnosed soon.
ENGINE11/11/2024
Mercedes Benz has a recall on several models including E-Class (E 200, E 220, E 280, E 350) experiencing timing chain problems. The timing chain is an important component of the engine, as it helps to coordinate the timing of the engine’s various parts. I am currently having the same issue, but my model is an (E400) w…
ENGINE10/16/2024
Since May 2024, I had taken my car in for repairs at 3 different shops for same exact issue diagnosed as leak from air intake system. It has been repaired 7 times since it first occurred in May 2024, and unfortunately it is still not resolved. This is a potential danger to the driver because all of a sudden there will …

Three of 16 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Before you buy a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Questions people ask about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 16 of 58 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (28%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

Which Mercedes-Benz E-Class years are better?

Among the Mercedes-Benz E-Class years we track, the 2015 (18%), the 2014 (23%) and the 2013 (25%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (28%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.