2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS550

Routine

Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline1
000
Electrical System1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Communication19V787000
Filed Nov 1, 201924,226 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Risk. An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Exterior Lighting15V137000
Filed Mar 10, 201530,141 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2015 CLS 400 and CLS 400 4matic, 2012-2015 CLS 550 and CLS 550 4matic, 2012-2013 CLS 63, 2014 CLS 63, and 2014-2015 CLS 63P. The affected vehicles have LED tail lights that may not light on the sides, reducing the rear side visibility of the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk. Reduced rear side marker illumination may prevent other drivers from seeing the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the lighting controller software, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015030005.

Structure › Body › Hood15V088000
Filed Feb 13, 2015147,224 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 E350 Sedan, E350 4Matic Sedan, E350 4Matic Station Wagon, E400 Hybrid Sedan, CLS 550 CGI, and CLS550 4Matic, 2013-2014 E550 4Matic Sedan, 2013 E63 Sedan, E63 Station Wagon and CLS63, 2014-2015 CLS63 4Matic, E63 4Matic Sedan, E63 4Matic Sedan "S", and E63 4Matic Station Wagon, 2015 CLS400, 2015 E400 Sedan, E400 4Matic Sedan and CLS400 4Matic and 2014 CLS63 "S". The affected vehicles have a rubber seal at the back of the engine bay that may temporarily stick to the hood when it is opened and then may fall into the engine bay when the hood is closed.

Risk. If the rubber seal falls into the engine compartment, it may contact parts of the exhaust system, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will attach four additional retaining clips to the rubber seal, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2015. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-201-573-5339. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2015020001.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 2023NH

I brought the car to my Mercedes dealer for a State required safety and emissions inspection. It passed but they said the rear brake line were rusted and needed replacement at a cost of $2546.00. This model and numerous others were recently provided an extended warranty for rusted subframes. This is a $5-$7K repair. They do not cover the brake lines or include them as part of the repair. The sub-frame rust from the inside out so it is not initially obvious of impending failure. There is a pending class action lawsuit against MBUSA that mentions the failure to include the brake line and other components. The rusted brake lines are indicative of internal rust of the subframe. I am facing potential brake failure if I don't act on this expensive repair when clearly Mercedes is not acting in good faith to repair the entirety of their faulty components.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 11, 2022AZ

Car looses communication with the Electronic Ignition System (keyless system) and while rolling to a stop light, slams the car into park while still rolling. It also will throw itself into park while first accelerating - almost causing the car following me to crash into my rear end.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 7, 202085,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING AND PARKING IN THE GARAGE, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FUEL HAD LEAKED FROM UNDER THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE LOCAL DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 18, 201750,000 milesAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20180100Routine
20171100Routine
20160100Routine
20151400Routine
201410400Routine
2013 — this page4300Routine
201223300Routine
20114300Routine
20101300Routine
20094300Routine
200817300Routine
200735410Routine
20067100Routine

Compare every CLS550 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 1, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.