Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Wheels2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Seats1
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 18 2008 E-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class failed the safety check 1.24% of the time — 50% less often than the average 2008 passenger car (2.48%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,907 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.0 diesel (140 kW, 188 hp), 1.8 petrol (135 kW, 181 hp) and 3.0 petrol (170 kW, 228 hp), out of 9 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 85 |
| 1.8 petrol | 135 kW 181 hp | 85 |
| 3.0 petrol | 170 kW 228 hp | 84 |
| 2.1 diesel | 125 kW 168 hp | 70 |
| 2.5 petrol | 150 kW 201 hp | 65 |
| 2.1 diesel | 100 kW 134 hp | 50 |
| 3.0 diesel | 165 kW 221 hp | 44 |
| 3.5 petrol | 215 kW 288 hp | 43 |
| 3.5 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 42 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
629 first registered in 2008 are on Dutch roads; 55% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €70,635.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde280
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm246
- Band onvoldoende profiel223
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling172
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen122
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm111
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld103
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast86
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,533 cars built in 2008 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,129 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
1,319 of these cars first registered in 2008 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 402,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
94 2008 cars are on the New Zealand register; 98% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
| 2022740 22 Dec 2022 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the sunroof glass may not be properly attached to the sliding roof frame. Over time, the glass can become loose and could separat… |
| 2021478 23 Jul 2021 | Structure Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles inspected under Mercedes-Benz recall 7891003 (Transport Canada recall 2019-668) that require a second inspection. … |
| 2019668 23 Dec 2019 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the sunroof glass may not be properly attached to the sliding roof frame. Over time, the glass can become loose and could separate… |
| 2012176 11 Jun 2012 | Suspension On certain E-Class Wagons, the load levelling rear suspension could malfunction. This could trigger a continuous attempt to increase the pressure in the air be… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10136029 | SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink |
| 10039256 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM |
| 10037408 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM |
| 10034306 | MERCEDES: AIRBAG DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY. AIR BAG SRS CONTROL MODULE (N2/2) DOES NOT HAVE A SET SHELF LIFE AND WILL NORMALLY BE RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WITH 164, 216 221, 251 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET FIVE TIMES. WITH MODES 202, 210 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET THREE TIMES. EARLIER MODELS WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THEIR AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT AND TRIGGERED RESTRAIN COMPONENTS CHANGED ONLY AFTER AN ACCIDENT. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)