2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS400 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS400, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical325.0%
- Driver assistance216.7%
- Interior & seats18.3%
- Exterior lighting18.3%
- Other / unspecified18.3%
- Powertrain (other)18.3%
- Brakes18.3%
- Steering18.3%
- Engine18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH IS CAUSING COMMAND SYSTEM TO POWER ON/OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE NAVIGATION,WINDOWS(ROLLING UP&DOWN OR NOT WORKING AT ALL),SIDE VIEW MIRRORS(FLIPPING OUT & IN,WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN)AIR CONDITIONING,RADIO TURNING ITSELF OFF/ON.ELECTRONIC BREAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING.KEYLESS FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING HAD TO REMOVE HARD KEY MANUALLY TO OPEN CAR DOOR & REMOVE PUSH BUTTON STARTER MANUALLY TO INSERT KEY.THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF AS WELL AS THE MULTI MALFUNCTIONS.THIS IS NOW THE 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM.I HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR, PURCHASED IT DEC 24,2014.I CALLED MB USA CUSTOMER SERVICE & REPORTED THE COMPLAINTS/MALFUNCTIONS TO THEM & MADE THEM AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE & THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOOK MY INFORMATION & SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW AFTERNOON ABOUT THE SITUATION.I ALSO GAVE THEM THE NAME OF THE DEALERSHIP & MY SERVICE ADVISORS NAME WHOM I'VE HAD DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE AS WELL AS MYSELF.THE AGENT SAID THEY'D CALL HIM TOMORROW & THEN ME.
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME MY 2015 CLS400 MERCEDES HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONIC COMMAND SYSTEM TOTALLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE STREET AND FRWY.NAVIGATION BLINKS ON & OFF,SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FOLD IN & OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,RADIO TURNS ON & OFF,ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FRWY & AROUND TOWN,KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK SO I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY TO GET INTO VEHICLE & REMOVE PUSH START BUTTON TO INSERT THE KEY TO START VEHICLE,WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK NOR AIR CONDITIONING & IT WAS A HOT DAY.SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK & GAS METER SHOWED EMPTY EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK. VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DEC 24 2014 AND THE PROBLEM STARTED IN AUG 2015 IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5-6 DAYS & SAID THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BUT CONFIRMED MY STORY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY PLUGGED INTO CONFIRMED THE MALFUNCTIONS.NOW SEPT2015 THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEMS.ALL I KNOW IS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.THE VEHICLE HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT BUT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW & I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH IS CAUSING COMMAND SYSTEM TO POWER ON/OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE NAVIGATION,WINDOWS(ROLLING UP&DOWN OR NOT WORKING AT ALL),SIDE VIEW MIRRORS(FLIPPING OUT & IN,WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN)AIR CONDITIONING,RADIO TURNING ITSELF OFF/ON.ELECTRONIC BREAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING.KEYLESS FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING HAD TO REMOVE HARD KEY MANUALLY TO OPEN CAR DOOR & REMOVE PUSH BUTTON STARTER MANUALLY TO INSERT KEY.THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF AS WELL AS THE MULTI MALFUNCTIONS.THIS IS NOW THE 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM.I HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR, PURCHASED IT DEC 24,2014.I CALLED MB USA CUSTOMER SERVICE & REPORTED THE COMPLAINTS/MALFUNCTIONS TO THEM & MADE THEM AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE & THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOOK MY INFORMATION & SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW AFTERNOON ABOUT THE SITUATION.I ALSO GAVE THEM THE NAME OF THE DEALERSHIP & MY SERVICE ADVISORS NAME WHOM I'VE HAD DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE AS WELL AS MYSELF.THE AGENT SAID THEY'D CALL HIM TOMORROW & THEN ME.
