Mercedes-Benz R-Class Complaints

235 consumer complaints on file.

#10386778March 7, 2011
STRUCTURE
A DEFECTIVE DRAIN OR FILTER ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE VENTILATION UNIT. THIS DAMAGES THE ELECTRICAL REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. RESIDUAL WATER LEAKS TO THE CARPET, CAUSING MILDEW SMELLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384253February 24, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BALANCE SHAFT PROBLEMS IN 2006 R350 MERCEDES BENZ AT 62K MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384216February 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAIL LIGHTS DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, JUST THE SUBSTITUTE BULBS. I CHANGED OUT ALL THE BULBS BUT STILL NO STOP, TAIL LIGHTS. FUSES ALL GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384247February 23, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DETAILED VEHICLE INFORMATION: VIN: [XXX] MODEL YEAR: 2006 MODEL: R350 (MODEL CODE 251.156/165) ENGINE: 3.5L 90 V6 (M272) CURRENT MILEAGE: APPROXIMATELY 48,500 MILES REFERENCE: MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE BULLETIN S-B-03.30/08J: MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT 70 MILES PER HOUR AND ENGINE LOST POWER AND DEVELOPED STRONG VIBRATIONS, FORCING ME TO SLOW DOWN AND LIMP HOME. MERCEDES MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS BROKEN BALANCE SHAFT GEAR. DUE TO WEAK MATERIALS USED IN THE EARLY M272 ENGINE PRODUCTION, THE BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKET AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS CAN FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY. THIS IS KNOWN DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381456February 10, 2011
STRUCTURE
A DEFECTIVE DRAIN AND/OR AIR BOX ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE INTERIOR AIR HANDLER/BLOWER UNIT. THIS DAMAGES THE BLOWER REQUIRING REPLACEMENT AND LEAKS TO THE CARPET, CAUSING MILDEW SMELLS AND POTENTIAL RUST. THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY MBUSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382027February 8, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2006 MERCEDES BENZ R 350, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT APPROX 66,000 MILES; POSSIBLE BALANCE SHAFT WEAR INDICATIONS; MB DEALER CLEARED CEL AND PERFORMED TEST DRIVE WITHOUT IT REAPPEARING; CEL ILLUMINATED AGAIN WITHIN 50 MILES; SUBSEQUENT VISIT TO MB DEALER CONFIRMED EARLY WEAR ON BALANCE SHAFT GEAR AND TIMING CHAIN; MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS THAT THE MATERIALS USED WERE INSUFFICIENTLY HARDENED, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR AND POSSIBLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER RESULTING IN NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING , THEREBY PRESENTING A DANGER TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS; SAFETY RECALL IS IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ENGINE TYPES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380855February 5, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2006 MERCEDES R350, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. REPLACED MAGNETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RETURNED. DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BALANCE SHAFT & GEAR. MERCEDES SAYS MOTOR HAS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE BALANCE SHAFT, GEAR, TIMING CHAIN, OIL PUMP AND RELATED TENSIONERS AND GUIDES. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MB HAS BEEN AWARE OF SINCE 2007. CAR IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE DRIVING IT RISKS SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO POSSIBLY JUMPING TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376792January 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MERCEDES BENZ R 350, EARLY WEAR ON BALANCED GEAR AND TIMING CHAIN,LESS THAT 40,000 MILES,CODE1200 AND 1208,MERCEDES BENZ COMPANY KNOW THAT THE MATERIALS USED ON THAT PARTS AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GO ON AND FUEL ECONOMY IS VERY LOW,THE COMPANY KNOW THE CAUSE AND MAKE CHANGE ON NEW PARTS MATERIALS,BUT NO SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN POSTED TO CUSTOMERS WITH THAT PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376334January 12, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MERCEDES-BENZ BALANCE SHAFT ISSUES THAT EFFECT 2006 PLUS YEARS, R350 AND OTHER MODELS THAT HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, GIVING A FAULT CODE, BALANCE SHAFT ISSUE. THE FIX IS VERY EXPENSIVE, RANGING FROM $4,000 TO $7,500. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM SINCE THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2007. HOWEVER, CURRENTLY MB IS NOT NOTIFYING CONSUMERS OR PAYING FOR THE TOTAL REPAIR OF THE BALANCE SHAFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375206January 8, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
AFTER A NORMAL DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I STOPPED FOR A SMALL AMOUT OF TIME SWITCHED THE CAR OFF. WHEN I RETURNED THE CAR WOULD NOT START, AFTER 30 MINUTES OF THIS I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS HE INFORMED ME THAT HE CHECKED THE FUEL PUMP AND IGNITION SYSTEM. EVERYTHING CHECKED OK. HE REINSTALLED THE PARTS AND THE CAR STARTED FINE FOR THREE DAYS. I PICKED UP THE CAR ONLY TO HAVE IT STALL AGAIN IN A MATTER OF HOURS, WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372335December 24, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE
ON MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350, THE REAR BRAKELIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS REGULARLY FAIL TO ELIMINATE. THE LIGHTS ARE VERY INCONSISTENT AND WHEN THEY FAIL A BACK-UP SUBSTITUTE LIGHT COMES ON. A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASH INDICATING THAT THE SUBSTITUTE LIGHTS ARE ON. AFTER CHANGING THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES, I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC AT MERCEDES THAT THE CONTACT MAY BE WORN OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370541December 14, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE TAILLIGHTS FAILED. THE EXTERIOR LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE WIRING HARNESS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,106. UPDATED 02/10/11 *BF UPDATED 02/22/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367058November 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATED THAT THEY DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH A WIRING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366845November 19, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OUR 2006 R350 HAD ALL THE TAIL LIGHTS BURN OUT AT THE SAME TIME RESULTING IN A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR WITH A WIRE HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. WHEN THIS HARNESS FAILS THE TAIL LIGHTS STOP WORKING. MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAS A TSB ON IT, BUT WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON ONLINE MERCEDES FORUMS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362659October 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2010 I STARTED UP MY VEHICLE AND NOTICE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS ON MY DASHBOARD. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR TWO MORE DAYS AND THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED. AND THEN ON THE FOURTH DAY THE LIGHT APPEAR AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE AND ASKED THE ABOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I WAS INFORMED NOT TO PANIC IT'S PROBABLY THE GAS CAP NOT PROPERLY ON OR SINCE I WAS AWAY FOR ONE WEEK AND MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE MAYBE THAT IS WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I THEN DECIDE TO TAKE MY VEHICLE RIGHT TO MERCEDES BENZ BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES WITH THIS MESSAGE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN AND INFORMED THE SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT THE LIGHT. LATER ON THAT DAY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL INFORMING ME THE VEHICLE NEEDS A COUNTER BALANCER? I ASKED HIM HOW DOES HE KNOW AND HE REPLIED THAT THE TECHNICIAN SAW SMALL METAL PARTICLES IN MY OIL PAN. MY VEHICLE WAS FULLY SERVICED IN MARCH, 2010 THE REPAIR HE TOLD ME WILL BE VERY COSTLY BETWEEN $4000-$6000 FOR A COUNTER BALANCER ! I LEFT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER CARE TO ASK THEM ABOUT THIS PART. THE CUSTOMER CARE REP INFORMED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND TO GO GET MY VEHICLE BEFORE THEY START THE REPAIR. I WENT BACK TO GET MY VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND MAY STOP ON ME WHILE IN DRIVE. I HAD NO OTHER RECOURSE BUT TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIR. WHEN I PICK UP MY VEHICLE SEVERAL DAYS LATER I ASKED AGAIN ABOUT THE REPAIRS AND WAS GIVEN A LENGTHY REPAIR BILL WITH ALOT MORE ITEMS THEN WHAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID NEEDED TO BE DONE TO MY VEHICLE. I CALLED ANOTHER TECHNICIAN WHO IS ALSO EMPLOYED WITH MERCEDES BENZ AND ASK ABOUT THIS PART, AND HE TOLD ME MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS ABOUT THE COUNTER BALANCER IN SOME OF THE 350 ENGINE BUT WILL NOT RECALL THEM. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT RECALLING THIS EXPENSIVE PART ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349689August 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2007 MERCEDES BENZ R350 4 MATIC/WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLES JERKS ABRUPTLY AND HARD. ESP WARNING LIGHT(SIGN) SUDDENLY APPEARS IN DASH AS A MALFUNCTION (INOPERABLE). AS A RESULT, ALL WARNING LIGHTS STARTS FLASHING, INCLUDING BRAKE LIGHT. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT IN ANY GEAR INCLUDING PARK. WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO FUNCTION IN DRIVE @ 40MPH OR LOWER. INFORMATION WINDOW SAYS "VISIT MB WORKSHOP IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT SHIFTING GEARS". ONCE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, VEHICLE WILL NOT START. REPLACED ESP/SCM FOR STEERING ANGLE SENSOR.(PART AVAILABLE). STILL MALFUNCTIONS AS OF 8/16/2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347761August 6, 2010
SEATS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WIFE IS DISABLED WITH A BACK INJURY LUMBAR SUPPORT HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS PART WAS FINALLY ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND THE ITEM SEEMS FIXED WHINING NOISE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MERCEDES ENGINEER SAYS IT IS A AC PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE...AND REFUSES TO FIX IT AGAIN.....CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346893August 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I DROVE UP A 6000' HIGH MOUNTAIN,PULLED OVER ONTO A WIDE FLAT PULLOFF SAT THERE FOR 20 MINUTES, THEN RESTARTED THE CAR AND HAD NO BRAKES. MY FOOT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD NOT USED THE BRAKES ON THE WAY UP THE MOUNTAIN BECAUSE THE ROAD WAS STEEPLY UPHILL. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL NO BRAKES. I WAITED ABOUT 20 MINUTE AND TRIED AGAIN,STILL HAD NO BRAKES. THERE WERE 3 OF US IN THE CAR, AND WE MANAGED TO GET A RIDE SEVERAL MILES DOWN AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. I T TOOK ABOUT 4 HOURS FOR THEM TO ARRIVE.I TRIED THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND STILL HAD NONE. AFTER IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AFTER THE INITIAL PROBLEM, I STILL HAD NO BRAKES. THIS HAPPENED ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. ON MONDAY, THE BRAKES HAD PUMPED BACK UP. I HAD IT TOWED TO PENSKE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THEY TESTED-BRAKES,FLUIDS ETC. AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THEY BALKED AT DRIVING IT UP THE MOUNTAIN, BUT FINALLY SAID THEY DID DO IT, AND THE BRAKES WERE FINE. THIS ALL HAPPENED OVER 3 WEEKS AGO. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH 3 LEVELS OF AUTHORITY AT THE DEALER, AND THEY INSIST THERE IS NO PROBLEM, AND I SHOULD PICK THE CAR UP OR HAVE IT TOWED AWAY, OR PAY THEM A $25 PER DAY STORAGE FEE. I ALSO CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR MB CORPORATE, AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE CONTACTED BY CORPORATE MB AND TOLD WHICH TESTS TO PERFORM, AND THEY TOLD THEM THEY HAD ALREADY DONE THOSE SAME TESTS AND THE CAR PASSED THEM ALL. MERCEDES CORPORATE THEN TOLD THEM TO TELL ME THE CAR WAS FINE. AND I SHOULD PICK IT UP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE HAD THE SAME FAILURE, ALSO AT THE SAME ALTITUDE;HOWEVER THE FIRST TIME, AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE BRAKES WERE BACK UP AND USABLE. JUST BECAUSE THE CAR PASSES THEIR TESTS DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS NO PROBLEM-IT SIMPLY MEANS THEY HAVE NO TEST CAPABLE OF DISCOVERING THE CAUSE. MUST I DIE BEFORE THEY REPAIR THE CAR? I WAS GOING TO MAKE U-TURN AT THE PULL-OFF. WE'RE ALIVE BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THAT FAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334087June 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 55,600 MILES. COST IS $3,000 DOLLARS AND VEHICLE IS ONLY 5,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE ARE MANY OTHER MERCEDES 4MATIC WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, THIS IS AN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT MERCEDES IS NOT CORRECTING. DO NOT BUY A MERCEDES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330216May 12, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
SAFETY CONCERN WITH MERCEDES BENZ R350 2008. CHILD SAFETY LOCKS IN THE REAR SEAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE TWO CHILD 4 & 2 YEAR. THERE WERE PLAYING WITH THE DOOR HANDLE AND THE DOOR LOCK AND OPENED THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN USED. NO CRASH. THIS RISK CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR MY KIDS. SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE I THOUGHT THAT THIS FEATURE WAS AVAILABLE AND THAT IT WAS AUTOMATIC BUT NO. THE DEALER SAID NO SOLUTION . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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