NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz R500

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz R500.

Complaints

35

Active records

Recalls

7

Active records

TSBs

102

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

0

Injuries

3

Crashes

2

Fires

5

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz R500

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

15

Operating state

12

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

7

Thermal issue

6

Reporting mechanism

5

Fluid issue

4

Ride/handling behavior

4

Braking behavior

3

Engine behavior

3

Safety restraint behavior

3

Safety restraint issue

3

Steering behavior

3

Vibration/harshness

3

Driver assistance issue

2

Electrical issue

2

Performance issue

2

Powering on/off behavior

2

Starting behavior

2

Lighting behavior

1

Noise

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Oct 10, 2023


The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the power steering was not functioning, after which the vehicle lost all power. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed an unknown fluid covering various components. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Feb 2, 2023


My 2006 R-500 is leaning from the (front and back) passenger side, causing the vehicle to be unsecure to drive... It feels like both side tires are TOTALLY FLAT. I'm not a mechanic, but it looks like the AIR SUSPENSION IS MALFUNTION

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Jan 24, 2023


The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a technician would arrive to his residence to inspect the brake booster and, if necessary, replace the brake booster. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Nov 12, 2021


I was purchasing a 2006 Mercedes Benz R500 Black on November 3,2021, VIN: [XXX]. in the process of driving the vehicle less than ten miles, part of the part of transmission case broke off. The steering was hard to turn and this is a Salvage vehicle. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Sep 2, 2020


2 injured
Fire

THE VEHICLE'S REAR DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE OR REVERSE LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF FOR A WEEK (TO MY KNOWLEDGE) AND WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE I TURNED ON THE HEAT WARMING DEVICE AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. IT WAS AFTER WE HAD BEEN SHOPPING AND RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE DID WE NOTICE A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, BUT COULD NOT TELL WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. STILL UNAWARE THAT A FIRE COULD START FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, IS WHEN WE REALIZED THAT THE CARGO AREA OF THE VEHICLES SIDE PANEL WAS IN…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Jun 2, 2020


VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDRIVEABLE ON AND OFF FOR 6 MONTHS WITH DEFECTIVE STARTER WIRING HARNESS WHICH THE WIRES ARE EXPOSED, AND STARTING INTERMITTENTLY. TOWED FROM THE STREET 2 MONTHS AGO AND SITTING AT THE MECHANIC TRYING TO HELP ME. MERCEDES BENZ HAS A SAFETY RECALL #2006040002 FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM. THEY TELL ME IT IS FOR THE 2006 R350 AND NOT THE R500 MAYBE BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY LIMITED. THESES MODELS ARE THE SAME BUILT CHASSIS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS, EXCEPT I…

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed May 29, 2020


AS PER RECALL#2006040002 IS THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING NOW. THE STARTER WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND EXPOSED, AND CAR IS DISABLED AT MERCEDES MECHANIC SITE. MBUSA SAYS IT IS ONLY TO CERTAIN R500S AND VIN SPECIFIC. I AM CONFUSED SINCE THIS IS LIMITED PRODUCTION.

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Jan 9, 2019


AFTER DIAGNOSTICS FOUND THAT THE FRONT SAM HAD BEEN UNDER WATER SHORTING THE SAM AND ALMOST CAUSING VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. WOULD NEED THE FRONT SAM AND WIRING REPAIR ALONG WITH CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DIAGNOSTIC. THE WATER IS COMING FROM THE FIREWALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WAS AT WORK HAD TO LEAVE IT AT MY JOB BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START SO THE NEXT DAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED.

2006 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed Dec 15, 2017


THE TRANSMISSION HAS A FAULTY SHIFT SOLENOID THAT CAN ONLY BE REPLACED BY A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THEREFORE IS MANY TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER REPAIRS. ALSO THIS SOLENOID HAS A WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FAILURE RATE. MY CAR HAS 112,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING POORLY AND GOT STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. CAN BECAME VERY JERKY AND ONCE WENT INTO PARK WITHOUT ME SELECTING PARK, THIS HAPPENED AT A STOP LIGHT WITH CARS COMING UP BEHIND ME.

2007 MERCEDES BENZ R500

Filed May 8, 2017


MY AIR SHOCKS KEEP GOING OUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES IT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR IS NOW PARK SITTING SIDEWAYS.

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.