← New search

2006 Mercedes Benz CLS500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all CLS500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

49 reports with mileage · 13 unknown

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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

62 reports
90,000 miles · Aug 9, 2015
Tires

I HAD A MAJOR TIRE BLOWOUT, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, TO MY LEFT REAR TIRE. WITHOUT WARNING, SUDDENLY MY CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, THEN I HEARD A LOUD BOOM; LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A TON OF BLACK SMOKE. I DID MY BEST GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, AND ENDED UP IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION ON THE FREEWAY, FRIGHTENED FOR MY LIFE, W…

Read full complaint

I HAD A MAJOR TIRE BLOWOUT, WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, TO MY LEFT REAR TIRE. WITHOUT WARNING, SUDDENLY MY CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL, THEN I HEARD A LOUD BOOM; LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW A TON OF BLACK SMOKE. I DID MY BEST GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY, AND ENDED UP IN AN UNSAFE LOCATION ON THE FREEWAY, FRIGHTENED FOR MY LIFE, WAITING FOR HELP FOR OVER AN HOUR. ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED; APRIL 2014. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE, AND I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE TIRE RIPPED APART FROM THE SEAM; WHICH WAS OBVIOUSLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE. IT'S HORRIBLE THAT CONSUMERS LIVES ARE AT RISK. WE RELY ON THE EXPERTS, AND THEY PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK. YOU THINK WHEN YOU BUY NEW TIRES, YOUR SAFE AND YOUR NOT!! MY TIRES WERE PURCHASED, AND REPLACED BY THE CAR DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10747293

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL PUMP LEAKS AND VAPOR SMELL IS VERY PREVALENT. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN ORDERED, BUT APPARENTLY MERCEDES IS VERY SLOW ON SHIPPING THE PARTS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. BESIDES THE SMELL, I THINK THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT WHERE THERE ARE FUMES AN EXPLOSION IS POSSIBLE.…

Read full complaint

FUEL PUMP LEAKS AND VAPOR SMELL IS VERY PREVALENT. FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN ORDERED, BUT APPARENTLY MERCEDES IS VERY SLOW ON SHIPPING THE PARTS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. BESIDES THE SMELL, I THINK THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT WHERE THERE ARE FUMES AN EXPLOSION IS POSSIBLE.I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT PARTS HAVE TO COME FROM GERMANY SINCE NO ONE IN THE STATES HAS THEM. MERCEDES SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10713318

96,000 miles · Feb 12, 2015
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEAD REST INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, AND SUFFERED FROM CONSTANT HEADACHES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICL…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEAD REST INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, AND SUFFERED FROM CONSTANT HEADACHES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HEAD RESTRAINT DEPLOYMENT MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10683033

75,430 miles · Sep 28, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAR. FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FUEL TANK SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. GAS CAP WARNING LIGHT NOW COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REPLACE FUE…

Read full complaint

WHEN FUEL TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAR. FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FUEL TANK SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. GAS CAP WARNING LIGHT NOW COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO REPLACE FUEL TANK NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639660

86,000 miles · Sep 12, 2014
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE "BRAKING POWER INSUFFICIENT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE "BRAKING POWER INSUFFICIENT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ODI #10632672

109,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ CLS500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10628183

29,000 miles · Jul 13, 2014
Wheels

BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE YEARS AS WELL AS MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES , I KNOW THAT THIS CAR HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BLOWING TIRES, DAMAGING RIMS IN LOW SPEED POT HOLE INCIDENCES . THE RIMS CRACK AND THE TIRES BLOW . THIS IS…

Read full complaint

BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE YEARS AS WELL AS MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES , I KNOW THAT THIS CAR HAS A LONG HISTORY OF BLOWING TIRES, DAMAGING RIMS IN LOW SPEED POT HOLE INCIDENCES . THE RIMS CRACK AND THE TIRES BLOW . THIS IS DANGEROUS AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610236

66,397 miles · Mar 22, 2014
EngineFuel System, Gasoline

THE CAR GAS SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION GAS TANK READ THAT THERE WAS 1/4 TANK. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR COLLISION. PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, TANK AND SENSORS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME. FUEL MODULE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THIS P…

Read full complaint

THE CAR GAS SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION GAS TANK READ THAT THERE WAS 1/4 TANK. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR COLLISION. PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, TANK AND SENSORS. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME. FUEL MODULE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES TWICE. ON GOING SMELL OF GASOLINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574204

61,245 miles · Mar 22, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

SMELL OF GASOLINE. FUEL TANK LEAKING. SENSORS FAULTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574203

39,509 miles · Mar 22, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. CAR FUEL TANK READING INCORRECTLY. FUEL SENDING UNIT LEAKING. RAW FUEL LEAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574201

Official recalls

3

24V874000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Nov 19, 2024

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

21V196000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 19, 2021

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.

19V918000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Dec 20, 2019

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

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.