Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class more reliable than the Volvo S90?

No. The Volvo S90 has a clear edge. It has far fewer recalls and a lower complaint rate per car sold. E-Class owners report early 48-volt battery failures, engine misfires, and complete transmission failures, while S90 complaints center on stuck doors and brake shake.

Which has more recalls, the E-Class or the S90?

The E-Class, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 184 recalls across 8 model years for the E-Class and 22 across 9 model years for the S90. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls, since some E-Class owners reported waiting on steering recall parts.

What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes E-Class?

Electrical trouble leads, with 36 complaints. The typical report is a 48-volt battery that dies early, leaving the car unable to start or move and needing a tow. Engine misfires with limp mode come next, followed by transmission failures and seat belts that do not retract.

What are the known problems with the Volvo S90?

Complaints are few. The main ones are rear doors that will not open from inside or outside, a fuel door that stays shut, and a telematics software error. Brakes are the other area: a shaking steering wheel when braking that returned after new rotors, and a screech at low speeds.

Which E-Class and S90 model years should I avoid?

Avoid the 2018 and 2019 E-Class, its weakest years. On the S90, avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest. The 2021 S90 ranks among its strongest years, so it is a sensible place to start your search.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90: Reliability Compared

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Good

More Reliable

Volvo S90

Good

On reliability, the Volvo S90 clearly beats the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The E-Class has 184 recalls to the S90's 22. Early 48-volt battery failures that strand the car add to its record, while S90 complaints are few and mostly narrow.

How Do the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Volvo S90 Generations Compare?

Generation timing explains where each car's weak years fall. The E-Class fifth generation (W213) ran from the 2016 model year through 2023 and was facelifted for 2020. That puts the weakest years, 2018 and 2019, in the early, pre-facelift part of the run. The sixth generation (W214) appears in the data starting with 2023, so the newest cars have a short track record. The S90 has had a single generation (SPA) since the 2017 model year, with a first facelift for 2020 and a further update for 2023. Its strong 2021 year falls after the first facelift. The weak 2022 and 2023 years sit just before and during the later update.

Verdict

The Volvo S90 is more reliable than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, scoring 68/100 vs 60/100.

Reliability favors the Volvo S90, and the edge is clear. Each car holds a good standing, but the S90 has far fewer recalls and a lower complaint rate per car sold. The E-Class collects heavier failures: a 48-volt battery that dies early and strands the car, misfires that trigger limp mode, and transmissions that failed at low mileage. The S90's worst reports involve doors that will not open and a brake pedal that shakes the steering wheel. Those are real faults, but there are far fewer of them.

Key Differences

1Volvo S90 has 162 fewer total recalls
2Volvo S90 scores 8 points higher in reliability
3Volvo S90 has 2.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

0Mercedes-Benz E-Class

—

3Volvo S90

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90: Which Is More Reliable?

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Mercedes-Benz E-Class	Volvo S90
Reliability Score	60/100	68/100
Years Tracked	8	9
Total Recalls	184	22
Complaints per 10k Sold	7	4.5
Year Wins	1	7

What Are the Common Problems With the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Volvo S90?

Heavier failures sit on the Mercedes side, and they hit the power supply and drivetrain. A dead 48-volt battery can leave the car unable to start or move, sometimes before 1,000 miles. One report describes smoke and fire at idle after a 12 Volt Battery message. Misfires push the car into limp mode, and one transmission failure happened at highway speed. Electrical and steering complaints both include crash-linked reports. The S90 problems are narrower: a rear door that will not open from inside or outside, a stuck fuel door, a telematics software error, and brake shake that returns after new rotors. Its brake complaints report no crash.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90 common problem areas comparison
Component	Mercedes-Benz E-Class	Volvo S90
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	0.8Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.4Very Low	—None
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	—None
POWER TRAIN	0.3Very Low	—None
STEERING	0.2Very Low	—None
SEAT BELTS	0.2Very Low	—None
WHEELS	0.1Very Low	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	0.1Very Low	—None
TIRES	0.1Very Low	—None
STRUCTURE	0.1Very Low	—None
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	—None
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90 Reliability Compare by Year?

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Mercedes-Benz E-Class	Volvo S90	Edge
2026	76/1000R / 0C	75/1000R / 0C	Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2024	63/1001R / 7C	66/1002R / 1C	Volvo S90
2023	63/1005R / 20C	65/1003R / 2C	Volvo S90
2022	60/1008R / 19C	65/1003R / 1C	Volvo S90
2021	56/10030R / 36C	71/1002R / 0C	Volvo S90
2020	56/10026R / 35C	66/1002R / 2C	Volvo S90
2019	54/10042R / 100C	69/1004R / 0C	Volvo S90
2018	55/10072R / 252C	67/1002R / 12C	Volvo S90

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class scored 63/100 and the 2021 Volvo S90 scored 71/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs the Volvo S90?

If you want the lower chance of a surprise, pick the S90. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $976 a year with 0.8 unscheduled shop visits. Target 2021, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest. Before buying, test every door from inside and outside, and press the brakes firmly to check for wheel shake. Pick the E-Class only if the cabin, ride, or price on a specific car wins you over. Skip 2018 and 2019, its weakest years. Later years rank better, though newer cars have had less time to collect complaints. Ask whether the 48-volt battery has been replaced, whether the M260 valve seat service bulletin applies, and whether any steering recall repair is still open. Check that both front seat belts retract fully.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs Volvo S90: Common Questions

Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class more reliable than the Volvo S90?: No. The Volvo S90 has a clear edge. It has far fewer recalls and a lower complaint rate per car sold. E-Class owners report early 48-volt battery failures, engine misfires, and complete transmission failures, while S90 complaints center on stuck doors and brake shake.
Which has more recalls, the E-Class or the S90?: The E-Class, by a wide margin. Federal recall records show 184 recalls across 8 model years for the E-Class and 22 across 9 model years for the S90. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls, since some E-Class owners reported waiting on steering recall parts.
What goes wrong most often on the Mercedes E-Class?: Electrical trouble leads, with 36 complaints. The typical report is a 48-volt battery that dies early, leaving the car unable to start or move and needing a tow. Engine misfires with limp mode come next, followed by transmission failures and seat belts that do not retract.
What are the known problems with the Volvo S90?: Complaints are few. The main ones are rear doors that will not open from inside or outside, a fuel door that stays shut, and a telematics software error. Brakes are the other area: a shaking steering wheel when braking that returned after new rotors, and a screech at low speeds.
Which E-Class and S90 model years should I avoid?: Avoid the 2018 and 2019 E-Class, its weakest years. On the S90, avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest. The 2021 S90 ranks among its strongest years, so it is a sensible place to start your search.

More Mercedes-Benz E-Class comparisons

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How we score the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Volvo S90

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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