2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS500 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 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLS500, 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
- Brakes133.3%
- Electrical133.3%
- Exterior lighting133.3%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPON TESTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS THE BLINKER WAS CORRECTING AND AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR AGAIN, TURNING OFF AND ON THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK AND INSPECTING THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE TOP BROWN WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED AS IF THE WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EFFECTING OR BURNING THE HARNESS. THE TAIL LIGHT STILL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF HOWEVER THE BLACKENED WIRES ARE A CONCERN TO ME THAT IT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPON TESTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS THE BLINKER WAS CORRECTING AND AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR AGAIN, TURNING OFF AND ON THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK AND INSPECTING THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE TOP BROWN WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED AS IF THE WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EFFECTING OR BURNING THE HARNESS. THE TAIL LIGHT STILL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF HOWEVER THE BLACKENED WIRES ARE A CONCERN TO ME THAT IT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
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
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPON TESTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS THE BLINKER WAS CORRECTING AND AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR AGAIN, TURNING OFF AND ON THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK AND INSPECTING THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE TOP BROWN WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED AS IF THE WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EFFECTING OR BURNING THE HARNESS. THE TAIL LIGHT STILL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF HOWEVER THE BLACKENED WIRES ARE A CONCERN TO ME THAT IT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
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 .