Mercedes BENZ CLS Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ CLS Class options? We analyzed 10 model years (2014–2023) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
Free VIN check
Found a Mercedes BENZ CLS Class? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class has 55 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2014–2023. The most reported issue area is WHEELS. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2023 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- CLS Class
- Model years analyzed
- 2014–2023 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 55
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 2
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (20 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2023 (3 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- WHEELS
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
Mercedes BENZ CLS Class: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe MERCEDES BENZ CLS CLASS has 55 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 2 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 55 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 2 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2014–2023. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 55 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
55 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front tire had a blowout. The contact stated that the failure had occurred because the rim was cracked. The contact stated that the failure almost caused the vehicle to go off the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had occurred six times with a cracked rim causing the tire to blowout. The contact stated that all four rims were cracked and were rewelded due to the failure. The contact was informed by an independent mechanic that the failure would recur if the rims were not replaced. The rims were Original Equipment. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
While driving in traffic, a warning box appeared indicating a problem with the 48volt charging system. The A/C system stopped working (in 115 degree heat) and engine power was reduced to crawl speeds. Another warning box indicated to turn the engine off to avoid damage. I did manage to pull off the roadway and then contacted Mercedes Roadside assistance. The danger here is a sudden shutdown of the engine systems in traffic, or worse, in the middle of nowhere, in extreme weather conditions. The vehicle was towed to the nearest dealer (90 minutes away), where they determined a software update was needed. After completing this, the vehicle appeared to run normally. This original incident occurred on 7/26/23. The very same issue once again took place, this time on 9/22/23. The vehicle is currently at the dealership service department, inoperable.
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The front passenger side and driver's side air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a head injury, right leg and left shoulder injuries and the front passenger sustained unknow injuries. Both occupants were transported from the crash site to the local hospital and received medical treatment. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The contact also indicated that the vehicle had experienced various intermittent electrical failures prior to the crash. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200.
During a trip driving from Sedona to San Diego, the rear passenger side rim (Part No. 25740120007x23) (see Picture1) failed with a through crack on the shoulder opposite the spoke side (see Picture2). This led to the loss of air pressure in the tire. The tire pressure sensor did indicate a low pressure condition. Upon inspection of the rim, the only possible solution was to have it welded in order to continue the trip. When the rim was taken to the repair shop, three more cracks were discovered on the rim inner surface. None of these three cracks have not gone through the rim wall yet. All crack were on the shoulder opposite the spoke side which cantilevers towards the center of the car. Welded cracks are shown in Picture3 through Picture6. Picture 3 shows the weldment of the crack that went through the rim wall. This cracks developed during normal driving conditions and were not the result of impacts. They could have resulted in a catastrophic failure that might have resulted in loss of control of the car and a potentially serious accident. I had the welded rim replaced by a new one at the Mercedes Benz Service Center in Ontario, CA. The service center retained the welded rim.
2015 mercedes benz CLS 400 - Engine caught fire while in a parking lot approximately 10 minutes after i parked it and went inside department store. The vehicle had no open recalls
while going on freeway at 70 mph car came up with code service required do not shift see dealer and lost power had to pull off lane onto shoulder luckily was able to, could not get car to shift or go anywhere could not contact their roadside assistance, this is the third time it has done it too me, this last time could have resulted in a crash and possible death
Read 14 more owner reports
The steering wheel power adjustment function stopped working. The steering wheel went to the topmost position and got stuck there. It still telescopes in and out, but the up and down function stopped working, and it's stuck at the highest position and won't move down. The car has 52K miles and was not in an accident. Due to the strange position of the steering wheel, it is more difficult to control the car. There were no warning lights about this.
