AI DamageMercedes-Benz CLS: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz CLS across 3 model years: 5 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
| Year | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) | YouTube repair videos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 60% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 20% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 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.
Airbags did not deploy with crash in 2009 clk 550 mercedes. Impact was at 50 miles per hour and struck the front drivers side bumper. The bumper was on the ground and the aluminum frame bent. Restrained by seat belt, my daughter's head struck the steering wheel and suffer from whiplash.
Fuel leak at top of sending unit underneath left rear seat. Fuel smell in car. I removed seat and cover and discovered fuel pooling.
Have taken my cls into the dealer for other things and advised them that I noticed a fuel smell in the car. They said they could not find anything, so on my way I go.
I took it to mike smith mercedes on sept 3, 2013 talked to service rep, he said it may be the fuel pump sending unit. He said it was going to take all day for them to get to it and that it probably would cost several thousand to fix. I then took it to mercedes service, lp in beaumont tx.
The steering wheel shakes when you apply brakes. This issue was confirmed by fletcher jones mercedes benz of newport beach california. Mercedes corporate and fletcher jones mercedes denied by request to replace. They will not cover it. This is my second new mercedes in 3 years and likely my last.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-06.