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2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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 Jul 14, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS550, 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

  • Brakes333.3%
  • Fuel system333.3%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Other / unspecified111.1%
  • Suspension111.1%

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS500 was designed with a SBC braking system that uses a microcomputer to monitor the car and driver actions. The system sounds like a milestone achievement in braking technology, unfortunately its prone to failure. The entire system relies on electronics. Before long, wiring in the SBC braking system deteriorates, and suddenly the SBC system no longer functions. What happens is all of a sudden a warning light comes on and this message all in bright red saying, ‘Brake malfunction. Ineffective braking,’” Stepping on the brake, my foot was going down to the floor pretty easily. No resistance, no brakes. The Atlantic Motor Car Center receives hundreds of phone calls per year on this issue. Imagine yourself driving along and suddenly the dash goes red and you have no brakes, Mercedes has extended the warranty on the SBC pump first to 10 years, then in 2018 to 25 years. Unfortunately, which happened to me and many others is when you take your car in to the dealer after the terrorizing experience they says they can not duplicate the problem or your car is not giving out a specific code. Although I had numerous fault codes relating to the SBC system, they informed me I did not have the code they wanted. The warranty is meant to prevent failures of the SBC system that result in no brakes. But when you take the car in they inform you it will be $3,000 dollars to replace the SBC pump. Just do some investigation on line to see what's going on. Does it take a class action lawsuit against Mercedes to get action? I can't believe that the NHTSA has not recalled these vehicles. How many accidents with people injured or killed does it take to get their attention.

NHTSA ID 11448635 · filed Jan 24, 2022

No notice Brake Failure. Coming up to the corner of my sub-division before making a right turn onto a busy 4 lane road, Stepped on the brakes and nothing happened ! Swerved to the left to avoid hitting a jeep that was stopped in front of me also waiting for traffic to clear enough to make the right turn. My car traveled into the busy road, and its a Miracle I didn't get killed by a truck traveling 50 mph that might have T-boned my car on the driver side door. Car was beeping a loud noise and the instrument panel was lit up in Red with the following alarm. Reduced braking power, visit workshop. Car would not accelerate over 5 MPH with the alarm blaring. Luckily was able to turn on emergency flasher and pull over to the side without getting hit. This is the first time I ever had a car that when you stepped on the brakes nothing happened. It scared the hell out of me and I refused to ever drive this car again. Absolutely, no warning that you no longer have brakes. I wonder how many people have been killed in accident from the same problem. Car is a 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS 500.

NHTSA ID 11443620 · filed Dec 13, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

Fuel/propulsion system failed during operation on X-Way. Squeaking noise front suspension. Wheel rims cracking. Replacement key fob not working.

NHTSA ID 11492439 · filed Nov 5, 2022

Re 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500_ 211017_114326 On August 9, 2021, my brakes went out on the freeway when trying to dodge debris and other vehicles, when the brakes  completely went out and caused me to run over major wood pallet debris, and scared for my.life to get to the far right lane to make it off te exit with no brakes whatsoever. and causing major under-carriage repairs. Rather than hit the cars on each side of me, all I could do at that point was get over lanes with no brakes, and make it off the exit before I killed myself and/or someone else. The damage  done from the brakes going out, came to over $4000 in damage repairs to the under-carriage and left me without a vehicle for 45 days while in the shop This not only effected my income since  the vehicle was used for Lyft,, but I also was evicted from my apt. 30 days later, while my vehicle was in the shop, and unable to work to pay my rent. Once getting the car back these past few weeks, even though repairs were done, the car has continued to threaten my life and others, as the brakes continue to randomly go out at a light, on the freeway, behind a merging car, and Ive come so close to having another bad accident. Not to mention since the accident, I am now getting gasoline fumes that seep throughout my car while driving, so profusely, its causing me migraines. But most of all the RISK OF A FIRE!

NHTSA ID 11437059 · filed Oct 17, 2021

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Re 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500_ 211017_114326 On August 9, 2021, my brakes went out on the freeway when trying to dodge debris and other vehicles, when the brakes  completely went out and caused me to run over major wood pallet debris, and scared for my.life to get to the far right lane to make it off te exit with no brakes whatsoever. and causing major under-carriage repairs. Rather than hit the cars on each side of me, all I could do at that point was get over lanes with no brakes, and make it off the exit before I killed myself and/or someone else. The damage  done from the brakes going out, came to over $4000 in damage repairs to the under-carriage and left me without a vehicle for 45 days while in the shop This not only effected my income since  the vehicle was used for Lyft,, but I also was evicted from my apt. 30 days later, while my vehicle was in the shop, and unable to work to pay my rent. Once getting the car back these past few weeks, even though repairs were done, the car has continued to threaten my life and others, as the brakes continue to randomly go out at a light, on the freeway, behind a merging car, and Ive come so close to having another bad accident. Not to mention since the accident, I am now getting gasoline fumes that seep throughout my car while driving, so profusely, its causing me migraines. But most of all the RISK OF A FIRE!

NHTSA ID 11437059 · filed Oct 17, 2021

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Fuel/propulsion system failed during operation on X-Way. Squeaking noise front suspension. Wheel rims cracking. Replacement key fob not working.

NHTSA ID 11492439 · filed Nov 5, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Fuel/propulsion system failed during operation on X-Way. Squeaking noise front suspension. Wheel rims cracking. Replacement key fob not working.

NHTSA ID 11492439 · filed Nov 5, 2022

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

Data on this page last refreshed .