A FEW TIMES A MONTH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR'S ENGINE AND VOLUME START TO DECREASE. THE TEMPORARY FIX, IS TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS
CLS 400 4 MAGIC 2015. REAR TIRES WEARING FROM INSIDE OF TIRE AT 36,000 MILES. LOOKING AT TIRES FROM OUTSIDE AND TOP LOOKS GREAT AS IF TIRES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. LUCKILY WHILE ON HIGH WAY TIRE BEGAN TO DEFLATE BEFORE COMING APART AT 60 MPH. 😥
TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH IS CAUSING COMMAND SYSTEM TO POWER ON/OFF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,NOT ALLOWING ME TO USE NAVIGATION,WINDOWS(ROLLING UP&DOWN OR NOT WORKING AT ALL),SIDE VIEW MIRRORS(FLIPPING OUT & IN,WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN)AIR CONDITIONING,RADIO TURNING ITSELF OFF/ON.ELECTRONIC BREAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING.KEYLESS FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING HAD TO REMOVE HARD KEY MANUALLY TO OPEN CAR DOOR & REMOVE PUSH BUTTON STARTER MANUALLY TO INSERT KEY.THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATING ITSELF AS WELL AS THE MULTI MALFUNCTIONS.THIS IS NOW THE 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM.I HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE CAR, PURCHASED IT DEC 24,2014.I CALLED MB USA CUSTOMER SERVICE & REPORTED THE COMPLAINTS/MALFUNCTIONS TO THEM & MADE THEM AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE & THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT TOOK MY INFORMATION & SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW AFTERNOON ABOUT THE SITUATION.I ALSO GAVE THEM THE NAME OF THE DEALERSHIP & MY SERVICE ADVISORS NAME WHOM I'VE HAD DOCUMENTING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE AS WELL AS MYSELF.THE AGENT SAID THEY'D CALL HIM TOMORROW & THEN ME.
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME MY 2015 CLS400 MERCEDES HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS REOCCURRING PROBLEM OF THE ELECTRONIC COMMAND SYSTEM TOTALLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN ON THE STREET AND FRWY.NAVIGATION BLINKS ON & OFF,SIDE VIEW MIRRORS FOLD IN & OUT WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN,RADIO TURNS ON & OFF,ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM ACTIVATED ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FRWY & AROUND TOWN,KEYLESS ENTRY WOULD NOT WORK SO I HAD TO USE THE MANUAL KEY TO GET INTO VEHICLE & REMOVE PUSH START BUTTON TO INSERT THE KEY TO START VEHICLE,WINDOWS WOULD NOT WORK NOR AIR CONDITIONING & IT WAS A HOT DAY.SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK & GAS METER SHOWED EMPTY EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK. VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON DEC 24 2014 AND THE PROBLEM STARTED IN AUG 2015 IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 5-6 DAYS & SAID THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG BUT CONFIRMED MY STORY BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THEY PLUGGED INTO CONFIRMED THE MALFUNCTIONS.NOW SEPT2015 THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEMS.ALL I KNOW IS THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.THE VEHICLE HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT BUT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW & I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
DESPITE NHTSA RECALL # 15V137 WAS ISSUED ON MARCH 12TH,2015 I WAS SOLD A CLS400 ON MARCH 14TH. NEITHER AT TIME OF SALE NOR THEREAFTER I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. IT SEEMS THAT DEALERSHIP WAS IN VIOLATION OF MERCEDES BENZ USA'S STOP-SALE ORDER ISSUED TO DEALERS ON MARCH 13TH.
Rear view camera sticks open and shows a black screen in the car... there is a recall but not for my specific vehicle... when it sticks open its inoperable and using the same "button" to open the trunk is also inoperable..
I purchased my 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 with approximately 12,000 miles on 08/16/2022. Throughout the course of my ownership the vehicle has had multiple sets of tires replaced due to them either being prematurely bald, developing multiple bubbles, or shredding due to cracked rims. Along with the tires being constantly replaced, I have had to replace 8 rims that have cracked under normal driving conditions. Upon doing research into why my rims crack so frequently, I discovered that this is a common occurrence with my model of Mercedes, as well as several other models. The online forums state, “This is not as a result of your driving, potholes, etc. but due to a design defect with some Mercedes vehicle. This is due to the fact that the factory installed cast aluminum rims coupled with low profile stiff run-flat tires and a relatively stiff suspension result in the rims momentarily exceeding their yield strength during typical driving conditions and failing by cracking, bending and so on which usually also causes the run-flat tires to be damaged as well. This will continue to happen over and over several times per year because this is a design defect.” According to several sources, Mercedes-Benz is aware of this situation and has done little to counteract this situation, only offering a comprehensive tire and wheel package to drivers, at an extra cost of course and paying a few settlements under the table to those who threaten to expose this situation to the public. Mercedes- Benz has ultimately developed, and put into circulation, several models of vehicles with wheels that cannot support the vehicles weight while the vehicle is stationary, let alone while in operation. This flaw in their design is not only costly to replace or an inconvenience to try to resolve, but deadly if the right combination of failures were to occur.
