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2006 Mercedes-Benz R500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 26 owner complaints about the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-298 the manufacturer reports only 3% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 3%Owner complaints268 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage93kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 26, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 has problems

26 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train60
Electrical system52
Steering50
Seats44
Suspension40
Service brakes, hydraulic20
Air bags21
Wheels10
Electronic stability control (ESC)10
3 other systems32

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

3%repaired · 2026 Q1

Power assist: vacuum

Do not drive

Recall 24V-298 · Apr 26, 2024 · 15,604 vehicles · 439 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

43%repaired · 2025 Q4

Power assist: vacuum

Do not drive

Recall 22V-315 · May 9, 2022 · 350,294 vehicles · 149,456 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.

Best & worst years

2006 vs. every other R500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the R500 median. How we score

'06'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What R500 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11549204 · Oct 10, 2023 · 140,000 miles
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…
Complaint 11440223 · Nov 12, 2021
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…
Complaint 11054938 · Dec 15, 2017 · 112,000 miles

Own a 2006 R500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.