MERCEDES-BENZ C350 · model year

2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350

24 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006MERCEDES-BENZC350 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 2006 C350 is fuel/propulsion system with 9 filings, followed by engine (5) 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 2006 C350. 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.

24
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
ENGINE5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
AIR BAGS2
STRUCTURE1
SUSPENSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES1
POWER TRAIN1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1

Recent Complaints

20220307FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

At 9,000 miles my 2006 Mercedes C350 had to have a fuel pump replaced. It was out of warranty (low miles usage for 5 year old car) so I had to pay $900 for the repair. I could smell fuel everytime I filled the tank and the Mercedes dealer said the pump had to be replaced. I read about a recall of E350 models being recalled for the same reason with the same engine. I asked the dealer about this and they said mine was not part of the recall because it is a C class Mercedes. It has the same engine with the same problem and I think this should be looked into.

20210530FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel flex line from firewall to Fuel rail is leaking at both connections, ie. both ends at the swaged fitting.

20210530FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

Fuel flex line from firewall to Fuel rail is leaking at both connections, ie. both ends at the swaged fitting.

20181114ENGINE

ACCORDING TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ M272 AND M273 ENGINE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THESE ENGINES ARE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (IN THE CASE OF THE M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS (IN THE CASE OF THE M273 ENGINES) THAT WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE AND/OR STOP DRIVING.

20181024POWER TRAIN

WHEN DRIVING MY '06 C350 WITH 48 THOUSAND MILES, YES 48K ON IT, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO GO INTO A SAFE MODE. IT NORMALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAVE TO SLOW DOWN GRADUALLY, THEN UPON ACCELERATION THE TRANSMISSION JUST REVS UP THE RPM WITH NO POWER. I'M AFRAID ME AND MY TWO CHILDREN WILL BE REAR-ENDED DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER IN THE TRANSMISSION. I THEN TRY TO DRIVE IT TO THE NEXT EXIT, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART. THIS NORMALLY RESETS EVERYTHING TO NORMAL. BUT IT COULD OCCUR AGAIN MINUTES OR HOURS LATER WHICH IS NOW GETTING FRUSTRATING GIVEN THE CAR IS BARELY REACHING 50K MILES. SO THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, UNEXPECTEDLY, AND WITH VARYING FREQUENCY. MERCEDES BENZ USA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS AS WHEN I CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED AND IT'S A VERY WELL-KNOW DEFECT THAT COSTS A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT TO REPAIR. THIS CAR STARTED DOING IT AT 40K AND DOES IT OFTEN. I'VE NOTIFIED MY LAWYER BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT COULD HAPPEN WITH A VEHICLE BE

Mileage: 43,100

20181004ENGINE

COMPLAINT SUMMARY: IN THIS SETTLEMENT THE PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE THAT MERCEDES PRODUCED CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (IN THE EVENT OF THE M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS (IN THE CASE OF THE M273 ENGINES). THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE ?CHECK ENGINE LIGHT? TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS MISFIRING OR CATASTROPHIC STOPS. CASE NAME: MAJEED SEIFI, ET AL. V. MERCEDES BENZ USA LLC CASE NO. 3:12-CV-05493 U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. CONTACT: MERCEDES ENGINE DEFECT SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR P.O. BOX 43351 PROVIDENCE, RI 02940-3351 EMAIL: ADMIN@BALANCESHAFTSETTLEMENT.COM PD: MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH DEFECTIVE FACTORY GEAR IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS. VEHICLE MAKE MODEL YEAR MERCEDES BENZ C350 2006 VIN: (XXXX) GENERATED AT CNHTSA.GOV 1 / 1 (XXXXXXXX) PARTS OF TH

20180624ENGINE

IN THIS SETTLEMENT THE PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE THAT MERCEDES PRODUCED CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE GEARS IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS (IN THE EVENT OF THE M272 ENGINES) OR WITH DEFECTIVE IDLE GEARS (IN THE CASE OF THE M273 ENGINES). THESE DEFECTIVE GEARS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY, EXCESSIVELY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT' TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS MISFIRING OR CATASTROPHIC STOPS. CASE NAME: MAJEED SEIFI, ET AL. V. MERCEDES BENZ USA LLC CASE NO. 3:12-CV-05493 U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. CONTACT: MERCEDES ENGINE DEFECT SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATOR P.O. BOX 43351 PROVIDENCE, RI 02940-3351 EMAIL: ADMIN@BALANCESHAFTSETTLEMENT.COM MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH DEFECTIVE FACTORY GEAR IN THEIR BALANCE SHAFTS.

Mileage: 72,000

20180418SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST THE VEHICLE TO A GAS STATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF SAN DIEGO (4750 KEARNY MESA RD, SAN DIEGO, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 243,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. *TT CONTACT STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RIVERSIDE MERCEDES-BENZ TO CHECK WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND WAS NEVER TOLD THERE WAS A BRAKE MALFUNCTION. TWO WEEKS LATER BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. *TT

Mileage: 243,000

20180130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

EIS AND ESL GO BAD, CAR WILL NOT START DUE TO STEERING WHEEL LOCKING.

