AI Damage2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550: common problems
Owners of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the CLS 550 has 8 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel system, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (25%), rust, corrosion (25%), seat belts (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2013 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2013 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.