FRONT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT ONLY 55,600 MILES. COST IS $3,000 DOLLARS AND VEHICLE IS ONLY 5,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE ARE MANY OTHER MERCEDES 4MATIC WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, THIS IS AN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT MERCEDES IS NOT CORRECTING. DO NOT BUY A MERCEDES. *TR
2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all R350 years →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.
What owners actually said
99 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES R350. WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEATED SEATS ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT COULD SMELL AND SEE SMOKE AS THE SEAT BEGAN TO BURN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000.
HEADLAMPS SHINE TOO CLOSE TO CAR. ONLY SHINE 40-50 FEET OUT TO THE FRONT AND AT NIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN RAIN, YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT SEE THE ROAD OR HAZARDS IN IT, SUCH AS DEER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN ACCELERATED UP TO 20000 RPMS (TACHOMETER RED LINE). HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HESITATED THEN ACCELERATED UP TO 20000 RPMS (TACHOMETER RED LINE). HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION'S ELECTRONIC DEVICE FAILED. HOWEVER HE SPECULATES THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLER PULLEY, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE RUN FLAT INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLER PULLEY, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE RUN FLAT INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE ELECTRICAL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ELECTRICAL PANEL WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE ELECTRICAL FAILURES AND THE POWER SUNROOF LID WOULD NOT CLOSE. THE DEALER ORDERED AN UNDISCLOSED PART FROM GERMANY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 PROBLEM WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSION **CC THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK A PARKED CAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, THE REASON WHY THE VEHICLE ROLLED, WAS BECAUSE HE LEFT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER STATED A BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED TO PLACE IN TO PARK. IT WAS DET…
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2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 PROBLEM WITH FAULTY TRANSMISSION **CC THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND STRUCK A PARKED CAR. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER, THE REASON WHY THE VEHICLE ROLLED, WAS BECAUSE HE LEFT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER STATED A BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED TO PLACE IN TO PARK. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CONSUMER DIDN'T PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. IT WAS STATED THAT IF THE KEY IS LEFT IN THE IGNITION, AND NOT PLACED INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO PARK BY ITSELF. THE CONCLUSION WAS USER ERROR. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE A POLICE REPORT. *JB
MERCEDES R CLASS SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING HAS LITTLE PLAY AND ITS MEASUREMENT OF HARDENING AND SOFTENING THE STEERING IS UNPREDICTABLE. SOMETIME STEERING ITSELF BECOME VERY SOFT THAT VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL AND SOMETIME IT BECOMES VERY HARD. TOTAL RANDOM BEHAVIOR, EFFECT DRIVING AND SAFETY. *NM
MY WIFE DROVE OUR MERCEDES BENZ R350 TO A FRIENDS HOUSE TO DROP OFF THE KIDS. UPON STOPPING ON THE DRIVEWAY MY WIFE SHUT THE CAR OFF (KEY IN OFF POSITION) GOT OUT AND WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO HELP MY DAUGHTER OUT OF THE THIRD ROW. AT THAT SAME TIME MY SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR. AS MY WIFE BE…
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MY WIFE DROVE OUR MERCEDES BENZ R350 TO A FRIENDS HOUSE TO DROP OFF THE KIDS. UPON STOPPING ON THE DRIVEWAY MY WIFE SHUT THE CAR OFF (KEY IN OFF POSITION) GOT OUT AND WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE TO HELP MY DAUGHTER OUT OF THE THIRD ROW. AT THAT SAME TIME MY SON EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR. AS MY WIFE BEGAN TO MOVE THE SEAT FOR MY DAUGHTER THE CAR ROLLED DUE TO NOT BEING IN PARK, ROLLED PAST MY SON AND WENT THROUGH THE FRIENDS GARAGE DOOR. ALL CARS I KNOW OF THAT ARE AUTOMATICS REQUIRE THE VEHICLE BE IN PARK PRIOR TO THE KEY GOING TO THE OFF POSITION. MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE CAR PROGRAMMED SO THAT IF THE USER FORGETS TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, PARK WILL BE ENGAGED ONCE THE KEY IS REMOVED (A HAPTIC ADMISSION OF GUILT). FOR SAFETY REASONS THE LOGIC SHOULD BE MODIFIED SLIGHTLY TO: ZEROSPD+(DOOROPEN*KEYOFF)=PARK I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SEE THIS AS MY WIFE'S FAULT. IT IS SIMPLE TO THEM, PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE THEIR KEYS IN THEIR CARS SO GOING INTO PARK ONCE THE KEY IS REMOVED IS FINE. THE SHIFTER THIS CAR HAS IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AND WILL TAKE A LOT OF GETTING USED TO IN ORDER TO REMEMBER TO PUT IT IN PARK. ON THE SECOND DAY WE HAD THE CAR HOME I ALMOST GOT OUT WITHOUT BEING IN PARK. IT WILL COST $1100 FOR A NEW GARAGE DOOR AND THE R350 HAS SOME MINOR SCRATCHES ON THE FACIA. TO ME THIS IS SIMPLE, MERCEDES BENZ PUTS THE CAR IN PARK (FOR THOSE THAT FORGET) ONE STEP TOO LATE OVERLOOKING CONDITIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO SAFER LOGIC. MY SON COULD HAVE BEEN CRUSHED BY THE CAR, HE ONLY MADE IT AS FAR AS THE FRONT FENDER AND WAS ABOUT TO WALK IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM BERNARD, THE CHIEF TECHNICIAN THAT I LEFT A VM WITH ON THE 800-FOR-MERC LINE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND THIS WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THERE WAS A TAPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND THIS WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS, BUT WAS NOT PLACED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKES WERE NORMAL.
Official recalls
224V298000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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