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U.S. public vehicle records

Mercedes-Benz CLS550 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

44 owner complaints analyzed

10 distinct recall campaigns

52,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2010 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 44 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior715.9%
Fuel system concerns511.4%
Steering behavior49.1%
Transmission and shifting24.5%
Electrical and battery issues12.3%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
10
Electrical System
5
Power Train
5
Service Brakes
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Engine
4
Steering
4
Suspension
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel/Propulsion System10
Electrical System5
Power Train5
Service Brakes5
Unknown Or Other5
Engine4
Steering4
Suspension4

Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Electrical System: 5; Power Train: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Engine: 4; Steering: 4; Suspension: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
6
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9996
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 18 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.

2012
3
2014
3
2015
2
2016
1
2017
2
2018
4
2019
2
2020
9
2022
7
2023
3
2024
1
2025
6
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20123
20143
20152
20161
20172
20184
20192
20209
20227
20233
20241
20256
20261

2012: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 9; 2022: 7; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 6; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10472927 · 2012-08-29 (August 29, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,878.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,878 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472927 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10478737 · 2012-10-05 (October 5, 2012)

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. T THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 980. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478737 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11130069 · 2018-09-18 (September 18, 2018)

"FUEL LEAKING FROM GAS TANK" AFTER SMELLING A STRONG FUEL SMELL BOTH INSIDE AND OUT SIDE MY VEHICLE I TOOK TO MERCEDES 9/17/18 TO SEE IF THEY KNEW OF THE ISSUE OF IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OR RECALL ON MY VEHICLE REGARDING A FUEL ISSUE. THE SMELL ALWAYS SEEMED STRONGER AFTER I PUT IN A FULL TANK OF GAS. THEY DID A VISUAL INSPECTION AND TOLD ME THEY SEE FUEL LEAKING FROM MY VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL RELATED RECALL. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $185 JUST TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS AND DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CONCERN IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAF…

Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130069 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11229713 · 2019-07-06 (July 6, 2019)

FUEL LEAK FROM UNKNOWN PART OF THE TANK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11229713 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10451642 · 2012-03-14 (March 14, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CODES NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS A LONG DELAY TO ENGAGE. UPDATED 05/02/12

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451642 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11317698 · 2020-03-12 (March 12, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND OR REVERSING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO PARK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILMINGTON LOCATED AT (3801 LANCASTER PIKE, WILMINGTON, DE 19805 [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GPS/TRACKING DEVICE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE DIAGNOSED AND THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 76,434 miles reported. Look up ODI 11317698 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11320626 · 2020-04-09 (April 9, 2020)

ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING AND WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE SO I BROUGHT IT TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS TOLD OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS INTO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND ECU. ALL OF WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $6033.00 AND THE CAR HAS ONLY AROUND 50K MILES ON IT. SEVERAL PREVIOUS YEAR MERCEDES FROM 2011 AND EARLIER HAVE A RECALL ON THE CAMSHAFT SENSORS DUE TO OIL LEAKING FROM THEM INTO ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND ECU HOWEVER MY YEAR CAR WHICH IS 2012 HAS NO RECALL ON THESE PARTS EVEN THOUGH THEY USE THE EXACT…

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11320626 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

2010
3
2011
3
2012
3
2013
3
2014
4
2015
4
2017
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20103
20113
20123
20133
20144
20154
20171

2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2017: 1

Year-by-year records

Mercedes-Benz CLS550 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
201013Not available
2011430
20122330
2013430
2014104+1
2015140
201711Not available