2008 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Owner Complaints

The failed component of the car was the drivers side fuel transfer pump. After noticing the faint smell of gas in my car i checked under the rear driver side passenger seat. I was shocked to find more than 16 fluid ounces of gas floating freely around the well of the gas pump.the insulation under the rear passenger seat is soaked in gas. I can only imagine what could’ve happened if there was an accident or if someone even sparked a cigarette in my car. Not only is this extremely dangerous, there are negative consequences that result from inhaling gas constantly while driving. Gas contains cancerous properties, people should not be subject to unknowingly driving around a car that is manufactured to the defect of releasing cancerous vapors. Who knows what damage inhaling gas fumes for the past months has done to me or my passengers. In the even that someone were to spark a cigarette in the car it was possible that the car could’ve caught fire. The passengers in the rear right seats would be affected the most, the insulation under their seat is soaked in gas. This problem has possibly been noticed by dealers and identified in a warranty that expired on 4/24/2023. This warranty was issued for fuel tanks and fuel components. I am not sure whether the gas pump was affected but the gas pump alone constitutes a recall. This is a very common problem as well, apparently there are multiple youtube videos demonstrating gas leaks in the back seat. Upon contacting dealer I was informed that they did not know if the gas pump was included in a warranty that expired in 4/24/2023. I would have to pay for an inspection to determine if the gas pump is related to the warranty. In the case that it was related the financial obligation to repair is my burden. The dealer wont inspect the vehicle unless I pay, I have documented photo and video of the gas well and the extent of the leakage. There was no warning or any indication that I was driving around with this dangerous issue.

NHTSA ID

11638320

Incident

Jan 24, 2025

I bought a 2008 mercedes cls and have had it for a while now and with no warning it has started making a banging noise while idling. It idles very rough and shakes my car. I'm unable to drive it safely at this point. The engine is also mimicking symptoms of an idler gear/ balance shaft wearing down due to poor building materials from factory allowing movement of the timing chain. Apparently causing the engine to blow. I don't know what to do now. I don't know if it is covered by mercedes. But I know I am not alone on needing this to become a recall...

NHTSA ID

11591644

Incident

May 24, 2024

I see there was a recall on instrument clusters on my vehicle in 2001. My instrument cluster is completely black and I can’t see speed or any thing at night. You cant replace the bulb or cluster unless mercedes reprogram it which the price is rediculous. I did some research and seen that Mercedes did some recalls for my vehicle but it doesn’t show up. I was told to contact you guys in regards to this.

NHTSA ID

11547230

Incident

Sep 2, 2023

My doors will open without the keyfob being in close proximity to the vehicle. My car has been stolen d/t this feature. Also the electrical lighting system malfunctions causing dimmer lights especially when driving at night

NHTSA ID

11465666

Incident

Mar 6, 2020

MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER ON DAY OF DRIVING HOME FROM A DAY BABYSITTING MY NIECE AND NEPHEW I GOT HOME PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THAT WHOLE NIGHT FROM 11 AT NIGHT UNTILL ABOUT 330 IN THE MORNING THE LOUDEST SOUND I'VE EVER HERD THE EQUIVALENT OF A BOMB DETONATION EXPLOSION WENT OFF AND IM 10 15 FEET AWAY PAINTING MY GARAGE AND NEXT THING I KNOW I LOOK AT MY MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 2008. ALL THE AIRBAGS IN THE ROOF AND BY THE BACK WINDOW DETONATING! I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY TO THIS DAY THE CAR WAS LOCKED KEYS WHERE IN MY ROOM IN THE HOUSE. AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS COULD OF HAPPENED. ! PLEASE GET AHOLD OF ME AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE BECAUSE THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE SOMETIMES LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN IN A HIGH END LUXURY CAR. AGAIN IT'S A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550. VIN# [XXX]. YOU CAN REACH ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT [XXX]. OR MY EMAIL [XXX]. THANK-YOU. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT ELITE MERCEDES BENZ GETTING LOOKED AT I WILL HAVE THEM SEND ME PHOTOS TO SEND TO IF YOU WOULD LIKE. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ID

11343649

Incident

Jun 22, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11341067

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE AIRBAGS LOCATED IN THE ROOF JUST DEPLOYED OUT OF NO WHERE WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK ONLY THE 2 SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS

NHTSA ID

11217013

Incident

May 28, 2019

Mileage

89,995 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL EXTREMECONTACT SPORT TIRES, SIZE: 245/40/ZR18 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TPMS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF STOCKTON (LOCATED AT 10777 TRINITY PKWY, STOCKTON, CA 95219, (209) 944-5511). THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE TIRES BE REPLACED, BUT THE DEALER DECLINED TO ASSIST WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

NHTSA ID

11123486

Incident

Dec 30, 2017

Mileage

98,000 mi

HAVE GOTTEN AIRBAG CODE B9223. DRIVERS SIDE IGINITION SQUIB RESISTED CENTER IS HIGH R12/9 MESSAGE. TOOK IT TO.LOCAL.MB DEALER AND THEY WANT $1800 TO FIX A AIRBAG PROBLEM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DEFECT FREE REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUES WITH MB AND IT HONESTLY SEEMS THAT THIS IS DONE DELIBERATELY TO GENERATE REVENUE BY SELLING SERVICE FOR ALMOST $2000 TO REPLACE A $50 CONNECTOR THEY KNOW IS MANUFACTURED IN A SUBPAR FASHION, EXPECTING IT TO FAIL. MB HAS FAILED MYSELF AND COUNTLESS OTHERS WITH THIS ONE SIMPLE PROBLEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT STEAK.