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME MY 2015 CLS400 MERCEDES HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONIC COMMAND SYSTEM TOTALLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE STREET AND FRWY.NAVIGATION BLINKS ON & OFF,SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FOLD IN & OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,RADIO TURNS ON & OFF,ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FRWY & AROUND TOWN,KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK SO I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY TO GET INTO VEHICLE & REMOVE PUSH START BUTTON TO INSERT THE KEY TO START VEHICLE,WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK NOR AIR CONDITIONING & IT WAS A HOT DAY.SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK & GAS METER SHOWED EMPTY EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK. VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DEC 24 2014 AND THE PROBLEM STARTED IN AUG 2015 IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5-6 DAYS & SAID THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BUT CONFIRMED MY STORY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY PLUGGED INTO CONFIRMED THE MALFUNCTIONS.NOW SEPT2015 THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEMS.ALL I KNOW IS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.THE VEHICLE HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT BUT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW & I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME MY 2015 CLS400 MERCEDES HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONIC COMMAND SYSTEM TOTALLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE STREET AND FRWY.NAVIGATION BLINKS ON & OFF,SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FOLD IN & OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,RADIO TURNS ON & OFF,ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FRWY & AROUND TOWN,KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK SO I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY TO GET INTO VEHICLE & REMOVE PUSH START BUTTON TO INSERT THE KEY TO START VEHICLE,WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK NOR AIR CONDITIONING & IT WAS A HOT DAY.SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK & GAS METER SHOWED EMPTY EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK. VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DEC 24 2014 AND THE PROBLEM STARTED IN AUG 2015 IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5-6 DAYS & SAID THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BUT CONFIRMED MY STORY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY PLUGGED INTO CONFIRMED THE MALFUNCTIONS.NOW SEPT2015 THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEMS.ALL I KNOW IS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.THE VEHICLE HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT BUT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW & I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLS 400 4 MAGIC 2015. REAR TIRES WEARING FROM INSIDE OF TIRE AT 36,000 MILES. LOOKING AT TIRES FROM OUTSIDE AND TOP LOOKS GREAT AS IF TIRES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. LUCKILY WHILE ON HIGH WAY TIRE BEGAN TO DEFLATE BEFORE COMING APART AT 60 MPH. 😥
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
while going on freeway at 70 mph car came up with code service required do not shift see dealer and lost power had to pull off lane onto shoulder luckily was able to, could not get car to shift or go anywhere could not contact their roadside assistance, this is the third time it has done it too me, this last time could have resulted in a crash and possible death
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
A FEW TIMES A MONTH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR'S ENGINE AND VOLUME START TO DECREASE. THE TEMPORARY FIX, IS TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH IS CAUSING COMMAND SYSTEM TO POWER ON/OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE NAVIGATION,WINDOWS(ROLLING UP&DOWN OR NOT WORKING AT ALL),SIDE VIEW MIRRORS(FLIPPING OUT & IN,WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN)AIR CONDITIONING,RADIO TURNING ITSELF OFF/ON.ELECTRONIC BREAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING.KEYLESS FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING HAD TO REMOVE HARD KEY MANUALLY TO OPEN CAR DOOR & REMOVE PUSH BUTTON STARTER MANUALLY TO INSERT KEY.THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF AS WELL AS THE MULTI MALFUNCTIONS.THIS IS NOW THE 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM.I HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR, PURCHASED IT DEC 24,2014.I CALLED MB USA CUSTOMER SERVICE & REPORTED THE COMPLAINTS/MALFUNCTIONS TO THEM & MADE THEM AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE & THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOOK MY INFORMATION & SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW AFTERNOON ABOUT THE SITUATION.I ALSO GAVE THEM THE NAME OF THE DEALERSHIP & MY SERVICE ADVISORS NAME WHOM I'VE HAD DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE AS WELL AS MYSELF.THE AGENT SAID THEY'D CALL HIM TOMORROW & THEN ME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2015 mercedes benz CLS 400 - Engine caught fire while in a parking lot approximately 10 minutes after i parked it and went inside department store. The vehicle had no open recalls
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .