2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 Engine Problems

My car has stalled several times, either when I am driving, or when I stop at a traffic light. Rough idling and/or running when stopped at a red light or driving at speeds that wouldn’t normally be an issue. Engine stalling or misfiring, and car sometimes have trouble starting up. Loud rattling or vibrating noises from the engine. The check engine light is turned on. I took it to Mercedes Benz Dealership in Brooklyn, NY and was told it is a Balance Shaft problem, and they told me it could cost me about $9,000.00. Further research informs me that the problem should not be ignored, nor repair put off. Also, that failure of the balance shaft leaves the inner components of the engine unsecured and therefore will ultimately result in damage to the engine if left unchecked. Also, that driving at high speeds for long periods can agitate the problem even further due to the constant vibrations without a proper securing mechanism. As a result, I parked my car for several months, since I cannot afford the amount they quoted. In essence, I cannot even enjoy the car I bought.

NHTSA ID

11470159

Incident

Aug 27, 2020

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY I PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD CHAIN WHINE NOISE AND IT CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY AND NEVER STARTED BACK UP.

NHTSA ID

11339768

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL. I PURCHASED MY 2006 MERCEDES R350 IN 2016 WITH OVER 100K MILES ON IT. WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ALREADY ON. I USED A SCANNER TOOL FOR AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS. AS IT STATED TWO ISSUES. A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR/ CAM SHAFT SENSOR WAS NEEDED. SO I DECIDED AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT TO FINALIZE THE PURCHASE ANYWAY. NEEDLESS TO SAY, AFTER I CHANGED THE SENSORS THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND SPENT UNNECESSARY MONEY, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE PROBLEM IS IN FACT A FAULTY BALANCE SHAFT INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT. THAT WAS COVERED MY MERCEDES IN A RECALL AT ONE POINT BEFORE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. FOR SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS A DEFECTED PART IN A MOTOR SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLE, BUT WHENEVER IT IS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED WITHOUT HESITATION SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFAULT AND NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE BY ANY PREVIOUS OWNERS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AT HAND. THANKS IN ADVANCE.

NHTSA ID

11083807

Incident

Apr 30, 2016

BALANCE SHAFT GEAR DEFECTIVE APPARENTLY MERCEDES HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, CLASS ACTION SUITS HAVE BEEN FILED- NO RECALL YET. I PLAN TO CALL MERCEDES DEALER TOMORROW- DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY HELP ON THEIR PART - IF THAT'S THE CASE WILL TRY TO JOIN CLASS ACTION SUIT AS THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY COSTLY -(THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) PROBLEM FOR NUMEROUS MB VEHICLES- MANY CLASSES FROM 2007 -2011. MERCEDES BENZ WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (USED) FROM LOCAL MB DEALER HERE IN NY 2009 AS A PRE OWNED CERTIFIED VEHICLE, WHY WAS I NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THAT MERCEDES KNOWINGLY KNEW AND COME TO FIND OUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED. THE NHTSA NEED S TO LOOK INTO THIS MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED, MERCEDES SERVICE TECHS WERE MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT THEY WERE NOT INSTRUCTED TO LET CUSTOMERS BE KNOWN OF THIS WHEN CARS WERE BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND RECALLS MUST BE PREFORMED

NHTSA ID

10956705

Incident

Nov 30, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE BUT MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BALANCE SHAFT AS A DEFECT AND ROAD SAFETY HAZARD. UNFORTUNATELY IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE'S ENGINE FALLING A PART AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BEFORE SOMEONE WILL DO SOMETHING WHICH IS TERRIBLE. MERCEDES-BENZ BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEMS AND HOW TO CHECK YOUR CAR. BALANCE SHAFT MERCEDES V6 AND V8 PROBLEMS MERCEDES-BENZ V6 AND V8 ENGINES HAD TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS CAUSED BY BALANCE SHAFT AND IDLER GEAR FAILURES. MERCEDES PRODUCED CERTAIN MODELS WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS ( M273 ENGINES). THESE FAULTY GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE OR STOP DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10885935

Incident

Jul 19, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START, DEALER FIRST REPLACED FUEL PUMP ($1500),THEN WHEN CAME TO PICKUP VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT DEALER, REPLACED STARTER(NO CHARGE), DROVE FOR 2 WEEKS ISSUE CAME BACK, TOOK TO DEALER , THEY KEPT IT FOR 20 DAYS AND SAID SOME SORT OF CONTROL MODULE, BUT WHO KNOWS. ITS BEEN 15 MONTHS AND CAR JUST STOPPED SMACK IN MIDDLE OF FREEWAY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR AND WOULD NOT START. CURRENTLY AT DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10811956

