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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Mercedes Benz CLS500: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

62 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

97,759 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 62 complaints (33.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2438.7%
Fuel system concerns1727.4%
Electrical and battery issues46.5%
Transmission and shifting34.8%
Engine operation23.2%
Steering behavior23.2%

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.

Service Brakes
21
Fuel/Propulsion System
12
Fuel System, Gasoline
10
Air Bags
4
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
3
Power Train
3
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Wheels
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes21
Fuel/Propulsion System12
Fuel System, Gasoline10
Air Bags4
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)3
Power Train3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Wheels3

Service Brakes: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline: 10; Air Bags: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Power Train: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Wheels: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
12
100,000 to 149,999
15
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,99912
100,000 to 149,99915
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 7

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 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.

2007
3
2009
1
2010
3
2011
1
2012
5
2013
5
2014
11
2015
4
2016
6
2017
8
2018
5
2019
3
2020
3
2021
1
2024
3
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20073
20091
20103
20111
20125
20135
201411
20154
20166
20178
20185
20193
20203
20211
20243

2007: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 5; 2014: 11; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2024: 3

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

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 10205634 · 2007-10-14 (October 14, 2007)

NORMAL DRIVING ON ILLINOIS HIGHWAYS AND STREETS. DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL/RIM CRACKED, I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSE OF CONTROL OF THE AUTO AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PURCHASED NEW RIM AND INSTALLED. DEFECTIVE RIM IS IN STORAGE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,390 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10207663 · 2007-11-01 (November 1, 2007)

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT TREE. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE AND SATELLITE DID NOT NOTIFY POLICE. COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. MYSELF AND 2 OTHER PEOPLE WERE INJURED. SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, STRUCK CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE AND SATELLITE DID NOT NOTIFY POLICE. IN BOTH INSTANCES THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, THE MOST RECENT OVER $20,000. THE CAR IS STILL IN REPAIR SHOP 4 WEEKS AFTER ACCIDENT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I AM FEARFUL …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207663 at NHTSA ↗

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 10307695 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)

BRAKES ON 2006 MBZ CLS 500. REPLACED TWICE WITH BRAND NEW BRAKES FROM MBZ DEALER, DROVE LESS THAN 3000 MILES, BRAKES SQUEAK LIKE A TRAIN THREE WEEKS AFTER EACH INSTALLATION. DEALER WANTS TO WASH THEIR HANDS BY SAYING ITS NORMAL. HOW CAN BRAND NEW BRAKES SQUEAK TWICE AFTER NEW REPLACEMENT AND VERY FEW MILES OF DRIVING? THEY REALLY NEED A CHECK UP AND RECALL. ITS RIDICULOUS FOR NEW BRAKES TO SQUEAK THAT LOUD, YOU CAN HEAR ME FROM ANOTHER CORNER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10307695 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10363342 · 2010-10-29 (October 29, 2010)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-10 ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2010 BETWEEN 5:10 AND 5:15 P.M. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR TOOK OFF AT SPEEDS OVER 100MPH OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I WAS HORRIFIED AND COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED.IT IS A MIRACLE NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED. MY 14 YEAR OLD SON AND HIS FRIEND WERE IN THE CAR DURING THIS WHOLE ORDEAL. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE ADVISED ME AND THE KIDS TO BE CALM AND TO TURN THE CAR OFF, WHICH I DID. I THEN DESCRIBED T…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363342 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 ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

19V918000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

Reported: 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V196000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

Reported: 2021-03-19 (March 19, 2021)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
24V874000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

Reported: 2024-11-19 (November 19, 2024)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

NHTSA campaign record ↗