2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class 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 2006 Mercedes-Benz R-Class, 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
- Electrical125.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
- Powertrain (other)125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
WE THOUGHT THAT OUR CAR WAS BURNING OUT THE REAR BULBS REALLY FAST OR THAT THERE WAS A SHORT. TURNS OUT THAT WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE BALANCE SHAFT, WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS INDEED A SHORT IN THE HARNESS. APPARENTLY, THE C-CLASS IS NOT THE ONLY MODEL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JS
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
2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 3.5 272 ENGINE CONSTANT CEL FOR P0016 P0017 CAM BALANCE SHAFTS FOR LEFT SIDE INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAM BALANCERS WORN GEARS DUE TO INCORRECTLY HARDENED GEARS DURING MANUFACTURE. IF GEARS FAIL ENGINE WILL FAIL TIMING CHAIN MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE OR SMASH VALVES POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK IF OCCURS AT HIGH SPEED. MB HAS KNOWN THAT THEIR ENGINES ARE UNSAFE SINCE 2007 ISSUING TSB'S BUT NOT RECALLING ENGINES EXPECTING CUSTOMERS TO PAY FROM $4000 TO $7500 FOR REPAIRS AFTER THEY HAVE DONE MINOR REPAIRS SUCH AS REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS FOR THE CAMSHAFT BALANCERS ( AS I HAVE ALREADY DONE ) DEALERS SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND PRETTY MUCH ALL 2006 2007 272 ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM OVER THE WHOLE CLASSES OF MB VEHICLES NOT JUST R CLASS, BUT MBUSA IS DENYING THIS, SINCE A CLASS ACION SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST MBUSA THEY HAVE STARTED TO COVER REPAIRS TO SOME PEOPLE WHO'S WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED BUT NOT ALL....... A PROBLEM EXISTS DEALERS KNOW IT EXISTS AND NOW MBUSA IS STARTING TO ADMIT IT TO SOME PEOPLE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE AND AN INVESTIGATION IN TO MBUSA AND THEIR PRACTICES IN COVERING UP A DEFECT OF MANUFACTURE AND SUBSEQUENT COVER UP OF THEIR PUTTING UNSAFE VEHICLES ON TO THE US AUTO MARKET , PLUS LEMON LAW VIOLATIONS AS THEY ARE TELLING OWNERS TO TRADE THEIR VEHILES OR SELL THEM ( DUMPING THEM ONTON THE OPEN MARKET FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO PURCHASE THEM ).. *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
WE THOUGHT THAT OUR CAR WAS BURNING OUT THE REAR BULBS REALLY FAST OR THAT THERE WAS A SHORT. TURNS OUT THAT WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE BALANCE SHAFT, WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS INDEED A SHORT IN THE HARNESS. APPARENTLY, THE C-CLASS IS NOT THE ONLY MODEL HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JS
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
2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 3.5 272 ENGINE CONSTANT CEL FOR P0016 P0017 CAM BALANCE SHAFTS FOR LEFT SIDE INTAKE AND EXHAUST CAM BALANCERS WORN GEARS DUE TO INCORRECTLY HARDENED GEARS DURING MANUFACTURE. IF GEARS FAIL ENGINE WILL FAIL TIMING CHAIN MAY CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE OR SMASH VALVES POSSIBLY CAUSING A WRECK IF OCCURS AT HIGH SPEED. MB HAS KNOWN THAT THEIR ENGINES ARE UNSAFE SINCE 2007 ISSUING TSB'S BUT NOT RECALLING ENGINES EXPECTING CUSTOMERS TO PAY FROM $4000 TO $7500 FOR REPAIRS AFTER THEY HAVE DONE MINOR REPAIRS SUCH AS REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS FOR THE CAMSHAFT BALANCERS ( AS I HAVE ALREADY DONE ) DEALERS SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND PRETTY MUCH ALL 2006 2007 272 ENGINES HAVE THIS PROBLEM OVER THE WHOLE CLASSES OF MB VEHICLES NOT JUST R CLASS, BUT MBUSA IS DENYING THIS, SINCE A CLASS ACION SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST MBUSA THEY HAVE STARTED TO COVER REPAIRS TO SOME PEOPLE WHO'S WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED BUT NOT ALL....... A PROBLEM EXISTS DEALERS KNOW IT EXISTS AND NOW MBUSA IS STARTING TO ADMIT IT TO SOME PEOPLE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE AND AN INVESTIGATION IN TO MBUSA AND THEIR PRACTICES IN COVERING UP A DEFECT OF MANUFACTURE AND SUBSEQUENT COVER UP OF THEIR PUTTING UNSAFE VEHICLES ON TO THE US AUTO MARKET , PLUS LEMON LAW VIOLATIONS AS THEY ARE TELLING OWNERS TO TRADE THEIR VEHILES OR SELL THEM ( DUMPING THEM ONTON THE OPEN MARKET FOR PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF TO PURCHASE THEM ).. *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 .