Total Complaints
3 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 · model year
2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009MERCEDES-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 2009 CLS500 is electrical system with 1 filings, followed by service brakes (1) and exterior lighting (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 2009 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20130718ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPON TESTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS THE BLINKER WAS CORRECTING AND AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR AGAIN, TURNING OFF AND ON THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK AND INSPECTING THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE TOP BROWN WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED AS IF THE WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EFFECTING OR BURNING THE HARNESS. THE TAIL LIGHT STILL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF HOWEVER THE BLACKENED WIRES ARE A CONCERN TO ME THAT IT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 49,874
20130718SERVICE BRAKES
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPON TESTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS THE BLINKER WAS CORRECTING AND AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR AGAIN, TURNING OFF AND ON THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK AND INSPECTING THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE TOP BROWN WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED AS IF THE WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EFFECTING OR BURNING THE HARNESS. THE TAIL LIGHT STILL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF HOWEVER THE BLACKENED WIRES ARE A CONCERN TO ME THAT IT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 49,874
20130718EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I RECEIVED A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD THAT MY REAR TAIL LIGHT BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THE PASSENGER SIDE BLINKER WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. UPON TESTING THE HAZARD LIGHTS THE BLINKER WAS CORRECTING AND AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR THE LIGHT FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. 2 WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED THE SAME ERROR AGAIN, TURNING OFF AND ON THE CAR DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK AND INSPECTING THE LIGHT I NOTICED THE TOP BROWN WIRE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TAIL LIGHT HARNESS WAS BLACKENED AND BURNED AS IF THE WIRE WAS OVERHEATING AND EFFECTING OR BURNING THE HARNESS. THE TAIL LIGHT STILL INTERMITTENTLY WORKS ON AND OFF HOWEVER THE BLACKENED WIRES ARE A CONCERN TO ME THAT IT COULD BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Mileage: 49,874
Compare 2009MERCEDES-BENZCLS500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 have?▼
The 2009 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 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS500 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
Is the 2009 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.