Total Complaints
4 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 · model year
2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011MERCEDES-BENZCLS550 carries 4 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 2011 CLS550 is power train:automatic transmission with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and fuel/propulsion system (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 2011 CLS550. 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.
4
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20150702SEATS
SITTING @ RED LIGHT NOT MOVING AND BOTH HEAD RESTS DEPLOYED. HADN'T HIT ANY POT HOLES NOR WAS MY VEHICLE JARRED IN ANY WAY. HAD TO PAY $165 FOR DEALER TO RESET THEM AS IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF THE HEADREST MECHANISM MUST BE DEFECTIVE TO DEPLOY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SITTING PERFECTLY STILL. UPDATED 12/9/2015 *JS
Mileage: 47,840
20150106FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I SMELL GAS FUMES IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. I AM WORRY BECAUSE THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG WERE THE BABY CAR SEAT IS, HE IS INHALING ALL THAT FUMED.
Mileage: 39,900
20141117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TODAY, I WAS INFORMED BUY THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE SPECIALIST AT INTAKE, AT THE ONLY DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE N.C. 3203 BRAGG BLVD. WHEN TAKING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THAT THE REVERSE CAMERA FOR BACKING UP SAFELY, COAXIAL CABLE WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE CAMERA TO MALFUNCTION DUE TO OPENING AND CLOSING THE TRUCK. APPARENTLY, THE TRUCK SLICES THE COAXIAL CABLE EACH TIME YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE TRUCK UNTIL THE CABLE BREAKS, STOPPING THE CONNECTION OF THE CAMERA TO THE VIEWER. I DON'T BELIEVING THIS DEFECT IN THE USE OF THE TRUCK CAUSING THE CABLE TO BE CUT UP SHOULD BE AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE TO FIX EACH TIME IT HAPPENS FROM SIMPLY USING OUR TRUNKS. I ALSO HAVE A DISABILITY RETIREMENT DUE TO INJURES TO MY NECK AND BACK WORKING AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND THAT BACK UP CAMERA HELPS TO INSURE SAFE BACK UPS FOR PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
20120314POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CODES NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS A LONG DELAY TO ENGAGE. UPDATED 05/02/12
Mileage: 4,000
Compare 2011MERCEDES-BENZCLS550 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 have?▼
The 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550?▼
The most-complained component for the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS550 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.