Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Air bags2
- Electrical system1
- Service brakes1
- Wheels1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 15 2006 E-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 4 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 E-Class failed the safety check 1.13% of the time — 52% less often than the average 2006 passenger car (2.34%). Median odometer at inspection: 122,248 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.0 petrol (170 kW, 228 hp), 3.0 diesel (140 kW, 188 hp) and 1.8 petrol (135 kW, 181 hp), out of 12 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 petrol | 170 kW 228 hp | 232 |
| 3.0 diesel | 140 kW 188 hp | 132 |
| 1.8 petrol | 135 kW 181 hp | 112 |
| 3.0 diesel | 165 kW 221 hp | 111 |
| 3.5 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 108 |
| 1.8 petrol | 120 kW 161 hp | 105 |
| 2.1 diesel | 125 kW 168 hp | 75 |
| 2.1 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 57 |
| 2.1 diesel | 100 kW 134 hp | 38 |
| 2.1 diesel | 90 kW 121 hp | 32 |
| 5.5 petrol | 285 kW 382 hp | 25 |
| 6.2 petrol | 378 kW 507 hp | 22 |
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
1,145 first registered in 2006 are on Dutch roads; 43% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €71,369.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde581
- Band onvoldoende profiel461
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm434
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling432
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen257
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld221
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm205
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af161
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
2,679 cars built in 2006 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,610 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
1,851 of these cars first registered in 2006 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 401,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
299 2006 cars are on the New Zealand register; 97% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-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… |
| 2008242 9 Jul 2008 | Other Certain vehicles may have been programmed with incorrect software calibration data during the manufacturing process. This could affect various functions such a… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
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 E-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10136029 | SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 10025842 | MERCEDES BENZ: MODEL 171.454, 456 (2005-2008) SLK CLASS; 204.054, 056, 081 (2008) C CLASS; 211.022, 056, 072, 087, 090 (2006-2008) E CLASS. VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN 2/21/08 AND 4/3/08 WITH DIFFERENTIAL SERIAL NUMBER 1824214 TO 1865328. CLUNKING NOISE DURING LOAD CHANGE AT REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL. *PE |
| 10025826 | MERCEDES BENZ: MODEL 211.026, 056, 065, 070, 072, 076, 077, 082, 083, 087, 090, 256, 265, 276, 277, 282, 283, 287 EQUIPPED WITH OPTION CODE 615 (BI-XENON). HEADLAMP RANGE ADJUSTMENT NONFUNCTIONAL WITH DTC CODES 9010, 9011, 9012, 9013 OR 9024 (UP TO VIN B111276); PARKING LIGHT LED NONFUNCTIONAL (UP TO VIN B100720). *PE |
| 10025825 | MERCEDES-BENZ: MODEL 211.026, 065, 070, 076, 082, 083, 265, 276, 282, 283 (E-CLASS). VIN A564853 AND X161341; EQUIPPED WITH BI-XENON AND CURVE ILLUMINATION. CURVE ILLUMINATION NONFUNCTIONAL. *PE |
| 10025554 | MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. CHECK FUEL FILTER MODULE ASSEMBLY AND REPAIR OR REPLACE IF NECESSARY. MODELS 211 AND 219 AMG. MODEL YEARS 2003-2006. CSC WAS RECEIVED. *PE |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation