2018 Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes-Benz › E 400 4MATIC › 2018
These records cover every 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 400 4MATIC. Newest first.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 E 400 4MATIC Sedan, E 400 4MATIC Wagon, E 400 4MATIC Cabriolet, E 400 4MATIC Coupe, 2018-2020 Maybach S 560 4MATIC, S 560 4MATIC Coupe, S 450 4MATIC, 2019-2020 E 450 4MATIC Sedan, E 450 4MATIC Wagon, E 450 4MATIC Coupe, and E 450 4MATIC Cabriolet vehicles. The drive shaft universal joint may break…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A sudden loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the drive shaft as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed May 22, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 10, 2026.
Owner complaints
3 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Power train
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4MATIC. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
- Engine
Component/System: The intake camshaft positioner/adjuster on cylinder bank 2 of the M276 V6 engine has failed, along with associated timing components. The vehicle (2018 Mercedes-Benz E400, VIN [XXX]) remains unrepaired and is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The engine produces…
Component/System: The intake camshaft positioner/adjuster on cylinder bank 2 of the M276 V6 engine has failed, along with associated timing components. The vehicle (2018 Mercedes-Benz E400, VIN [XXX]) remains unrepaired and is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The engine produces a loud metallic rattle on cold starts, indicating loss of proper camshaft timing control. If unaddressed, camshaft timing deviation can progress to timing chain failure, which on interference engines can cause valve-to-piston contact and sudden, severe engine damage or loss of power while driving, posing a risk to vehicle control. Confirmed by Dealer: Yes. Mercedes-Benz of Catonsville (RO# [XXX]) diagnosed the issue and confirmed stored fault code P002177, indicating the intake camshaft position on cylinder bank 2 deviates from its specified value. The dealer's own notes state camshaft adjusters "are prone to failure and commonly damage camshafts when they fail." Manufacturer Notified: I contacted Mercedes-Benz USA directly (Case #[XXX]) to request they address this repair, citing that this camshaft/timing failure is a known, recurring issue on M276-equipped vehicles, supported by Mercedes' own technical service bulletins (TSB LI05.10-P-056435 and TSB LI05.20-P-059966) describing this exact failure pattern. Despite multiple attempts, including a promised callback that was never received and nearly an hour on hold with no resolution, Mercedes-Benz USA has not adequately responded or taken action. Warning Signs: The check engine light illuminated in early August 2026, prompting a dealer visit. The cold-start rattle was identified by the dealer during diagnosis the following day. No prior symptoms were noticed beforehand. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Power train
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4MATIC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the driveshaft felt loose, with an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign…
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4MATIC. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the driveshaft felt loose, with an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (Power Train). The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the remedy was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.