MERCEDES-BENZ R350 · model year

2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350

19 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009MERCEDES-BENZR350 carries 19 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 R350 is air bags with 8 filings, followed by seats (1) and unknown or other (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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2009 R350. 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.

19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 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
AIR BAGS8
SEATS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
VISIBILITY1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
SEAT BELTS1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recalls (2)

24V29800026/04/2024

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brak

22V31500009/05/2022

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake perform

Recent Complaints

20230226STRUCTURE:BODY

Rear Panoramic Roof Glass Cracks

20181118SEAT BELTS

REAR SEATBELTS RANDOMLY GET STUCK RETRACTED ALL THE WAY OR PARTIALLY OUT AND BECOME UNUSABLE FOR THE ( MIDDLE ROW) REAR PASSENGERS. THIS MALFUNCTION WAS NOTICED ON OR AROUND 8/30/2014 AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE TO ITS CURRENT STATE OF USELESSNESS !

20180611AIR BAGS

I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING SAFETY RECALL NOTICES FROM MERCEDES BENZ SEVERAL TIME IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. EACH TIME THAT I CALL MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH BAY IN TORRANCE, CA, THEY TELL ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART. SINCE THE SAFETY RECALL IS ABOUT THE AIR BAGS, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY GET FIXED. I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED, CAN YOU HELP ME. VIN #: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

20180327VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ R350. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD SOMETHING LIKE A LOUD POPPING SOUND. AT THAT POINT, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THE FAILURE HAD NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *TT

Mileage: 105,000

20180224FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

IN 4 SEPARATE INCIDENTS SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN 2012, I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS BUT THE GAS GAUGE SHOWS MORE THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL AVAILABLE. MOST RECENTLY, ON FEB 12,2018, MY CAR STOPPED WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON I-270 IN COLUMBUS OH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING AND 1/3 TANK OF GAS SHOWING ON THE GAUGE. I FEARED FOR MY AND MY DAUGHTER'S LIVES, AS A CAR WITH NO FUEL IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I ASKED AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER (ASTORG) TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 77,000

20180106AIR BAGS

RECEIVED LETTER TELLING ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR A FREE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. THESE AIRBAGS INFLATORS ARE DEFECTED ON MY VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND PROVIDE DEALER THAT CAN HANDLE THIS ISSUE NEAR MY HOMETOWN.

20171109AIR BAGS

WE RECEIVED A RECALL IN FEBRUARY 2016 AND STILL THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENTS AVAILABLE. WHY SEND A RECALL WITH NO POSSIBLE RESOLUTION? I GUESS WE JUST CROSS OUR FINGERS AND HOPE?

20171102AIR BAGS

THERE IS A RECALL NOTICE FEB 11, 2016 AND TO DATE I HAVE NOT =BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG. WHAT DO I DO

20171030AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL, NO REMEDY FROM MERCEDES AS OF YET

20171025AIR BAGS

I RECEIVED A "TAKATA RECALL" NOTICE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO ALLEGING THAT MY CURRENT AIRBAG CAN CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, HARM OR DEATH. I'VE REPEATEDLY TRIED TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG AS INSTRUCTED FROM PREVIOUS NOTIFICATIONS AND EVERY SINGLE TIME, I'M TOLD THAT THE PARTS FOR MY CAR ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. WILL THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AFTER I DIE OR GET SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT????

20161122AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V081000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20141018AIR BAGS

DRIVERS SIDE REAR AIR BAG CONSTANTLY LOSING AIR PRESSURE. NO WARNING LIGHT, BOTH WHILE PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING. FENDER NEARLY TOUCHES THE TIRE, VEHICLE LEANS AND BECOMES UNSTABLE. NO VISUAL EVIDENCE OF CRACKED OR DETERIORATION . *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20130707VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION ON INTERSTATE 95 NORTH. THERE WAS A HEAVY DOWNPOUR OF RAIN, AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASE TO OPERATE. WE BEGAN TO PANIC BECAUSE THE RAIN WAS SO HEAVY. I BEGAN TO TURN THE SWITCH TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OFF AND ON. FINALLY, I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN, BACK ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED PARTIALLY TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION. ON A DIFFERENT DAY, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2009 MERCEDES BENZ R350 ON INTERSTATE 295 NORTH ON HER WAY TO WORK, IT STARTED TO RAIN VERY HEAVILY. AGAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CEASE TO OPERATE AND VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR. MY WIFE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT PULL OVER DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. AS THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE, AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK WAS APPROACHING FROM BEHIND AND IMMEDIATELY, MY WIFE PUT ON HER FLASHERS. IF NOT FOR MY WIFE'S QUICK THINKING, SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR WORSE. MY WIFE WAS TOTALLY SHOOK UP FROM THIS INCIDENT, AND SHE WILL NOT DRIVE THIS VE

