RoadVitals

2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Apr 29, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 1, 2005
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS Class, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 10 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%
  • Interior & seats110.0%
  • Other / unspecified110.0%
  • Powertrain (other)110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
05V133000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Apr 1, 2005
204,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.
The risk: IN THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SBC PUMP UNIT IN SL VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.Manufacturer number 2005070007 & 2005110View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Apr 29, 2013

WHEN I FILLED THE FUEL TANK, THE INSIDE OF THE CAR SMELLS VERY STRONGLY OF GAS FUMES. THE WHOLE GARAGE SMELLED STRONGLY OF GAS FUMES AND GAS WAS DRIPPING ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE. IF THE HOT WATER HEATER DECIDED TO IGNITE, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SIMILAR ISSUE TO NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA 13-003. THE CLS CLASS AND THE E CLASS SHARE THE SAME CHASSIS AND FUEL TANK. IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE EXPAND YOUR INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE CLS CLASS VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10509911
Incident
Apr 24, 2013
Mileage
108,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 11, 2008

MY SPRINTER 2500 DIESEL VAN YEAR 2006 JUST SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I AM DRIVING ALONG ON A MAIN STREET IN SAVANNAH AND THE VAN JUST SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VAN. THEY KEEP REPLACING THE ALTERNATOR BUT THAT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ANSWER. I NEED HELP. MY HUSBAND IS TOTALLY WHEELCHAIR BOUND AND HE IS IN THE VAN. I REALLY NEED HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID
10237655
Incident
Aug 7, 2008
Mileage
19,824 mi
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Jun 21, 2008

OUR VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS DESPITE MAINTENANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. SPECIFICALLY WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF WARRANTY DEFECTS INCLUDING: - WINDSHIELD FLUID CLOGGING - SUNROOF MOTOR REPAIR - DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILURE - BATTERY/ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING - CRACKED KEYS - RADIO FAILURE - SEAT ADJUSTMENT KNOB FALLING OFF (2X) - CENTER CONSOLE BREAKAGE - REAR VIEW MIRROR DIMMING PROBLEMS THE MOST DISTURBING ISSUE TO DATE WAS THE CAR RECENTLY SHUTTING DOWN POWER WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME ON A MAJOR FREEWAY. HE LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231881
Incident
Jun 20, 2008
Mileage
51,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL. TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION FROM NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE WAS EITHER TURNED OFF AND BACK ON OR PLACED INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED BUT AFTER 1000 MILES, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE VALVE BODY BUT AFTER TWO MONTHS THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT AWAITS ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND A COMPLAINT WAS TAKEN. UPDATED 11/21/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10170905
Incident
Oct 12, 2006
Mileage
9,028 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A GRINDING AND SQUEAKING NOISE AND DIMINISHED STOPPING POWER. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ID
10165432
Incident
Aug 14, 2006
Mileage
8,500 mi
Airbags
Filed May 23, 2006

FOR OVER 60 DAYS, MERCEDES HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE PARTS TO THEIR DEALERSHIP IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS TO ACCOMPLISH A REPAIR FOR SAFETY RECALL #2006-020005. *JB

NHTSA ID
10158095
Incident
May 23, 2006

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI27-20-P-051537

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MERCEDES: VEHICLE JERKS DURING GEARCHANGE, HARD 1-2 AND 2-3 SHIFTS, TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP CLUTCH NOT ENGAGEABLE. MODELS 212, 216, 218, 221, 251, AND 164. MODEL YEARS NOT GIVEN. *KB UPDATED 10/11/12. *PE

LI-54-21

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DAIMLER/XENTRY: FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR AND RADIO FREQUENCY CENTRAL LOCKING INOPERATIVE, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPORTS TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE, DIAGNOSIS OF REAR SAM NOT POSSIBLE. CONTROL MODULES. MODELS C CLASS, MODEL SERIES 204. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 7/8/11. *PE

SB-59783

AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

MERCEDES-BENZ: THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PRODUCTION QUALITY ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *RM

SB-32-25-82

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER; SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM; SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER; SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM

SB-090930

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS; TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE

470036

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

MERCEDES: THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL FILL LEVEL. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A FAULT IN THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FUNCTION CHAIN: HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRICAL LINES AND THEIR CONNECTIONS, REAR SAM OR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT UPDATED 2/23/09. *PE UPDATED 9/18/09. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.