Mercedes Benz CLS500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
96,231 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 67 complaints (32.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 37.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 25.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
Service Brakes: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 10; Air Bags: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 13 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
2007: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 8; 2014: 11; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2018: 6; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2024: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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.
Owner report 10270109 · 2009-05-27 (May 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLS. THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER, INCLUDING BRAKING AND POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE GLIDED DOWN INTO A CURB DUE TO THE FAILURE. WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE RESTARTS NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED, BUT NOT THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE, IN WHCIH THE CONTACT BELIEVES IS THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. THE F…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10302307 · 2010-01-26 (January 26, 2010)
2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. LAST NIGHT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT LOCATED IN A COMMERCIAL BUILDING, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND HIT THE OFFICE WALL GREATLY DAMAGING THE DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE. I HAD ALREADY EASED UP ON THE GAS PEDAL HARDLY PRESSING THE GAS AS ABOUT TO STOP THE CAR AND PLACE IT IN PARK. I FILED THE CLAIM AND KNOW THAT THIS LOOKS LIKE I ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, THE ACCELERATION WAS ROCKET-SPEED. ONCE I GOT HOME, I REALIZED THE SAME THING HAPPENED A MONTH BACK (JAN - THE WEEK…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10302307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439428 · 2011-12-12 (December 12, 2011)
LEAKING FUEL FROM CRACK IN FUEL TANK. SERVICE ADVISOR AT LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP STATES CRACK IS FROM SEAL FOUND ON TOP OF TANK. REQUIRED REPLACING OF FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP SEALS FUMES FROM FUEL SEEPED INTO VEHICLE AND BACK SEAT CUSHIONS WITH VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. SEATS STILL SMELL LIKE FUEL, THUS CAR WITH SMELL OF FUEL. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH BURNING SENSATION TO NOSE. SERVICE ADVISOR STATES THIS IS SECOND INCIDENT WITH CRACKED FUEL TANK THIS YEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10439428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462549 · 2012-06-21 (June 21, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN HIS HOME, HE COULD SMELL GASOLINE FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE RESIDENTIAL GARAGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FUEL LEAK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF UPDATED 08/16/2012 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10748825 · 2015-08-14 (August 14, 2015)
I BOUGHT THE USED MERCEDES BENZ CLS500 2006 JUST FOUR DAYS AGO. IN THE DEALER NOTES , IT SAID THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND THE CAR RUNS SMOOTHLY . I TEST DROVE IT , AND IT DID . BUT NOW , THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THE CAR FAILED TO START. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T START UNTIL I TURN THE KEY ABOUT 20 TIMES. YESTERDAY , THE CAR STOPPED ON THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. LUCKILY , I MANAGED TO RESTART IT AND DROVE HOME . AND THE CAR WON'T START AGAIN . PLEASE HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,462 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191306 · 2007-05-21 (May 21, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. ON OCTOBER 7, 2006, THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. HE HAS GONE TO THE DEALER SIX DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE IN ADDITION TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THE VEHICLE LURCHING WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH, AND TO RETRIEVE A KEYLESS REMOTE. IN REGARDS TO THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SOFTWARE FAILURE AND THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE SOFTWARE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE ENGIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,674 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509696 · 2013-04-26 (April 26, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,530. *TR UPDATED 06/07/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ULTIMATELY OFFERED A 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON THE PART ONLY. UPDATED 06/13/2013 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 64,530 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11057260 · 2017-12-28 (December 28, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING AND THE REDUCE BRAKING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER STOPPED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT STATED THAT I NEEDED TO DO SO, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME. I BEGAN TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS IN RUSH TRAFFIC AND SO SCARED THAT I WOULD HURT SOMEONE OR MYSELF. I RECENTLY HAD MY BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED, MONTHS IN ADVANCE. I BARELY MADE IT HOME AND SINCE THEN I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP BUT IN DOING SO THE SAME …
Owner-reported narrative. 197,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 11057260 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
2004: 0; 2006: 3; 2007: 0; 2009: 0