Mileage: 75,000

20110308VISIBILITY

DRIVING THROUGH SNOW STORM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHICH TURNED INTO HEAVY RAIN IN MA. APPROX. 3-4 HOURS INTO TRIP DRIVING CAREFULLY THROUGH WINTER STORM LIKE CONDITIONS ON MASS PIKE IN LEFT LANE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, HAZARDS STOPPED WORKING COULDN'T GET OVER SAFELY DON'T THINK BRAKES OR ACCELERATION WORKING BUT COULD STEER SO FRIGHTENED AND COULDN'T SEE AHEAD SINCE HEAVY RAIN - GOT TO SHOULDER BY USING OUTSIDE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR AND TURNED CAR INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP IT, DON'T THINK BRAKES WORKING SINCE WE KIND OF CRASHED STOPPED BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY TEST ANYTHING CAREFULLY SINCE JUST THINKING ABOUT MY 2 KIDS IN THE BACK OF CAR. ONCE CAR STOPPED COULDN'T GET OUT SINCE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN. TERRIFIED IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND WE WERE TRAPPED INSIDE. CALLED 911 AND OFFICER ASKED ME WHERE IWAS AND I DIDN'T KNOW AND WAS SO PANICKED THINKING TRAPPED INSIDE CAR. OFFICER YELLED AT ME TO LOOK FOR SIGN SO HE COULD SEND HELP AND I WEN

Mileage: 51,000

20110308EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVING THROUGH SNOW STORM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHICH TURNED INTO HEAVY RAIN IN MA. APPROX. 3-4 HOURS INTO TRIP DRIVING CAREFULLY THROUGH WINTER STORM LIKE CONDITIONS ON MASS PIKE IN LEFT LANE AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, BLINKERS STOPPED WORKING, HAZARDS STOPPED WORKING COULDN'T GET OVER SAFELY DON'T THINK BRAKES OR ACCELERATION WORKING BUT COULD STEER SO FRIGHTENED AND COULDN'T SEE AHEAD SINCE HEAVY RAIN - GOT TO SHOULDER BY USING OUTSIDE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR AND TURNED CAR INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP IT, DON'T THINK BRAKES WORKING SINCE WE KIND OF CRASHED STOPPED BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY TEST ANYTHING CAREFULLY SINCE JUST THINKING ABOUT MY 2 KIDS IN THE BACK OF CAR. ONCE CAR STOPPED COULDN'T GET OUT SINCE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN. TERRIFIED IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND WE WERE TRAPPED INSIDE. CALLED 911 AND OFFICER ASKED ME WHERE IWAS AND I DIDN'T KNOW AND WAS SO PANICKED THINKING TRAPPED INSIDE CAR. OFFICER YELLED AT ME TO LOOK FOR SIGN SO HE COULD SEND HELP AND I WEN

Mileage: 51,000

20100806SEATS

WIFE IS DISABLED WITH A BACK INJURY LUMBAR SUPPORT HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS PART WAS FINALLY ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND THE ITEM SEEMS FIXED WHINING NOISE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MERCEDES ENGINEER SAYS IT IS A AC PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE...AND REFUSES TO FIX IT AGAIN.....CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

20100806UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WIFE IS DISABLED WITH A BACK INJURY LUMBAR SUPPORT HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS PART WAS FINALLY ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND THE ITEM SEEMS FIXED WHINING NOISE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MERCEDES ENGINEER SAYS IT IS A AC PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE...AND REFUSES TO FIX IT AGAIN.....CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

20100806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIFE IS DISABLED WITH A BACK INJURY LUMBAR SUPPORT HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS PART WAS FINALLY ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND THE ITEM SEEMS FIXED WHINING NOISE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MERCEDES ENGINEER SAYS IT IS A AC PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE...AND REFUSES TO FIX IT AGAIN.....CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

20100806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WIFE IS DISABLED WITH A BACK INJURY LUMBAR SUPPORT HAS FAILED 4 TIMES IN 7 MONTHS PART WAS FINALLY ORDERED FROM GERMANY AND THE ITEM SEEMS FIXED WHINING NOISE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MERCEDES ENGINEER SAYS IT IS A AC PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE...AND REFUSES TO FIX IT AGAIN.....CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THIS. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

Compare 2009MERCEDES-BENZR350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 have?
The 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350?
Yes, the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350?
The most-complained component for the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 is AIR BAGS with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEATS and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 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.