2006 Mercedes Benz R500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Suspension (4) · Steering (4) · Seats (4)
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2024-04-26 · campaign 24V298000 · 15,604 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum 2022-05-09 · campaign 22V315000 · 350,294 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.
Risk: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.
Service bulletins (68)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Exterior Lighting 2026-03-09 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the la
Showing the 6 most recent of 68 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-10-10 · Steering · 140,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 mercedes-benz r500. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the power steering was not functioning, after which the vehicle lost all power. the contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. after a visual inspection of the engine co…”
2023-02-02 · Suspension“my 2006 r-500 is leaning from the (front and back) passenger side, causing the vehicle to be unsecure to drive... it feels like both side tires are totally flat. i'm not a mechanic, but it looks like the air suspension is malfuntion …”
2023-01-24 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 117,000 mi“the contact owns a 2006 mercedes-benz r500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 22v315000 (service brakes, hydraulic). the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. the dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a technician wo…”
2021-11-12 · Unknown Or Other“i was purchasing a 2006 mercedes benz r500 black on november 3,2021, vin: [xxx]. in the process of driving the vehicle less than ten miles, part of the part of transmission case broke off. the steering was hard to turn and this is a salvage vehicle. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).…”
2020-09-02 · Seats · 179,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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 fr…”
2020-06-02 · Electrical System · 114,000 mi“vehicle has been undriveable on and off for 6 months with defective starter wiring harness which the wires are exposed, and starting intermittently. towed from the street 2 months ago and sitting at the mechanic trying to help me. mercedes benz has a safety recall #2006040002 for the exact problem. they tell me it is for the 2006 r350 and not t…”
2020-05-29 · Electrical System · 114,000 mi“as per recall#2006040002 is the exact problem i am having now. the starter wiring harness is defective and exposed, and car is disabled at mercedes mechanic site. mbusa says it is only to certain r500s and vin specific. i am confused since this is limited production.…”
2019-01-09 · Electrical System · 144,894 mi“after diagnostics found that the front sam had been under water shorting the sam and almost causing vehicle to catch fire. would need the front sam and wiring repair along with connector replacement to move forward with diagnostic. the water is coming from the firewall on the passenger side. was at work had to leave it at my job because it woul…”
2017-12-15 · Power Train · 112,000 mi“the transmission has a faulty shift solenoid that can only be replaced by a mercedes benz dealer and therefore is many times more expensive than other repairs. also this solenoid has a well above average failure rate. my car has 112,000 miles and the transmission began shifting poorly and got stuck in 4th gear. can became very jerky and once went …”
2016-12-01 · Air Bags · 106,000 mi“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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.