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2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
35%
15 of 43 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

35% of relevant owner complaints on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 62% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 11 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have engine problems?

More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 15 of 43 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%), and the largest group is filed under engine (9). For comparison, the 2018 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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
15
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
54
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
4 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11 · 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10 · 19%
ENGINE9 · 17%
SEAT BELTS9 · 17%
BACK OVER PREVENTION5 · 9%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 7%

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.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury sedans with no elevated signal

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM03/24/2026FIRE1 INJURED
I parked the vehicle in a parking lot. I walked away and it immediately started smoking. Shortly after that, flames appeared coming from the hood. Shortly after that, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames.
POWER TRAIN05/15/2026
Backgroud: Recall #26V216 recalls classes of Mercedes vehicles for U-Joint failures. My vehicle - 2019 E460 4Matic Wagon is included in this class under the notice (Vehicle #6 [XXX] ) Issue: I took my vehicle to the dealer on Monday, 5/11 because of a hard knocking sound when I de/accelerate. Dealer inspected and n…
ENGINE01/04/2026
I brought my car in for routine service and was told I needed a rear main seal. I had the car inspected when I purchased it appx 13k miles ago because I saw online there was a lot of people having this issue with their vehicles. It’s a known manufacturer defect. At that time there was no issue. Now at 40k miles it bega…

Three of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Before you buy a 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Questions people ask about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have engine problems?

More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 15 of 43 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (35%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2019 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 2019 (35%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.