MERCEDES-BENZ 211 · model year

2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 211

15 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005MERCEDES-BENZ211 carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 211 is service brakes with 7 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (3) and fuel system, gasoline (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2005 211. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

15
Complaints
3
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

15 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES7
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
ENGINE1

Recent Complaints

20180909CrashFireSERVICE BRAKES

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.

Mileage: 120,000

20180909CrashFireELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.

Mileage: 120,000

20180909CrashFireENGINE

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.

Mileage: 120,000

20180206SERVICE BRAKES

CAR WENT INTO BRAKE FAILURE BARELY COULD STOP THE CAR ONCE IN PARK COULD NOT GET INTO DRIVE

20171108SERVICE BRAKES

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 143,000

20170623SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES E320 2005 ON I-75 AND TOOK EXIT 107. WHEN I PUSHED MY BRAKE PEDDLE I HAD WHAT SEEMED TO BE NO BRAKES AND A RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I RAN THE CAR OFF ON THE GRASS TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND RAN ON THE SIDE STREET. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM UPSET THAT MERCEDES WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT COULD DO THIS.

Mileage: 83,000

20170109SERVICE BRAKES

SBC BRAKE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSES ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. AT THE MOMENT I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO BLINK RED AND BEEPING WITH BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE BRAKE POWER. I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FELT NO RESISTANCE AND VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. I'M ESTIMATING 5% POWER FROM NORMAL. I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE I BLEW STRAIGHT THROUGH IT AND EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 200 YARDS. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO PRIOR MESSAGES OR WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND BRAKING POWER RESUMED AS NORMAL. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO MESSAGES ABOUT BRAKES. IT'S LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 148,000

20160829FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE VAPORS IN GARAGE WHEN VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK. FAINT SMELL DETECTABLE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SMELL SUBSIDES WHEN FUEL TANK LEVEL REACHES 3/4 TO 1/2 FULL.

Mileage: 50,000

20151224SERVICE BRAKES

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 74,000

20151106SERVICE BRAKES

CAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CAR BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. A RED LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SAYING "REDUCED BRAKING POWER".

Mileage: 146,000

20150924FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED TO SEE IF ANY FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. NOTHING APPEARED TO BE LEAKING. I THEN OPENED UP THE HOOD FOR THE ENGINE, AND OBSERVED THE COMPARTMENT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE TO SEE IF THE ODOR WAS DETECTABLE FROM THE ENGINE. IT WAS NOT. I WALKED BACK TO THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND BEGAN TO DETECT THE ODOR ONCE MORE. I OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AND FROM THE BACK SEAT I COULD DETECT A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR, SO I GOT DOWN ON THE GROUND TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NO FUEL DETECTED. THE NEXT DAY, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT, AS SOON AS I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A REALLY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. I STARTED THE VEHICLE NORMALLY, BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO START, IT TURNED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL FOR MY VEHICLE. I GOT OUT AND GO INTO THE BACK SEAT AND THE ODOR WAS OVERWHELMIN

Mileage: 160,955

20141027FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE NEAR LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TANK IS FILLED. WHEN TANK GETS TO HALF FULL SMELL GOES AWAY. *TR

20140619FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I FILLED THE CAR UP WITH GAS AND IT SET OVER NIGHT IN FRONT OF HOUSE. UPON MY RETURNING TO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY A STRONG GAS ODOR WAS OUTSIDE ON DRIVER SIDE.WHEN I ENTER THE CAR THE ODOR WAS ALSO STRONG. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING I FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I ALSO FOUND GAS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS. THIS IS NOT SAFE OR HEALTHY. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Mileage: 151,000

20140410FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AND FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AFTER UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL IS USED DOWN TO ALMOST HALF FULL, THERE IS S VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND WHEN PARKED, FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHEN IT IS PARKED ESPECIALLY IN THE GARAGE. *TR

Mileage: 158,331

20140206FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 MERCEDES E55 AMG (AKA 211 & W211). I HAVE EXPERIENCED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AFTER REFUELING MY CAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE SMELL OF GAS IS STRONG NOT ONLY INSIDE THE CAR, BUT FILLS THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND FUMES ARE NOTICED INSIDE THE HOUSE AS WELL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A LEAKING FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILTER MODULES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL STICKER REFERENCING 2008020001 FROM 2009 ON THE UNDER SIDE OF MY HOOD. THIS IS FROM A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT BY MERCEDES TO FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH STATES TO "REPLACE FUEL FILTER MODULES IF NEEDED". THE RECALL FROM MERCEDES ALSO STATES THAT IT "DOES NOT EXPIRE". IN SPITE OF THIS INFORMATION, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND QUOTED A PRICE OF $4000. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE ISSUE MERCEDES AS INSTRUCTED BY THE RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 38,100

Compare 2005MERCEDES-BENZ211 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 211 have?
The 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 211 has 15 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 211?
The most-complained component for the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 211 is SERVICE BRAKES with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 211 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.