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2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

89 reports with mileage · 10 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports10 fire reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

13 reports
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128,000 miles · Feb 5, 2017
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE CANT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20MPH ON FREEWAY VERY DANGEROUS. HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART CAR TO RESET. CAR JUST RANDOMLY SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRONICS DIED ON STREET. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAYS NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY OF TRANSMISSION. RESEARCHED ONLINE VERY COMMON PROBLEM. DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING A…

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CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE CANT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20MPH ON FREEWAY VERY DANGEROUS. HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART CAR TO RESET. CAR JUST RANDOMLY SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRONICS DIED ON STREET. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAYS NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY OF TRANSMISSION. RESEARCHED ONLINE VERY COMMON PROBLEM. DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND PARTS.

NHTSA ODI #10949628

44,000 miles · Jun 24, 2015
Power TrainSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10730167

103,146 miles · May 16, 2014
Power Train

BALANCE SHAFT DETERIORATING EVENTUALLY CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592047

103,000 miles · Nov 28, 2013
Power Train

TRANSMISSION GOES INTO LIMP MODE AFTER SLOWING DOWN ON TO NEAR ZERO ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE RESULT IS THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN INTO LOWER GEAR AND THUS WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CAR OPERATE OR ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, ST…

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TRANSMISSION GOES INTO LIMP MODE AFTER SLOWING DOWN ON TO NEAR ZERO ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE RESULT IS THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN INTO LOWER GEAR AND THUS WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CAR MUST BE TURNED OFF AND RE-STARTED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CAR OPERATE OR ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, STOPPING AND RE-STARTING A CAR ON THE INTERSTATE IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE... PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAPPED IN THE FAST LANE WITH NO WAY TO CROSS MULTIPLE LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER (BECAUSE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AND CANNOT MERGE INTO 70 MPH TRAFFIC TO CROSS). AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES HAS ON SEVERAL PLATFORMS THAT SHARE THE 7-G TRONIC TRANSMISSION, I WOULD THINK THAT MERCEDES MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO WARNING THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AND WHEN IT DOES IT CAN EASILY PRESENT A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. A QUICK SEARCH OF 722.9 TRANSMISSION WILL SHOW HOW COMMON-PLACE THE ISSUE IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10554050

72,243 miles · May 23, 2013
EnginePower Train

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. REGULAR SERVICE AND MAINTENAINCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY THE DEALER ONLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO B…

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THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. REGULAR SERVICE AND MAINTENAINCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY THE DEALER ONLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DTB-S-B-03.30/08I WAS SENT TO DEALERS FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO COVER HALF OF THE 7K REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FIIRST TIME LAMP LIT WAS AT 72,245 MILES BUT WENT OFF. LAMP CONTINUED TO LIGHT INTERMITTED BUT STAYS ON NOW MORE THAN OFF DIAGNOSIS MILEAGE WAS 73,845. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 75,679. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513342

72,000 miles · May 7, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCED SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALANCED SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,500. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510923

92,261 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC THAT WORKS ON FOREIGN CARS, HE INFORMED ME THAT MY DRIVE CAM SHAFT IS "RETARDED" BASICALLY STATING THAT MY SPROCKETS THAT HOLD THE TIMING BELT ARE WORN DOWN, I AM ALSO LOOSING COMPRESSION. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL GOODWILL THE REPAIR I…

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC THAT WORKS ON FOREIGN CARS, HE INFORMED ME THAT MY DRIVE CAM SHAFT IS "RETARDED" BASICALLY STATING THAT MY SPROCKETS THAT HOLD THE TIMING BELT ARE WORN DOWN, I AM ALSO LOOSING COMPRESSION. I TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL GOODWILL THE REPAIR IF THAT IS REALLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THEY HOWEVER PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT YOUR CAR HAS ALMOST 100,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT MAY JUST BE THE TIMING BELT IS WORN DOWN.(THEY WILL TRY ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF THE REPAIR). THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY NEED TO CHECK THE RECORDS TO SEE WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND ALSO THAT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR FROM THEM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO DO THE WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10450538

100,000 miles · Aug 15, 2011
Power Train

GEAR GETS STRUCK IN MERCEDES-BENZ R350. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419448

68,080 miles · Jun 30, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

THE VEHICLE INDICATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE ERROR CODE SHOWS P0016 WHICH IS SHAFT BALANCE ISSUE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ATTEND TO IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT A KNOWN ERROR FROM FACTORY. THE ISSUE WOULD REOCCUR BECAUSE OF POOR MATERIAL AND COULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL WHILE IN TRAVEL.

NHTSA ODI #10411070

51,560 miles · Apr 9, 2011
Power Train

I HAVE A 2006 MERCEDES R350 THAT WE BOUGHT USED IN 2009. THE CAR NOW HAS 51,560 MILES AND THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS OUT AND NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF 3500.00. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MILEAGE ON THE CAR. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. I AM FIGHTIN…

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I HAVE A 2006 MERCEDES R350 THAT WE BOUGHT USED IN 2009. THE CAR NOW HAS 51,560 MILES AND THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS OUT AND NEEDS REPLACED AT A COST OF 3500.00. I HAVE READ OF SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MILEAGE ON THE CAR. MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. I AM FIGHTING WITH THEM NOW TO JUST GET THEM TO COVER HALF THE COST. EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AND I CALLED THE DEALER. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE WARRANTY RAN OUT ON FRIDAY AND I CALLED ON MONDAY SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395375

Official recalls

2

24V298000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Apr 26, 2024

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 brake failure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.

22V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

May 9, 2022

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 performance or brake failure.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Reduced brake performance or brake failure can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.