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2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
52%
75 of 143 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

52% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 24 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 45%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 75 of 143 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (52%), and the largest group is filed under engine (40). For comparison, the 2016 scores 28% and 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
75
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
167
this model year
Fires reported
4
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
3 crashes · 12 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE40 · 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM28 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER24 · 14%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM23 · 14%
AIR BAGS22 · 13%
POWER TRAIN16 · 10%

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.

How the 2017 compares with other Mercedes-Benz E-Class years

Of the 10 Mercedes-Benz E-Class years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the worst on engine and transmission share (52%). The best is the 2015 (18%). By volume, the 2017 drew 167 complaints (75 drivetrain), against 89 for the 2016 and 68 for the 2018.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE08/04/2026
My vehicle has about 68k miles, while driving on freeway all of sudden the car engine started to shake and check engine light came on dashboard. This engine shaking would stop when vehicle was being driven at high speed. Upon returning home I checked the DTC codes and had P300, P301 engine misfire codes. My mechanic su…

One of 75 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Does the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 75 of 143 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (52%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is engine: 40 of 167 complaints (24%) name it, followed by electrical system (28) and fuel/propulsion system (23). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 52% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 69% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Mercedes-Benz E-Class years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2017 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 2017 (52%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mercedes-benz-e-class

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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.