Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reports
13,000 miles · Jul 2, 2024
Tires
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS500 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Extreme Contact, Tire Sizes: 275/40/ZR18 and 275/35/ZR18, DOT Numbers: 1HW0FBD0A and 1AF0FB0M5 respectively. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the neighbor informed the contact that the driver’s side front and rear tires …
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The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes Benz CLS500 equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: Extreme Contact, Tire Sizes: 275/40/ZR18 and 275/35/ZR18, DOT Numbers: 1HW0FBD0A and 1AF0FB0M5 respectively. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the neighbor informed the contact that the driver’s side front and rear tires were flat. The contact stated that the TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the tires were diagnosed with a slow leak on the sidewall. The tires were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.
NHTSA ODI #11598339
152,000 miles · Mar 23, 2019
Service Brakes
I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE LIGHT FLASHED ON FOR THE BRAKES SAYING BRAKING POWER REDUCED. ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD NOT STOP MY CAR, I WAS SO SCARED ON THE HIGHWAY I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. SOMEHOW I GOT OVER TO THE FAR LANE TOWARDS THE GUARDRAIL WHER…
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I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE LIGHT FLASHED ON FOR THE BRAKES SAYING BRAKING POWER REDUCED. ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD NOT STOP MY CAR, I WAS SO SCARED ON THE HIGHWAY I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME. SOMEHOW I GOT OVER TO THE FAR LANE TOWARDS THE GUARDRAIL WHERE NO ONE NORMALLY DRIVES AND THEN I ROLLED THE CAR UNTIL IT SLOWED ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THEN I FORCED IT INTO PARK. SMH THERE SHOULD REALLY BE SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOW I FEAR TO DRIVE MY CAR EVER AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #11191027
35,853 miles · Jan 6, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR UPON LEAVING FUEL STOP FOR THE PAST SEVERAL FILL UPS. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL TANK IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THE REPAIR GARAGE TOLD ME IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE SAME AREA OF THE FUEL TANK THAT AFFECTS MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY HA…
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EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR UPON LEAVING FUEL STOP FOR THE PAST SEVERAL FILL UPS. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL TANK IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THE REPAIR GARAGE TOLD ME IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE SAME AREA OF THE FUEL TANK THAT AFFECTS MY VEHICLE AND THAT THEY HAVE REPAIRED THIS SAME ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE MODEL ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA ODI #10670475
79,842 miles · Aug 4, 2008
Air Bags
AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITH NO ACCIDENT OR PHYSICAL DAMAGED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236934
2,200 miles · Aug 22, 2006
Power Train
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND SHIMMIED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE TRANSMISSION BANGED. BOTH PROBLEMS WERE INTERMITTENT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED.
NHTSA ODI #10166211
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2006
Air BagsInjury
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINTS DEPLOYED AND STRUCK MY HEAD AND NECK. THE SOUND WHEN THEY ACTIVATED WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT INSIDE THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *NM *AK
NHTSA ODI #10156318
12,700 miles · Feb 28, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT SPEEDS BELOW 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE TENSION IN THE STEERING CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS REPLACED MULTIPLE COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE ARE NO FURTHER…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT SPEEDS BELOW 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE TENSION IN THE STEERING CHANGES FROM DAY TO DAY. THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS REPLACED MULTIPLE COMPONENTS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE ARE NO FURTHER REPAIRS AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RETURNED.
NHTSA ODI #10151454
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2006 Mercedes Benz CL500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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