2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 problems
NHTSA has received 35 complaints about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500, and 14% of them involve drivetrain & axles. Next are electrical system (14%) and steering (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 35 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 92,000 miles 28 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 8 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 3 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 6 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 28 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 92,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 96% of model years in our database.
It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The vehicle's rear drivers side brake or reverse light would not go off for a week (to my knowledge) and while sitting in the passenger side I turned on the heat warming device and there was no problem. It was after we had been shopping and returned to the vehicle did we notice a smell of something burning, but could not tell where it was coming from. Still unaware that a fire could start from the back of the vehicle, is when we realized that the cargo area of the vehicles side panel was in complete flames!
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mercedes benz r500. The contact stated that the driver's side heated seat failed and overheated, burning a hole through the seat fabric. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that there was a defect within the heating unit and that the seat needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available.
Consistent issues with drivers side airbag. Sms light comes on after being repaired sporadically. Multiple repairs documented via bosche and ase mercedes benz repair facility. Spoke with hendrick mercedes benz and they advised that a voluntary recall for the airbag was issued but is no longer honored. I was never informed of the voluntary recall and the factory mercedes benz dealer is no longer honoring the voluntary recall.
Other model years of the R500
- 2007
- 2006