2006 Mercedes Benz CLS500

Routine

Owners filed 62 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

49 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles; the median is 97,759 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes20
000
Fuel/Propulsion System11
000
Fuel System, Gasoline10
000
Wheels3
000
Air Bags3
204
Tires2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Wheels › Rim1
000
Visibility1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly24V874000
Filed Nov 19, 202433,456 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly21V196000
Filed Mar 19, 202111,356 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly19V918000
Filed Dec 20, 2019747,928 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. 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

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 28, 2024172,989 milesIL

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS500. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH, the messages "Reduced Braking Pressure, and “Service Required" was displayed and the vehicle experienced a loss in braking power. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over and proceed to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was informed that the VIN on the SVC (Sensotronic-braking Control Unit) did not match with the VIN and that the contact had to bring the vehicle to a local dealer for repair. Upon becoming aware of the failure, the vehicle was towed to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed; however, the contact was advised that the dealer could not replace the unit because the unit was not the correct unit for the vehicle. The contact was informed that the vehicle should not have an SVC unit but instead should have an ABS unit. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 172,989.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Sep 18, 2024131,000 milesSC

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS and ESC warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the electronic stability control module. The contact was informed that the part had been discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 131,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 29, 202499,000 milesNV

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the brake pedal failed to depress properly. There was a message to “STOP” displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the TLS, but the failure recurred. The contact called the local dealer, who informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 25, 2021CA

VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. GAS LEAKING ON THE FLOOR FROM GAS TANK AREA.

Service Brakes
Filed Jul 31, 2020170,000 milesGA

BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT. BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR. ESP LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR THROTTLING TO A SLOW CREEP EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY WIFE AND CHILD.

Visibility
Filed Jun 25, 2020CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000(VISIBILITY) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SACRAMENTO (1810 HOWE AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95825, (888) 479-0451) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2006 CLS 500 ##

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 8, 2020129,000 milesOH

I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY WHEN I BEGAN TO PUSH ON THE BREAK PEDAL IT WENT ALL THE WAY THE THE FLOOR. GOOD THING IT WAS A LITTLE TRAFFIC BECAUSE I WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY IN THE GRASS AND STOP. BUT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS COULD HAVE WELL ENDED BAD FOR ME. WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES JUST STOPPED WORKING AND GAVE THE ERROR 'DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL STOP VEHICLE'

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 25, 2019133,726 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE 'DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL STOP VEHICLE' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE VEHICLE COASTED UNTIL IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO (4301 MILLENIA BLVD, ORLANDO, FL 32839, (407) 374-0033) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,726.

Wheels
Filed Jul 30, 2019141,849 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN IT RAINED, IT FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE WOULD FLIP OVER. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT AND STATED THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS WORN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO PRESTIGE AUTO MALL (1501 VERNON ODOM BLVD, AKRON, OHIO, 44320, (330) 634-9999), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONTACT DID NOT SIGN UNKNOWN PAPERWORK AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,849.

Suspension
Filed Apr 7, 2019100,000 milesFL

THE MERCEDES BENZ CLS500 HAS A DEFECTIVE PART ALL OF THE AIR STRUTS SUSPENSION ARE DROPPED THE MERCEDES BENZ AIRMATIC ARE KNOWN FOR GOING BAD IT'S A WAY THAT MERCEDES CAN CHARGE FOR MORE WORK TO CUSTOMERS THEY SELL YOU A CAR THAT WILL GO BAD NOT IF BUT WHEN WILL GO BAD THIS IS CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND START THE RECALL PROCESS 2006 CLS500 FRONT AND REAR AIR STRUTS SUSPENSION

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 201851,573 milesFL

SENSOMATIC BRAKING CONTROL HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO HAVE FAILED. RELATED BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INHIBITS THE CAR FROM BRAKING PROPERLY OR DRIVING AT A COMFORTABLE SPEED. BRAKE WIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND BRAKE PADS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS THAT I WAS UNAWARE EXISTED. I NEED HELP. I'M IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. BRAKING THE VEHICLE TAKES CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND SEEMS TO BE DELAYED.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 16, 2018130,900 milesFL

BOUGHT THE 2006 CLS 500 2 YEARS AGO, SINCE THAT SECOND DAY I HAVE ISSUES WITH SBC MODULE, I CALL MB DEALER THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SINCE THE PRODUCTION DATE WAS 2004, OKAY AFTER THAT I TRY SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS AND NOBODY HAVE THE STAR TOOL TO FIX UP, THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I CONTINUE TAKE THE RISK COUPLE MONTHS UNTIL THE FUEL LINE STARTS LEAK ON THE PUMP, THIS COULD GENERATE A SPARK AND BURN MY CAR, I CALL AGAIN MB DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IS PROBABLY UNSAFE TO START THE CAR. AFTER ALL THIS YEARS I PARKED THE CAR AND ALL MY SUSPENSION WAS BROKE AS WELL, CALL AGAIN THE MB DEALER THEY ESTIMATED $ 1800 TO REPLACE THE AIR SHOCKS, SO I BUY FROM ARNOTT THE SAME MB SELL AND I REPLACE ALL 4, SO THE CAR IS UP AGAIN, NEXT WEEK I DECIDE TO SELL THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING IN 3 YEARS 9,000 MILES ONLY, TRY TO MOVE THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE, GUESS WHAT, MY TRANSMISSION GO TO LIMP MODE BECAUSE THE BREAKS ARE NOT WORKING, SO FAR I DECIDE TO WRITE IN HERE TO COMPLAIN WHY A SUCH BEAUTIFUL CAR HAVE SO MANY ISSUES AND MB DOES NOT CARE FOR THE OLD MB. I ALMOST GET ON ACCIDENT WHEN MY BREAKS COMPLETE FROZEN TO THE END !!!

