2009 Mercedes-Benz R350 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (8) · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly (1) · Visibility/Wiper (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes-Benz R350 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
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.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-11 · campaign 16V081000 · 711,159 vehicles
Defect: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 ML320 BlueTec 4Matic, GL320 BlueTec 4Matic and R320 CDI 4Matic, 2011 E350 Cabriolet and E550 Cabriolet, 2009-2011 ML350, ML350 4Matic, ML550 4Matic, ML63 AMG, and C63 AMG, 2010-2011 ML450 4Matic Hybrid, E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic, E550 Coupe, E550 4Matic, and E63 AMG, 2011-2012 GL350 BlueTec 4Matic and R350 BlueTec 4Matic, 2009-2012 GL450 4Matic, GL550 4Matic and R350 4Matic, 2007-2008 SLK280, SLK350, and SLK55 AMG, 2011-201
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: MBUSA will their notify owners, and Fiat Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler owners. Dealers for the respective brands will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. This recall began November 2016. Mercedes-Benz owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372 and Chrysler owners may contact Fiat Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Service bulletins (79)
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 79 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-02-26 · Structure:body“rear panoramic roof glass cracks…”
2018-11-18 · Seat Belts“rear seatbelts randomly get stuck retracted all the way or partially out and become unusable for the ( middle row) rear passengers. this malfunction was noticed on or around 8/30/2014 and has progressively gotten worse to its current state of uselessness !…”
2018-06-11 · Air Bags“i have been receiving safety recall notices from mercedes benz several time in the past 6 months. each time that i call mercedes benz of south bay in torrance, ca, they tell me that they don't have the part. since the safety recall is about the air bags, it is really important that they get fixed. i am really frustrated, can you help me. vin …”
2018-03-27 · Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly · 105,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz r350. while driving at 60 mph, the contact heard something like a loud popping sound. at that point, the contact realized that the sunroof had exploded without impact. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician informed the contact the failure had never bee…”
2018-02-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 77,000 mi“in 4 separate incidents since i purchased my vehicle in 2012, i have run out of gas but the gas gauge shows more than 1/4 tank of fuel available. most recently, on feb 12,2018, my car stopped while traveling 65 mph on i-270 in columbus oh in heavy traffic with no warning and 1/3 tank of gas showing on the gauge. i feared for my and my daughter's li…”
2018-01-06 · Air Bags“received letter telling me to contact you for a free airbag replacement. these airbags inflators are defected on my vehicle. please contact me as soon as possible and provide dealer that can handle this issue near my hometown. …”
2017-11-09 · Air Bags“we received a recall in february 2016 and still there are no replacements available. why send a recall with no possible resolution? i guess we just cross our fingers and hope?…”
2017-11-02 · Air Bags“there is a recall notice feb 11, 2016 and to date i have not =been contacted about replacement of the defective air bag. what do i do…”
2017-10-30 · Air Bags“takata recall, no remedy from mercedes as of yet…”
2017-10-25 · Air Bags“i received a "takata recall" notice almost 2 years ago alleging that my current airbag can cause serious bodily injury, harm or death. i've repeatedly tried to contact mercedes benz to replace my airbag as instructed from previous notifications and every single time, i'm told that the parts for my car are not yet available. will they become avail…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.