Total Complaints
3 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 · model year
2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004MERCEDES-BENZCLS500 carries 3 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, 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 2004 CLS500 is engine with 1 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (1) and vehicle speed control (1). 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 2004 CLS500. 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20131016FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FROM A STOPPED POSITION THERE IS DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED BEFORE THE ENGINE ACTUALLY BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. THE DELAY IS APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS AND PRESENTS SERIOUS DANGER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO APPROACHING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS WHERE I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WITH THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND NO ERROR FAULTS HAD BEEN LOGGED IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT INITIALLY BUT IS NOT CONSISTENTLY OCCURRING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SUSPECT MY CASE IS NOT UNIQUE. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
20131016VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FROM A STOPPED POSITION THERE IS DELAY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED BEFORE THE ENGINE ACTUALLY BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. THE DELAY IS APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS AND PRESENTS SERIOUS DANGER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO APPROACHING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS WHERE I WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT HESITATION WITH THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER A FEW TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND NO ERROR FAULTS HAD BEEN LOGGED IN THE VEHICLES COMPUTER. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT INITIALLY BUT IS NOT CONSISTENTLY OCCURRING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SUSPECT MY CASE IS NOT UNIQUE. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
20130426ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,530. *TR UPDATED 06/07/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ULTIMATELY OFFERED A 20 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON THE PART ONLY. UPDATED 06/13/2013 *JS
Mileage: 64,530
Compare 2004MERCEDES-BENZCLS500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 have?▼
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 is ENGINE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.