Service Brakes
Filed May 21, 2018141,000 milesIL

I WAS DRIVING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO CRASH. MB SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS PROBLEM FROM THIS SENSOTRONIC MODULE WHICH THEY NEW ABOUT

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2018119,040 milesFL

THE MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 500 HAS A ISSUE ON SBC MODULE THAT OCCUR ON MODELS LIKE MINE, THIS SBC SYSTEM CANNOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND MB KNOW THIS OCCUR AND IS REPLACEMENT ONLY, THEY DO NOT REPLOGRAM TO CLEAN THE ERROR.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 2, 2018150,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500. THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED FRONT END DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2017197,120 milesTX

I WAS DRIVING AND THE REDUCE BRAKING LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER STOPPED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE IT STATED THAT I NEEDED TO DO SO, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME. I BEGAN TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS IN RUSH TRAFFIC AND SO SCARED THAT I WOULD HURT SOMEONE OR MYSELF. I RECENTLY HAD MY BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED, MONTHS IN ADVANCE. I BARELY MADE IT HOME AND SINCE THEN I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOP BUT IN DOING SO THE SAME PROBLEM AROSE. AGAIN, I WAS FRIGHTEN TO PUT IT ON THE ROAD I PLACED IT BACK IN THE GARAGE. PLEASE HELP. I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY I AM HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 AND THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR ISSUE I HAVE HAD. I LOVE MY CAR. I ALSO READ THAT IN 2006 SOME TYPE OF BRAKING SYSTEM WAS DISCONTINUED AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SBC PUMP.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 22, 2017170,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE "REDUCE BRAKE" AND "STOP THE VEHICLE" INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER LANE WHERE IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 11, 201797,759 milesTX

IN SEPTEMBER, 2015 TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HOUSTON GREENWAY (3900 SOUTHWEST FREEWAY; HOUSTON, TEXAS 77027) FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANK (STRONG FUEL ODORS WERE DETECTED). THE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL TANK REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE REPLACEMENT WORK WAS DONE AND I PAID FOR IT OUT OF POCKET. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MBUSA STATING THAT THE MBUSA HAD ELECTED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON MY VEHICLE

Air Bags
Filed Nov 19, 2017CA

TAKATA RECALL

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 7, 2017121,000 milesMN

I WAS ENTERING ONTO A HIGHWAY (100). AT THE POINT OF THE HIGHWAY I WAS ENTERING(FROM CTY RD 81) IT OPENS THE HIGHWAY TO A 3RD LANE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AT THE SAME PLACE IT OPENS THE HIGHWAY UP, THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE EXIT(42ND AVE). AS I AM ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, JUST PRIOR TO THE NEW LANE AVAILABILITY THAT DRIVERS MUST ENTER TO GET OFF ON 42ND, MY CAR STARTS CHIMING AND THERE'S A RED WARNING ON MY DASH THAT STATES "STOP, REDUCED BRAKING POWER. DEPRESS BRAKE FULLY." OR SOMETHING QUITE SIMILAR. THERE IS NO SHOULDER, I'M GOING LIKE 10 MPH, TERRIFIED. PEOPLE ARE HONKING AND TRYING TO GET OVER TO GET OFF ON 42ND AVE IN A LANE WHERE I'M GOING 10 MPH AND THEY WERE AT A SPEED OF APPROX 60 MPH(POSTED HWY SPEED). AS I LIMP MY CAR PAST THIS EXIT TO A SHOULDER I THEN ATTEMPT TO BRAKE AND HAVE NO BRAKING POWER. I EVENTUALLY ROLLED TO A STOP. TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF TO DETERMINE MY NEXT MOVE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY THE WARNING LIGHT SAID- THERE WAS NOTHING THERE. TESTED MY BRAKES A LITTLE ON THE SHOULDER AND THEY WERE FINE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO MY DESTINATIONS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THIS HAS SINCE OCCURRED A COUPLE MORE TIMES. THROUGH A TRIP TO THE MECHANIC AND THOROUGH RESEARCH IT IS DETERMINED THE PROBLEM LIES IN MY SENSOTRONIC BRAKE PUMP. THIS IS A PUMP THAT MERCEDES WARRANTIED FOR 10 YEARS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS WILL OCCUR TO ALL OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE THAT HAVEN'T HAD THIS PART REPLACED. I NEVER KNEW OF THE SA

20 of 62 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20091000Routine
20072000Routine
2006 — this page62300Routine
20042000Routine

Compare every CLS500 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: Nov 19, 2024. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.