Mileage: 102,000

20170915ENGINE

BALANCE SHAFT ENGINE ISSUES, STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN, BALANCE SHAFT SPROCKETS. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS THAT NO ONE MADE US AWARE OF AND THE REPAIRS HAD TO BE COMPLETED BY MAY 13, 2015 TO BE PART OF THE CLASS ACTION. NOW, BECAUSE WE DROVE IT SO FEW MILES IN THE PAST, THE ISSUES HAVE JUST APPEARED. WE HAVE JUST 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT BEARINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE WORN DUE TO THE OTHER ISSUES. ALONG WITH THAT WE NEEDED A NEW HEAD AND GASKET AND CAMSHAFT SOLENOIDS. THIS IS ESTIMATED TO COST US $10,000.00. WE OF COURSE AREN'T GOING TO DO THE REPAIRS NOW. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SO PEOPLE LIKE US THAT DON'T DRIVE A LOT OF MILES DON'T GET RIPPED OFF. THIS IS A MERCEDES THAT SHOULD HAVE EASILY RUN FOR OVER 200,000 MILES. NOW IT'S JUNK.

Mileage: 76,000

20170801AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHEN THE AIRBAGS WILL BE REPLACED. I AM ONE OF THE HIGHEST RISK CAR OWNER. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2006 AND I LIVE IN AN AREA THAT IS IN ONE OF THE HIGHEST RISK ZONES..

20161210AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I AM WRITING TO FIND OUT WHEN THIS DEFECTIVE AIRBAG IN MY CAR WILL REPLACED. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR WITH THIS DEFECTIVE AIRBAG PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE AND I AM DEMANDING THAT IT BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. I FEEL SUFFICIENT TIME HAS ELAPSED FOR THE MANUFACTURERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE MY CAR SAFE AGAIN.

Mileage: 70,000

20161122FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IN JULY 2009, AFTER FILLING MY VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE (38,000 MILES), I DROVE HOME, PARKED MY VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE AND EXITED THE INTERIOR. AFTER EXITING, I SMELLED THE VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTING FROM, WHAT APPEARED THE REAR OF THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS OR ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL, SO I WENT INSIDE MY HOUSE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY OVERWHELMED WITH THE FUMES OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED MY CAR AGAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY LEAKS. I THEN OPEN MY CAR DOOR AND THE FUMES WERE EVEN STRONGER. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, I NOTICED THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE REAR SEAT. FEARING AN EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR, I OPENED MY GARAGE DOORS AND CAR DOOR AND TURNED ON SEVERAL FANS TO "AIR-OUT" THE AREA. THE NEXT DAY, I DROVE TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY YEAR AND MODEL AND SAID THE FUEL GASKETS WERE BAD ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHICH IS RIGHT UNDER THE BACK SEAT. HE EXPLAINED WHEN FILLING UP, THE SEALS LEAK,

Mileage: 38,000

20160510FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAVE A VERY LOUD ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM NEAR MY BACK WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE CAR RIDES FINE AND I GET GOOD GAS MILEAGE BUT IT IS NOT LEAKING ANYWHERE. I TOOK MY BACKSEAT OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING WET. I ALSO REPLACED THE GAS CAP AND IT DID NOT HELP

Mileage: 195,000

20150422FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED PAST TO FULL, THERE IS AN OVERPOWERING FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE CABIN. THE OFFENDING SMELL ALSO FILLS THE GARAGE AND THE GARAGE DOOR MUST BE PARTIALLY LEFT OPEN FOR SAFETY: FEAR OF EXPLOSION. *TR

Mileage: 108,085

20150114FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Mileage: 116,000

20141111FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE GAS TANK; THERE IS A STRONG ODER OF FUEL IN THE CABIN. MY WIFE AND I HAVE A NEWBORN AND NOW DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH SUCH A STRONG ODOR..THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20140213FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

BOTH SENDING UNITS IN THE FUEL TANK WERE LEAKING AND WERE REPLACED BY RBM MERCEDES OF 7640 ROSWELL ROAD, ATLANTA, GA 30350 FOR THE AMOUNT OF $ 828.05. I HAVE ORIGINAL REPAIR BILL AND IT CAN BE SUBMITTED AT YOUR REQUEST. *TR

Mileage: 49,539

20130909FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ C350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RESOLVED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20130529SUSPENSION

FRONT RIGHT SPRING BROKE. THIS IS THE 2ND SPRING THAT HAS BROKEN IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THIS TIME THE BROKEN SPRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST MOVING PARTS AND SMOKING AT ONLY 5 MPH. IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS, OR ON A CURVE, I SUSPECT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MERCEDES SPRINGS BREAKING ON VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. THAT WOULD CERTAINLY INDICATE TO ME THAT EITHER THE DESIGN OR SPRINGS ARE DEFECTIVE. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

Compare 2006MERCEDES-BENZC350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350 have?
The 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350 has 24 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350?
The most-complained component for the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350 is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ C350 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.