2011 Mercedes E350: Intermittent Jerking, Limp Mode & Fault Codes P2453 and P0335 - Diagnosis Help Needed
Hello everyone, My 2011 Mercedes E350 (automatic diesel) has been experiencing a recurring issue over the past few months. About three months ago, the car started suddenly jerking while driving — similar to jumping gears — followed by entering limp mode. A simple engine restart would usually get it out of limp mode. One particularly bad instance occurred at a traffic light: the vehicle jerked and stalled. I turned it off and restarted it successfully, but the Check Engine Light (CEL) came on afterward. Using an OBD2 scanner, I found fault code P2453. I took the car to a local independent garage who diagnosed a full Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), performed a manual regeneration, and cleared the CEL. The car ran fine for several weeks before the issue returned — this time with codes P2453 and P0335. I replaced both the DPF sensor and the Crank Position Sensor. To my relief, the CEL turned off after these repairs, and the vehicle performed normally for about 1.5 months. However, approximately three weeks ago, the CEL began coming on intermittently — turning off by itself after a few restarts. I re-scanned the system and found P2453 was back again. Since the light would go off on its own, I initially thought it might be a temporary glitch. Yesterday, the car jerked again (no stall), but the CEL came on once more. After restarting the engine several times, the light went off temporarily. Upon re-scanning, both P2453 and P0335 are now stored again. I live in the UK and have ruled out weather-related causes. I’m extremely frustrated as neither my local garage nor I can identify the root cause. The intermittent nature of the fault makes diagnosis difficult. The issue seems to be directly tied to both the DPF system (P2453) and engine timing (P0335). Given that replacing sensors helped temporarily, I suspect there may be an underlying electrical or sensor-related problem — possibly a loose connection, intermittent wiring, or a failing module. I’m comfortable performing basic maintenance myself if needed. Any insights into these specific fault codes on the 2011 E350 would be greatly appreciated. Is P2453 related to DPF function or could it indicate a deeper issue like sensor failure? What about P0335 — is it likely due to a faulty crank position sensor, or could there be a wiring fault? Thanks in advance for any help or advice!
This issue with P2453 and P0335 on the 2011 Mercedes E350 is commonly linked to intermittent electrical connections. Check all wiring harnesses related to the DPF system and crankshaft position sensor — especially at connectors, under the hood, or near the engine bay. Loose or corroded terminals can cause erratic fault codes and sudden jerking. A proper inspection of the wiring circuits for these sensors may resolve the problem.