Mercedes-Benz E-Class Common Faults in the UK
W213, 2016–2023 — premium executive saloon. Updated 2026-05-04.
The W213 Mercedes E-Class (2016–2023) is the most refined of the German big three but suffers from OM654 diesel injector recalls (2017–2019), 9G-Tronic harsh shifts requiring software update, and rear air suspension leaks on Estate variants. Post-2020 examples are most reliable. Best-buy: 2020–2022. Worst: early 2017 OM654.
Quick-stats values are indicative editorial estimates aggregated from owner-forum sentiment, recall portals, and reliability surveys. They are not Autoza-derived medians — we do not publish a UK price index yet, and no figure on this page should be quoted as one. See our research methodology for the sample sizes any future published median will have to meet.
Best and worst years to buy
Post-2020 examples have the OM654 injector recall fully completed, the 9G-Tronic gearbox software is matured, and MBUX 2 voice control is far more stable than initial release.
The OM654 injector recall affected 2017–2019 diesels — many were left to the second owner to discover. Software-related gearbox harshness was common before the 2019 update.
Known faults — Mercedes-Benz E-Class W213, 2016–2023
Documented from HonestJohn, owner forum sentiment (PistonHeads, Reddit), DVSA recall portal, and Autoza dealer-feedback aggregation. Severity is colour-coded.
OM654 diesel injector recall
Major — significant repair cost- Symptoms
- Rough idle, smoke under acceleration, rare cases of fuel-air mixture issues
- Years affected
- 2017–2019 (E220d, E300d, E350d)
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under recall; £1,800+ if not completed and fault has developed
- What to check before buying
- Verify recall completion via VIN at a Mercedes UK dealer or the gov.uk recall checker. Recall reference: campaign 5499006.
9G-Tronic harsh shifts
Minor — wear-and-tear- Symptoms
- Notchy 2-3 and 3-4 upshifts; flare on downshifts
- Years affected
- 2016–2018
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under software update at MB dealer; £600+ if mechatronic affected
- What to check before buying
- During test drive, hold gears manually and observe shift quality. Service history should show software update applied.
Rear air suspension leak (Estate)
Moderate — service-level fix- Symptoms
- Tail end sits low overnight; pump cycles excessively; "AIRMATIC fault" warning
- Years affected
- All Estate variants with rear air suspension — 75,000+ miles
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £500–£900 per side air bellow + valve service
- What to check before buying
- Park overnight on level ground. Check rear ride height next day. Listen for compressor at idle (pump should rest).
MBUX voice control glitches
Minor — wear-and-tear- Symptoms
- "Hey Mercedes" not responding; wake-word recognition errors; UI freeze
- Years affected
- 2018–2020
- Indicative repair (UK)
- Free under software update
- What to check before buying
- Test "Hey Mercedes" wake-word during inspection. Three failed attempts in a row signals software not updated.
EQ Boost 48V mild hybrid
Minor — wear-and-tear- Symptoms
- Stop-start unavailable; "EQ Boost" warning; reduced fuel economy
- Years affected
- 2018+ on E300, E450
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £900–£1,300 battery / starter-generator
- What to check before buying
- Stop-start should engage reliably at every junction once warm.
COMAND headunit failure (pre-MBUX)
Moderate — service-level fix- Symptoms
- Screen blank on startup; navigation unavailable; CD player won't recognise discs
- Years affected
- 2016–2017
- Indicative repair (UK)
- £600–£1,400 used unit + coding
- What to check before buying
- Use COMAND through full warm-up. Try every menu including SD card and Bluetooth pairing.
Who this car suits — and who should look elsewhere
Long-distance comfort buyers; motorway commuters; buyers prioritising interior refinement above sportiness.
Short-trip city users (DPF on diesel), drivers who don't budget for MB-specialist servicing (£500+ per service).
Alternatives to consider
If the Mercedes-Benz E-Class doesn't suit, these comparable models are worth a look in the UK market:
- →BMW 5 Series G30
- →Audi A6 C8
- →Volvo S90
Looking to buy a Mercedes-Benz E-Class in the UK?
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