2006 Mercedes-Benz S350 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 S350, 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
- Electrical120.0%
- Engine120.0%
- Exterior lighting120.0%
- Suspension120.0%
- Visibility120.0%
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
I HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS SINCE A FEW YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I QUESTIONED SERVICE ADVISOR ON MANY OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THEY NEVER SAW A CAR GO THROUGH SO MANY BULBS. I HAVE SEVERAL SERVICE/RECEIPTS DOCUMENT THIS. THE BULB RINGS ARE NOW MELTED ON BOTH SIDES. WHEN I TOOK CAR TO MBZ DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED AND SHOWED THEM THEY WERE PERPLEXED. THE SERVICE TECH STATED IN FRONT OF ME AND SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS WAS FROM BULBS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY.. THE ONLY PLACE THEY WERE EVER PURCHASED AND INSTALLED WAS THIS ORIGINAL MB DEALERSHIP. THEY LOOKED INTO IT AND ADVISED ME THEY WOULD REPLACE HEADLIGHTS FOR $2200 WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. THEN RAN INTO GM OF THE 3 DEALERSHIPS OWNED AND HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ME. HE THEN OFFERED TO REPLACE AT COST WITH NO LABOR $1100. STILL NOT FAIR TO ME. I PURCHASED A $70,000 VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM THIS DEALERSHIP- QUESTIONED CONSTANTLY HEADLIGHT BULBS GOING OUT AND NOW HAVE PLASTIC RINGS THAT HAVE MELTED AND ARE OBSCURING THE LIGHT EMITTING CAUSING IT HARD TO SEE MY BLACK CAR AT NIGHT. PEOPLE CONSTANTLY FLASH LIGHTS AT ME ONCOMING WHICH MEANS THAT CAN'T SEE MY LIGHTS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION AND SHOULD BE REPLACED/REPAIRED AT THE EXPENSE OF MB. I HAVE CHILDREN I DRIVE WITH EVERY DAY. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. I HAVE PICTURES THAT YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD. I AM AFRAID OF BEING HIT HEAD ON IF SOMEONE PASSES THAT CAN NOT SEE MY DIM HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A PLASTIC RING MELTING AND COVERING HALF OF MY LIGHT.
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
WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE BIG FAILURES OF 2005 AND 2006 MERCEDES ENGINE? CAM SHAFTS BREAK. ENGINES ARE TRASHED. $7000 TO REPLACE. MERCEDES WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. BIG PROBLEMS. *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 HAVE HAD TO REPEATEDLY REPLACE FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS SINCE A FEW YEARS AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR BRAND NEW. I QUESTIONED SERVICE ADVISOR ON MANY OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THEY NEVER SAW A CAR GO THROUGH SO MANY BULBS. I HAVE SEVERAL SERVICE/RECEIPTS DOCUMENT THIS. THE BULB RINGS ARE NOW MELTED ON BOTH SIDES. WHEN I TOOK CAR TO MBZ DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED AND SHOWED THEM THEY WERE PERPLEXED. THE SERVICE TECH STATED IN FRONT OF ME AND SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS WAS FROM BULBS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY.. THE ONLY PLACE THEY WERE EVER PURCHASED AND INSTALLED WAS THIS ORIGINAL MB DEALERSHIP. THEY LOOKED INTO IT AND ADVISED ME THEY WOULD REPLACE HEADLIGHTS FOR $2200 WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. THEN RAN INTO GM OF THE 3 DEALERSHIPS OWNED AND HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT FOR ME. HE THEN OFFERED TO REPLACE AT COST WITH NO LABOR $1100. STILL NOT FAIR TO ME. I PURCHASED A $70,000 VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM THIS DEALERSHIP- QUESTIONED CONSTANTLY HEADLIGHT BULBS GOING OUT AND NOW HAVE PLASTIC RINGS THAT HAVE MELTED AND ARE OBSCURING THE LIGHT EMITTING CAUSING IT HARD TO SEE MY BLACK CAR AT NIGHT. PEOPLE CONSTANTLY FLASH LIGHTS AT ME ONCOMING WHICH MEANS THAT CAN'T SEE MY LIGHTS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION AND SHOULD BE REPLACED/REPAIRED AT THE EXPENSE OF MB. I HAVE CHILDREN I DRIVE WITH EVERY DAY. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. I HAVE PICTURES THAT YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FORWARD. I AM AFRAID OF BEING HIT HEAD ON IF SOMEONE PASSES THAT CAN NOT SEE MY DIM HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A PLASTIC RING MELTING AND COVERING HALF OF MY LIGHT.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES S350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 25-40-MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AIR STRUTS COULD BE REPLACED UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB-32-25-82. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY SUN-ROOF BURST IN MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ (S350). THE SUN-ROOF WAS CLOSED. THE CAR WAS NOT HIT BY A ROCK OR ANY OTHER OBJECT. IT JUST EXPLODED. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE GLASS THAT REMAINED IT WAS POINTING UPWARD AS IF SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR CAUSED IT TO BREAK. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME WHEN IT BROKE. THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE CAR. *JB
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 .