Incident

Dec 10, 2015

Mileage

88,000 mi

WIRING FROM ENGINE HARNESS TO FUEL PUMP BURNT ON FREEWAY , ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN, COULD NOT START BACK UP IN MIDDLE OF I5 FREEWAY. REPAIRS ARE AMOUNTING TO $4000. COULD HAVE BURNT ENTIRE VEHICLE AND AFTER READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NHTSA ID

10811951

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT AND IDLER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10746864

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, I LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND SAW THAT MY ENGINE BELT WAS OFF MY ENGINE AND A PULLEY CAME OFF MY ENGINE. THIS IS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALREADY REPLACED MY BELT JUST LESS THAN 10,000 BEFORE. IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I'M AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WILL BE IN A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10716162

Incident

May 8, 2015

Mileage

92,105 mi

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - TOOK THE CAR FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD P CODES 0016 AND 0017 WERE COMING ON MEANING THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE GEAR IN THE BALANCE SHAFT WHICH MB KNOWS ABOUT AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. IT WOULD COST $6000 TO FIX. I BEGAN TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS OR ISSUES LIKE MINE HAVE OCCURRED WITH OTHERS AND I FOUND I WAS NOT ALONE AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. I WANT TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AS MB SHOULD BE HELP ACCOUNTABLE FOR KNOWINGLY PROVIDING FAULTY PRODUCTS TO CUSTOMERS - THEY NEED TO BE LIABLE TO RECALL AND FIX EVERY ENGINE AFFECTED BY THIS!! THE US GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PROTECT CONSUMERS BETTER THAN THIS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10714952

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

91,000 mi

ENGINE BALANCE SHAFT WEARS EXCESSIVELY TO THE POINT WHERE SOME TEETH ARE ALMOST GONE. CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND EXCESSIVE KNOCKING AS AFFECTS IGNITION TIMING. REPAIR IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AS IT REQUIRES TAKING THE ENGINE OUT. IF LEFT UNFIXED IT MAY STALL THE ENGINE DURING DRIVING AND BE A SAFETY HAZARD. RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE ONLINE SHOWS POTENTIALLY THIS ISSUE AFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES USING THE SAME ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10649085

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

Mileage

116,000 mi

THE CAR RISES UP ON ONE SIDE WHEN PUT THRUST HE COMPUTER NO ERROR CODE COMES UP . AFTER A DAY OR SO SITTING IN THE GARAGE GETS BACK TO NORMAL. GOT IT CHECKED BY MECHANIC NO LEAKS . THEN HAPPENED AGAIN THEY RESET THE COMPUTER CHARGED ME . HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN THIS TIME THEY CHANGED THE COMPUTER AND THE CAR SHOWED AIRBAG LEAKING. CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY . LOOKED UP ON LINE MOSTLY EVERYONE WHO OWNS THIS CAR HAS THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS LOT OF ISSUES. IT STOPPED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD ON HIGH WAY I WAS LUCKILY SAVED BUT THEY SAID A SHAFT RING BROKE IN THE ENGINE I HAD TO PAY $2000.00 DOLLARS . MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL R 350 FOR SUSPENSION LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10561838

Incident

Nov 13, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR BEGAN TO IDLE REALLY HIGH WHEN PARKED OR AT A STOP IN OCTOBER. I WENT TO TWO MERCEDES DEALERS TO CHECK ON THE ISSUE. THE SECOND MERCEDES DEALER/SERVICE CENTER VALIDATED THE FIRST, EXPLAINING IT WAS THE ENGINE BALANCE CRANKSHAFT THAT WAS LOOSE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD COST $6000 TO FIX. I BEGAN TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS OR ISSUES LIKE MINE HAVE OCCURRED WITH OTHERS AND I FOUND I WAS NOT ALONE AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAD BEEN FILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550697

Incident

Oct 3, 2013

Mileage

119,000 mi

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. REGULAR SERVICE AND MAINTENAINCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY THE DEALER ONLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DTB-S-B-03.30/08I WAS SENT TO DEALERS FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE 7K REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FIIRST TIME LAMP LIT WAS AT 72,245 MILES BUT WENT OFF. LAMP CONTINUED TO LIGHT INTERMITTED BUT STAYS ON NOW MORE THAN OFF DIAGNOSIS MILEAGE WAS 73,845. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,679. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513342

