New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2012.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 R-Class | 4 | 3 |
| 2006 R-Class | 2 | 4 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system3
- Power train2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Service brakes, air1
- Seats1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Exterior lighting1
- Child seat1
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 13 R-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 5 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class SUV AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class SUV AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
In New Zealand
81 R-Class cars are on the New Zealand register; 93% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 | 13 | 0 | 11 |
| 2007 | 25 | 0 | 24 |
| 2006 | 27 | 0 | 26 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
614 R-Class cars are on Dutch roads; 66% arrived later as imports, and 266 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 33 | €111,057 |
| 2011 | 52 | €103,236 |
| 2010 | 42 | €95,108 |
| 2009 | 41 | €92,810 |
| 2008 | 118 | €88,341 |
| 2007 | 133 | €99,635 |
| 2006 | 195 | €101,343 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
773 R-Class cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 17% petrol, 83% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 10 | 171,000 km |
| 2012 | 31 | 284,000 km |
| 2011 | 85 | 294,000 km |
| 2010 | 59 | 320,000 km |
| 2009 | 57 | 311,000 km |
| 2008 | 123 | 324,000 km |
| 2007 | 192 | 337,000 km |
| 2006 | 216 | 347,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
1,456 R-Class cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 136 | 11 |
| 2012 | 255 | 36 |
| 2011 | 301 | 55 |
| 2010 | 164 | 32 |
| 2009 | 112 | 66 |
| 2008 | 150 | 98 |
| 2007 | 175 | 178 |
| 2006 | 163 | 203 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
2,492 R-Class cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 70% passed first time, against 60% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 161 | 76% |
| 2012 | 292 | 79% |
| 2011 | 408 | 68% |
| 2010 | 256 | 72% |
| 2009 | 229 | 71% |
| 2008 | 341 | 70% |
| 2007 | 422 | 63% |
| 2006 | 383 | 69% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | R-Class | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.6% | 18.2% |
| Brakes | 10.6% | 10.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 5.0% | 6.1% |
| Suspension | 4.7% | 15.4% |
| Tyres | 4.6% | 7.4% |
| Visibility | 2.3% | 6.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.8% | 1.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
7,604 new Mercedes-Benz R-Class cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Poland (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 186 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 274 (NEDC) |
| 2019 | 1 | 223 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2 | — |
| 2015 | 2 | — |
| 2014 | 17 | — |
| 2013 | 1,011 | — |
| 2012 | 1,258 | — |
| 2011 | 2,093 | — |
| 2010 | 3,217 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the R-Class in 3 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
Severe corrosion may lead to a leakage of the brake booster, thus reducing the braking force, leading to an increase in brake pedal force required to decelerate the vehicle, resulting in a possible increase in stopping distance. Moreover, due to severe corrosi…
The driver and passenger airbags of the company Takata in vehicles with ammonium nitrate gas generators without drying agents could, under certain climate conditions, lead over time to a chemical change in the fuel.In the event of an accident triggering the re…
The axle screws on the front/rear axle may not have been correctly secured which could lead to an overload on the remaining screw connections on the axle concerned. This overload may result in the rupture of the screws and under certain conditions, in loss of …
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
5 campaigns cover the R-Class.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR COULD FAIL DUE TO SEPARATION OF BOND WIRES FROM THE LEAD FRAME IN THE SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE CHIP HOUSING OF THE SENSOR.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY FASTENED TO ITS MOUNTING STUDS.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, THE THREADS IN THE NUT USED TO SECURE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF SECOND ROW SEATS MAY BE MISSING. THE ABSENCE OF THE SCREW THREADS RESULTS IN AN INCOMPLETE CONNECTION OF THE BUCKLE TO THE SEAT.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY. THIS ROUTING COULD LEAD TO CHAFING OF THE PROTECTIVE SLEEVE COVERING THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS AT THE ENGINE MOUNT COVER.
NHTSA recalls