2015 Kia Optima vs 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2015 Kia Optima | 2015 Mercedes-Benz E350 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,003 | 31 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 200 | 123 |
| Investigations | 4 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 73 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–37 | 22–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Mercedes-Benz E350 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 618 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 135 | 5 |
| Structure | 76 | 4 |
| Steering | 68 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 49 | 4 |
| Power Train | 49 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 44 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 40 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 155 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 102 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 70 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 60 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 31 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 27 | 6 |
| Won’t start | 25 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 22 | 0 |
2015 Kia Optima
2015 Mercedes-Benz E350
Compare all Kia Optima vs Mercedes-Benz E350 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.