Incident

Apr 24, 2013

Mileage

72,243 mi

BALANCE SHAFT,,,,COAD 1200&1208. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467056

Incident

Jul 23, 2012

Mileage

77,330 mi

THE CAR IS IN TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE BALANCE SHAFT. AFTER CHECKING THE INTERNET TO DETERMINE IF THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE IT HAD BECOME APPARENT THIS EXACT REPAIR IS VERY COMMON FOR THE 2006 R350. THE TOTAL EXPENSE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $6,500-7,000 USD. THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE FILED IN THE STATE OF NJ AGAINST MERCEDES FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459741

Incident

May 15, 2012

Mileage

101,733 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CODES FOR BALANCE SHAFT AND INTAKE. DEALER QUOTES $7000 FOR WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459023

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

79,000 mi

MY ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STRUT HAD GONE BAD AND THE CAM IN THE ENGINE WENT BAD. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS NORMAL IN THE 06 R350 AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY IT HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. IM UPSET BECAUSE IM VIEWING YOUR WEBSITE AND OTHER SITES THAT ARE DESIGN FOR OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLES AND THEY ARE SHOWING THE SAME PROBLEMS.. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10452935

Incident

Jan 5, 2011

Mileage

51,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC THAT WORKS ON FOREIGN CARS, HE INFORMED ME THAT MY DRIVE CAM SHAFT IS "RETARDED" BASICALLY STATING THAT MY SPROCKETS THAT HOLD THE TIMING BELT ARE WORN DOWN, I AM ALSO LOOSING COMPRESSION. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL GOODWILL THE REPAIR IF THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY HOWEVER PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT YOUR CAR HAS ALMOST 100,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT MAY JUST BE THE TIMING BELT IS WORN DOWN.(THEY WILL TRY ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF THE REPAIR). THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY NEED TO CHECK THE RECORDS TO SEE WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND ALSO THAT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR FROM THEM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO THE WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450538

Incident

Mar 6, 2012

Mileage

92,261 mi

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTION SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER GETTING THE CAR, WE ALSO FELT A STRONG JERKING THEN SHIFTING GEARS, BUT IT WAS DOING IT ON ITS OWN. WE TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT'S JUST LOUD. THEN WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FIX IT BUT IT NEVER STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO THE ENGINE HAD TO BE FIXED RATHER QUICKLY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN THE END OF 2005, AND HAS 88,000 MILES. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE CAR BEGAN IDLING/SHAKING REALLY BAD. I CALLED MB ROADSIDE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WASN'T PLACED BACK ON THE CAR CORRECTLY AND GAS WAS LEAKING. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO GAS LEAKING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE COULD BE DIAGNOSED. THE CAR IS STILL IDLING BAD AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM FOR A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I SHOULD RECEIVE TOMORROW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444995

Incident

Jan 16, 2006

MY 2006 R350 HAS A BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE (GOT THE CODES P0016 AND P0017) ON THE SCANNER. IT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THERE ARE ONLY 41K MILES ON THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10429152

Incident

Sep 3, 2011

BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEM WITH MB R350, 2006 ENGINE W272 65000 MILES DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR AN EXCHANGE ARGUING THIS CAR HAS POTENTIAL PROBLEM PROVEN WITH THE AMOUNT OF REPAIR DONE TO THIS KIND OF ENGINE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR ( 6 TO 7K) MERCEDES SHOULD ASSUME THE COST OF REPAIR AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL M272 AND M273 ENGINES IN USA AND CANADA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10427236

Incident

Sep 25, 2011

MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT/GEAR PROBLEM. IT HAS 85000 MILES... WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT FOR A CAR THAT IS 5 YEARS OLD AND SUPPOSED TO LAST FOREVER. PLUS I HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH OIL CHANGES, TIRES, ETC AND AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I SEE ON LINE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT PENDING . I BELIEVE A $5000 REPAIR IS WAY TOO MUCH AND THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10420817

Incident

Aug 5, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION AND WAS TAKEN TO A MERCEDES DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THEY REPORT THAT THERE IS A BALANCE SHIFT PROBLEM THAT WAS RELATED TO WEAR AND TEAR. THE REPAIR COSTS 5,000.00. I FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE THAT THIS ID A DEFECTIVE PART AND WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE DUE TO FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10420793

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICE BY MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. I BARELY DRIVE MY R350 MERCEDES. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY BALANCE SHAFT AND INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID ITS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT OCCUR WITH THE 2006 AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY ITS NOT A RECALL. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413833

Incident

Jul 18, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi