Showing the 2008 E-Class E320 Bluetec: EPA's E320 Bluetec (3.0 L, RWD). Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
26 mpgcombined; city 23, highway 32; the E320 Bluetec
Five years of fuel
$17,820U.S. average; Ohio $18,050 at local prices; the E320 Bluetec; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2008 E-Class. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 E-Class. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system
81
0
0
1
Fuel system, gasoline
31
0
0
1
Seats
21
0
9
3
Electrical system
19
0
4
0
Engine
17
1
0
0
Wheels
14
1
0
0
Air bags
10
4
0
6
Unknown or other
9
1
2
0
Power train
8
1
0
1
Structure
8
2
0
2
Suspension
8
0
0
0
Visibility
8
0
0
0
10 more parts
Steering
6
0
0
0
Tires
6
1
0
0
Vehicle speed control
6
3
0
0
Service brakes
5
1
0
1
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
4
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 E-Class over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 E350 4MATIC WAGON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 1, 2006, THROUGH APRIL 30, 2009. A CONNECTING ROD FOR THE LOAD LEVELING REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM MAY FAIL.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY HAVE REDUCED VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: MERCEDES-BENZ WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ALL THE CONNECTING RODS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 118 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 E-Class, the latest on Sep 22, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: exterior lighting (18), electrical system (17), power train (12), structure (10), engine and engine cooling (9).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA13003 Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank · covers 2 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 E-Class.
See used 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
E320 Bluetec Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl, turbo
Automatic 7-spd
Diesel
23 / 32 / 26
E350 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 7-spd
Premium Gasoline
17 / 24 / 19
E350 4matic 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Premium Gasoline
16 / 22 / 18
E550 Rear-Wheel Drive
5.5 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 7-spd
Premium Gasoline
15 / 22 / 17
E550 4matic 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
5.5 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 7-spd
Premium Gasoline
13 / 19 / 16
E63 AMG Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl
Automatic (S7)
Premium Gasoline
12 / 19 / 15
E63 AMG Rear-Wheel Drive
6.2 L, 8 cyl
Automatic (S7)
Premium Gasoline
12 / 18 / 14
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data