2011 Mercedes Benz CL550

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
000
Power Train1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000
Engine1
010
Electrical System1
010

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline12V557000
Filed Dec 3, 20125,800 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011. Due to an irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel filter flange, the fuel filter flange may crack when operated in high temperatures.

Risk. If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present.

Remedy. Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter, free of charge. The recall campaign is expected to begin in February 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Oct 21, 2023FL

On October 17, 2023, my vehicle experienced a significant issue—a fire incident—while I was leaving the garage of my house. According to the fire department & my insurance adjuster, it appeared that electrical components started the fire. Separately, on June 22, 2023, I was stuck inside the vehicle as I could not open the doors of the car. The batteries of the car had completely been drained, and the car was just jump-started by my insurance road-side assistant, but I turned off the engine (I was inside the car) forgetting about the fact that the car was not sufficiently being charged. Eventually the car was jump-started again, and I got out of the car safely. And, I had a local MB dealership replace both starter and ancillary batteries. Shouldn't car doors open regardless of the levels of the batteries left? What if the fire on Oct 17 had happened, and I could not escape from the car as I could not open the doors...

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 1, 2022CA

My back up just stops producing an image. I can restart the car and it might or might not come back on. For the most part the camera is on but I’ve been reading on all the MB forums this is a very common issue, with these W216 and also it’s sister car, the W221. The problem is, these were extremely low production vehicles and I’m sure not many are in existence now. I feel these 130-210k cars, shouldn’t have safety issues like this. I don’t mind paying for aging components but safety components should always be working properly. It concerns me because what if a neighborhood child were to dart out from behind and I hit them? The incident could have been prevented.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 9, 2022CA

My 2011 Mercedes-Benz CL550 4MATIC with 63,335 miles. it has a strong gas smell in the inside. There was a recall pertaining to, "Due to the irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel filter flange, the filter may crack when operated in high temperatures." I live in California and it has been very hot here. when I put my VIN into the recall system it states no recall. I also have a 2010 S550 that had the same problem last year and it also showed no recalls for this problem. If there are no recalls for all models of this vehicle for this problem there should be.

EngineFire
Filed Mar 2, 201539,000 milesAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ CL550. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INITIATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

Power Train
Filed Dec 29, 2011CA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE SPEED JUST DROPPED FROM 80 MPH TO 40 MPH AND BRAKE LIGHTS, OF COURSE, DID NOT TURN ON. BECAUSE OF THAT, THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT WARNED AND ALMOST CRASHED BEHIND ME. IT WAS NOT ONLY THIS INCIDENT BUT THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. *KB

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20131000Routine
20120100Routine
2011 — this page5120Routine
20102000Routine
20091010Routine
20087000Routine
20077000Routine

Compare every CL550 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 3, 2012. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.