******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS AN INADVERTENT DUPLICATE OF ODI# 11496545*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V733000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms remedy not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V533000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
THE 2020 MERCEDES CLS HAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THEIR 48V SYSTEM THAT TURNS THE ENGINE OFF IN LOCATIONS WITH HIGH HET ZONES. I WAS TOLD BY THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND SAUDI ARABIA. IT'S A KNOW ISSUE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX CURRENTLY. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME, LEAVING ME IN A PANIC TO TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN BEFORE GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. MERCEDES PROVIDED ME A LOANER WHILE THEY TRIED TO FIX MY CAR. I WAITED 9 WEEKS TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I NO LONGER WANT TO LEASE TIS VEHICLE AS IT IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY. THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK NOR OFFER A BUYBACK OPTION. THE ONLY OPTION GIVEN WAS A TRADE IN LEASE, BUT THE OPTIONS FOR A CAR COMPARABLE WAS NON EXISTENT IN THE UNITED STATES AS THEIR INVENTORY IS EXTREMELY LIMITED. I ASKED AGAIN SINCE THEY HAD NO CARS TO OFFER ME TO GET MY MONEY BACK AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER COMPANY. I WAS TOLD NO SO I HAD VERY LITTLE OPTIONS AND TOOK THAT CAR BACK LAST WEEK. MICHAEL FAUL THE GENERAL MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TOLD ME IN OUR FIRST MEETING THAT OF COURSE THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME FOR THE 2 MONTHS OF LEASES I PAID WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAR. TODAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THIS MERCEDES THAT HAS A LETTER ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL THAT SAID THEY WILL PAY BACK THE TWO MONTH'S OF LEASES IF I SIGN THIS RELEASE THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR IF ME OR MY FAMILY GET HURT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. (I HAVE ATTACHED LETTER FOR YOUR REVIEW) I HAVE TRIED VERY MUCH TO WORK WITH MERCEDES CORPORATE IN ATLANTA AS WELL AS THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ. I FEEL THIS IS BLACKMAIL AND A TERRIBLE WAY OF HIDING A DANGEROUS CAR.
Description of Defect: I am reporting a chronic and dangerous structural failure of the factory-equipped alloy wheels on my 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 4MATIC. Since purchase, this vehicle has suffered 8 documented incidents of wheel failure, consisting of 5 rim cracks and 3 complete wheel replacements. The failures are occurring under normal, paved driving conditions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This persistent cracking indicates a severe structural design defect where the wheel’s load rating is insufficient for the vehicle’s weight and low-profile tire configuration. Safety Risk: Each failure results in sudden and unpredictable loss of tire pressure. This creates a high risk of catastrophic tire deflation (blowouts) at highway speeds, which can lead to loss of vehicle control. Despite 7 prior repair/replacement attempts by both authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships (Park Place Dallas) and independent specialists, the defect persists. The vehicle is currently at the dealership for its 8th failure. I believe this wheel configuration is fundamentally unfit for purpose and poses a recurring threat to the safety of the driver, passengers, and other motorists.
Showing 20 of 55 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ CLS Class
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ CLS Class, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ CLS Class has 55 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ CLS Class has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 2 of the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class's 55 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ CLS Class vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ CLS Class vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ CLS Class has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
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Mercedes BENZ CLS Class reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class reliable?
Average. The Mercedes BENZ CLS Class has 55 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is WHEELS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ CLS Class years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (20 complaints), 2014 (11 complaints), 2015 (9 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ CLS Class problems?
Top reported issues: WHEELS (18 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (12 complaints); STEERING (7 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Mercedes BENZ CLS Class. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.