Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Structure1
- Equipment1
- Seats1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Air bags1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Visibility1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2006 CLS-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class failed the safety check 1.62% of the time — 31% less often than the average 2006 passenger car (2.34%). Median odometer at inspection: 101,642 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.5 petrol (200 kW, 268 hp), 3.0 diesel (165 kW, 221 hp) and 3.5 petrol (215 kW, 288 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 87 |
| 3.0 diesel | 165 kW 221 hp | 47 |
| 3.5 petrol | 215 kW 288 hp | 32 |
| 5.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 28 |
| 5.4 petrol | 350 kW 469 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
252 first registered in 2006 are on Dutch roads; 56% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €101,473.
Most common APK defects
- Band onvoldoende profiel103
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling71
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen67
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde62
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm60
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm48
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld43
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af29
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
998 cars built in 2006 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 727 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
224 of these cars first registered in 2006 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 260,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.
| 2022740 22 Dec 2022 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the sunroof glass may not be properly attached to the sliding roof frame. Over time, the glass can become loose and could separat… |
| 2021478 23 Jul 2021 | Structure Issue: This recall is for certain vehicles inspected under Mercedes-Benz recall 7891003 (Transport Canada recall 2019-668) that require a second inspection. … |
| 2019668 23 Dec 2019 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the sunroof glass may not be properly attached to the sliding roof frame. Over time, the glass can become loose and could separate… |
| 2005094 4 Apr 2005 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) unit may contain a pump piston which is out of permissible tolerances. Also, vibrations within the ele… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10043811 | MERCEDES: VEHICLE JERKS DURING GEARCHANGE, HARD 1-2 AND 2-3 SHIFTS, TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP CLUTCH NOT ENGAGEABLE. MODELS 212, 216, 218, 221, 251, AND 164. MODEL YEARS NOT GIVEN. *KB UPDATED 10/11/12. *PE |
| 10037653 | MERCEDES-BENZ: THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PRODUCTION QUALITY ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *RM |
| 10037408 | MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM |
| 10034305 | DAIMLER/XENTRY: FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR AND RADIO FREQUENCY CENTRAL LOCKING INOPERATIVE, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPORTS TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE, DIAGNOSIS OF REAR SAM NOT POSSIBLE. CONTROL MODULES. MODELS C CLASS, MODEL SERIES 204. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED 7/8/11. *PE |
| 10030964 | MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE |
| 10018931 | LEARNING IN SELECTION RANGE SENSOR NOT POSSIBLE AFTER EHS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10017488 | FLASH TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *TT |
| 10016670 | MERCEDES: THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOES NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL FILL LEVEL. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A FAULT IN THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FUNCTION CHAIN: HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRICAL LINES AND THEIR CONNECTIONS, REAR SAM OR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT UPDATED 2/23/09. *PE UPDATED 9/18/09. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE |
| 10016646 | IMPLAUSIBLE OR ILLOGICAL MESSAGES CAN APPEAR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT |
| 10016632 | THE ALTERNATOR REGULATOR MAY FAIL TO PREVENT VOLTAGE VALUES RANGING BEYOND THE SPECIFIED TOLERANCE LIMITS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)