NHTSA ID

11014980

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

75,000 mi

PLEASE ADVISE OF ANY MERCEDES BENZ RECALLS ON AIR SUSPENSION ISSUE WITH CLS CLASS VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR, CLS550 MODEL. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH LEAK OR MALFUNCTION WITH HYDRAULIC AIR SUSPENSION CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE AND INCUR WARNING OF "STOP VEHICLE IS TOO LOW".

NHTSA ID

10980150

Incident

Apr 12, 2017

Mileage

230,000 mi

PARKING BRAKE INOPERATIVE AND A YELLOW PARK TRIANGLE WARNING AT LEFT CORNER OF THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY.

NHTSA ID

10937133

Incident

Oct 7, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING G THROUGH A PARKING LOT WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. NATURALLY, THE CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER BUT MANAGEABLE. AS I ATTEMPTED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT I HEARD A 'POP' UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE WHEEL WENT INTO A FREE SPIN. THERE WAS NO INPUT FROM THE STEERING WHEELS TO THE RACK AND PINION. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT BROKEN ABOUT 2 INCHES ABOVE THE RACK SPLINE. THE STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN IN TWO. THE INCREASED FORCE REQUIRED TO TURN THE WHEEL WAS TOO MUCH FOR THE SHAFT TO HANDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10935341

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

LEAKING FUEL AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT UNDER REAR SEAT BEHIND DRIVER, FILLING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH GASOLINE FUMES, AFTER FILLING THE CAR UP WITH GASOLINE.

NHTSA ID

10926259

Incident

Oct 8, 2016

Mileage

112,000 mi

I PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION TO FILL MY TANK. AFTER ADDING FUEL TO CAPACITY I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I ATTRIBUTED THE SMELL TO POSSIBLY SPILLING FUEL ON MYSELF. I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND THEN HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I CONTINUED TO SMELL FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE TANK THAT WAS SPLASHING / VENTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SHARED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CLS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604989

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

16,000 mi

WHILE APPROACHING INTERSTATE ON RAMP BEGAN TO HEAR A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION BEGINNING TO SINK. THE STRUT LOWER TO A POINT WHERE THE BODY OF THE CAR WAS ONLY 2-3 INCHES ABOVE THE TIRE. WHEN I CHECKED THE DASHBOARD INDICATORS I HAD AN ERROR LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO LOW TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604985

Incident

Jun 21, 2014

Mileage

63,500 mi

ON MARCH 10, 2012 MY WIFE STARTED THE AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AS SHE EXITED THE PARKING GARAGE, THE TOXIC FUEL SMELL BECAME UNBEARABLE AND SHE IMMEDIATELY TURNED- AROUND, RE-ENTERED THE GARAGE, QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE CAR AND EXITED THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF FAINTING AND / OR AN EXPLOSION. THE MB REP EXPLAINED TO US THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM; WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE UNDER THE BACKSEAT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT; AND THE LEAKAGE CAUSED FUEL TO BE PUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN AND ACCUMULATE UNDER THE REAR SEAT; THEREBY SATURATING THE INSULATION, CARPET AND REAR SEAT CUSHIONS. THE MECHANICS REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM; AND REITERATED THAT THE GASOLINE LEAKED UP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT (FROM THE FAULTY FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE), SATURATED THE CARPET, THE FLOOR INSULATION AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL SEAT CUSHIONS. IN OUR OPINION, A CRITICAL VEHICLE DESIGN SAFETY FEATURE (IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION) IS NOT TO PERMIT FUEL TO BE PUMPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT; WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN INTERIOR EXPLOSION, AND AT A MINIMUM IMPAIR THE ABILITY OF THE OCCUPANTS TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE, BEFORE SUCCUMBING TO TOXIC FUMES. THE DEALER SERVICE REP?S RESPONSE WAS: ?MB HAS DETERMINED THAT THE SAFEST PLACE TO LOCATE THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM IS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE?. I IMPLIED THAT HIS RESPONSE WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. INTERESTINGLY, THE MB DEALER SERVICE REP CALLED US AND SAID MB INC. WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. HOWEVER, REPAIRING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DAMAGE AND DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLEVIATE THE CAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503839

Incident

Mar 10, 2012

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ 550 CLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL COULD BE SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN PARK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT A VENT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VENT REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL BUT A RECALL HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10484967

Incident

Sep 19, 2012

Mileage

30,000 mi