2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
90 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting
1
20.0%
Braking behavior
1
20.0%
Electrical and battery issues
1
20.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2020
1
2021
1
2022
2
2023
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2020
1
2021
1
2022
2
2023
1
2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
20.0%Usable mileage1 / 5 records
100.0%Valid incident date5 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates5 / 5 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Electrical System
350.0%ODI 11608100
transmission harness is broken its safety issue. I went to Mercedes dealership multiple times and they do not repair it. I don't feel safe with this car and I do not use it so I always walk or take a bike or uber work so I lost money and time.
The Engine Electrical harness is completely corroded after only 50,000 miles requiring a 4k+ repair. Oil leaking from the camshaft sensor pushed it way all throughout harness. There are no warnings as it will only be noticeable after doing routine maintenance OUTSIDE of the manufactures warranty. While driving you may lose complete power or slight power loss due to engine misfiring and low system voltage. Warranty company has denied my claim saying that it looks as if the car was in an accident with water damage but the car is pristine and acci…
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
transmission harness is broken its safety issue. I went to Mercedes dealership multiple times and they do not repair it. I don't feel safe with this car and I do not use it so I always walk or take a bike or uber work so I lost money and time.
While driving on the highway the engine shut down and I needed to pull over and restart the car. The engine would restart but then stalled several more times while driving. No check engine lights were on before the vehicle stalled and upon restarting the car no check engine lights turned on. I have it at the dealership currently but they can't look at it until December because of their backlog of repairs.
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
On Three (3) occasions, my engine has Stopped while the car was in gear and in motion. I was at great risk when this happened twice on August 7, 2024 while in traffic and my car stopped in the middle of traffic. One time I was able to coast into a parking lot. However, the second time the car stopped in the traffic lane. I was very lucky not to have been hit in the rear. In each case, I was able to restart the engine. One time I received a "Malfunction" notice on the dashboard. I immediately took the car to a Mercedes dealer for evaluation on A…
AC Compressor failed on a 4 year car. These compressors shed metal pieces when they fail effecting other parts of the vehicle and creating potential for the whole car to shut down as others with this problem have experience. Also AC going out randomly in a region with heat waves causes unexpected safety and heat risk issues.
WHILE GOING 45 MPH ON A CLEAR FOUR LANE SMOOTH BLACKTOP CITY STREET THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE EMERGENCY STOP. A RED TRIANGLE APPEARED ON THE DASH BUT BECAUSE OF THE STARTLING NATURE I COULD NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS EMERGENCY STOP, THIS STREET WAS FAMILIAR AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN DAILY FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.
The Engine Electrical harness is completely corroded after only 50,000 miles requiring a 4k+ repair. Oil leaking from the camshaft sensor pushed it way all throughout harness. There are no warnings as it will only be noticeable after doing routine maintenance OUTSIDE of the manufactures warranty. While driving you may lose complete power or slight power loss due to engine misfiring and low system voltage. Warranty company has denied my claim saying that it looks as if the car was in an accident with water damage but the car is pristine and acci…
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
It would seem to be the steering and related component’s including the computer. I have heard a low-pitched oscillating sound coming from the passenger front wheel well. well occasionally it would pull the car to the right, not all the time just randomly whenever traveling in the 40-70 mph range. The 2 dealerships I have taken the car to they say it’s my aftermarket exhaust, so they blow me off. the sound can be heard without accelerating and is not consistent as the droning of exhaust would be with consistent gas. This defect slammed me and my…
The car was purchased as CPO warrantied and within 2 months of purchase, showed low tire pressure on front passenger tire. Brought the car to a tire shop for what I thought was a nail, turned out was a cracked rim. Read online forums to find out this is a common issue. Mercedes underwent a class action lawsuit for sub-par quality wheels. Mercedes benz does not cover rim under warranty and replacement cost is very high. It is a hazard for safety considering the rim may disintegrate while highway driving.
It would seem to be the steering and related component’s including the computer. I have heard a low-pitched oscillating sound coming from the passenger front wheel well. well occasionally it would pull the car to the right, not all the time just randomly whenever traveling in the 40-70 mph range. The 2 dealerships I have taken the car to they say it’s my aftermarket exhaust, so they blow me off. the sound can be heard without accelerating and is not consistent as the droning of exhaust would be with consistent gas. This defect slammed me and my…
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG E53. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. In addition, the screen occasionally turned off, compromising the back over prevention system. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The …
WHILE GOING 45 MPH ON A CLEAR FOUR LANE SMOOTH BLACKTOP CITY STREET THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE EMERGENCY STOP. A RED TRIANGLE APPEARED ON THE DASH BUT BECAUSE OF THE STARTLING NATURE I COULD NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE. THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THIS EMERGENCY STOP, THIS STREET WAS FAMILIAR AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN DAILY FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER.
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2022: 2 complaints · 2023: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2022
0
2
2
2023
0
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2022
3
0
0
2023
1
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
Was driving the car when it gave me a -48v malfunction. This was quickly followed by an overheat warning to turn the car off. It appears to be an issue with the -48v battery. Still waiting to hear what root cause is as MBUSA has had the car for 24 days and counting without many answers.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Warning lights and dashboard alerts
1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 11497646
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic Emergency Braking / Selt Belt Pretensioner. Car can be inspected at dealer during a scheduled service if needed. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I was driving on a local road (paved, no painted road markings, some small cracks/pot holes but all minor) that I frequently drive without issue. This time as I was coming out of a minor left-hand curve and about 30 meters from a slightly sharper right hand turn the Aut…