2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 |
Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
2018: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10670555 · 39,900 miI SMELL GAS FUMES IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. I AM WORRY BECAUSE THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG WERE THE BABY CAR SEAT IS, HE IS INHALING ALL THAT FUMED. | 834.8%ODI 11130069 · 81,000 mi"FUEL LEAKING FROM GAS TANK" AFTER SMELLING A STRONG FUEL SMELL BOTH INSIDE AND OUT SIDE MY VEHICLE I TOOK TO MERCEDES 9/17/18 TO SEE IF THEY KNEW OF THE ISSUE OF IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OR RECALL ON MY VEHICLE REGARDING A FUEL ISSUE. THE SMELL ALWAYS SEEMED STRONGER AFTER I PUT IN A FULL TANK OF GAS. THEY DID A VISUAL INSPECTION AND TOLD ME THEY SEE FUEL LEAKING FROM MY VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL RELATED RECALL. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $185 JUST TO SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS AND DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CONCERN IF THE VEHICLE WAS SAF… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11338036 · 82,000 miWHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN GARAGE, WE BEGAN NOTICING A PROFUSE GAS/FUEL SMELL. IT BECAME INCREASINGLY STRONG IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS AFTER SMELL WAS NOTICED, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP TO ADVISE OF THE ISSUE. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, AND DISCOVERED THAT PREVIOUS YEARS SPECIFICALLY; 2006-2011 CLS CLASS VEHICLES EXHIBITED THE SAME DEFECT WHICH WAS ADDRESSED WITH THE NHTSA AND TO WHICH MB-USA AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS" FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS TO 15 YEA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10658520 · 45,000 miTODAY, I WAS INFORMED BUY THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE SPECIALIST AT INTAKE, AT THE ONLY DEALER IN FAYETTEVILLE N.C. 3203 BRAGG BLVD. WHEN TAKING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE THAT THE REVERSE CAMERA FOR BACKING UP SAFELY, COAXIAL CABLE WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE CAMERA TO MALFUNCTION DUE TO OPENING AND CLOSING THE TRUCK. APPARENTLY, THE TRUCK SLICES THE COAXIAL CABLE EACH TIME YOU OPEN AND CLOSE THE TRUCK UNTIL THE CABLE BREAKS, STOPPING THE CONNECTION OF THE CAMERA TO THE VIEWER. I DON'T BELIEVING THIS DEFECT IN THE USE OF THE TRUCK CAUSING THE CAB… | 313.0%ODI 11075324 · 44,560 miTHE VERY DAY I BROUGHT MY CAR HOME FROM A USED CAR PURCHASE, THE MOMENT I PULLED IN MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK, THE MESSAGE CENTER SAID, " SOS SERVICE NOT ACTIVATED" IN A WARNING IN THE CENTER CLUSTER. IT WOULDN'T GO AWAY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I PUSHED THE SOS BUTTON AND MB ASKED ME, " WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY ?" I APPOLOGIZED AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DASH. THEY ENDED THE CALL AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE WARNING WENT AWAY. THIS WAS ON FEB 1, 2018 AT 4:38 P.M. | 125.0%ODI 11460374Car looses communication with the Electronic Ignition System (keyless system) and while rolling to a stop light, slams the car into park while still rolling. It also will throw itself into park while first accelerating - almost causing the car following me to crash into my rear end. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 313.0%ODI 10478737 · 980 miWHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. T THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 980. *TR | 125.0%ODI 11460374Car looses communication with the Electronic Ignition System (keyless system) and while rolling to a stop light, slams the car into park while still rolling. It also will throw itself into park while first accelerating - almost causing the car following me to crash into my rear end. | 110.0%ODI 11317698 · 76,434 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND OR REVERSING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO PARK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WILMINGTON LOCATED AT (3801 LANCASTER PIKE, WILMINGTON, DE 19805 [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GPS/TRACKING DEVICE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE DIAGNOSED AND THE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 313.0%ODI 10472927 · 16,878 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,878. | 125.0%ODI 11555559I brought the car to my Mercedes dealer for a State required safety and emissions inspection. It passed but they said the rear brake line were rusted and needed replacement at a cost of $2546.00. This model and numerous others were recently provided an extended warranty for rusted subframes. This is a $5-$7K repair. They do not cover the brake lines or include them as part of the repair. The sub-frame rust from the inside out so it is not initially obvious of impending failure. There is a pending class action lawsuit against MBUSA that mentio… | 110.0%ODI 11711966After the Mercedes dealer replaced the corroded rear sub frame under the 20 year extended warranty, my brake line failed so I took it back & found out that the brake lines were corroded. I paid nothing for the subframe since it was under the warranty but I ended up paying $4114 to replace the corroded brake lines. The dealer should have checked for corrosion while the subframe was out of the car, especially since this is a known issue. The parts were only $380 and $3800+ was labor. My brakes completely failed while driving on Christmas Eve. I t… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 1100.0%ODI 11310673 · 120,000 miSUNROOF RECALL - THE PANEL HAS BECOME LOOSE AND THE COVERING NEEDED TO BE REMOVED FOR SAFETY (FALLING). I CALLED MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPLACEMENT AND THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. I ASKED CAN THEY CALL ME WHEN THEY COME IN AND THEY SAID THEY CANNOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL EVER COME IN. THEY OFFERED NO SOLUTION. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 313.0%ODI 11458460It has been confirmed by a glass company that the car has an improper seal/bonded windshield. The windshield is the original and the car has never been in an accident. A few years ago, i noticed a rattling that I was unable to identify. This was reported during one of the regular maintenance services but the sound was not replicated (as it would happen more often when cold). Recently, the sound has gotten worse, and I had a water leak so I suspected the windshield. As I have already stated the problem was confirmed, and you can liter… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11321079 · 90,000 miON MARCH 8 2020 I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550 STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED, GLASS SHATTERING EVERYWHERE. GLASS HIT MY FACE AND WENT DOWN MY BACK AND CUT MY HANDS. I DIDN'T CRASH THE CAR NOR WAS ANY OTHER DAMAGE DONE THAN THE SUNROOF. I PULLED OVER WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NO OBJECT HAD CAME THROUGH THE SUNROOF. THE FRONT OF THE SUNROOF WAS INDENTED INWARD AND GLASS WAS ANGLED OUTWARD AS IF IT HAD EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 760,000 MERC… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 417.4%ODI 11122317 · 61,000 miDRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY 6MONTH OLD BABY AND SUDDENLY MY CAR SURGES AND LOSES POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND I MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH ALMOST NO ACCELERATION. TURN OFF THE ENGINE, WAIT A WHILE THEN TURN IT BACK ON AND HEAD BACK HOME. THE CEL STAYED ON BUT I STILL HAD ENGINE POWER SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE. THIS CAR JUST HAS 60K MILES ON IT AND I TAKE IT TO MERCEDES FOR ALL THE ROUTINE CHECKS. SO THIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OUT OF NOWHERE. I DROVE IT TO MERCEDES AND GOT A DIAGNOSTIC DONE AND I WAS TOLD THE CAMSHAFT POSITION S… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 28.7%ODI 10472927 · 16,878 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES BENZ CLS550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,878. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 11055895 · 73,000 miI RECENTLY PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM THE NAME DEALERSHIP ONLINE. THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN APPROX. 20 MINS AFTER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR OPERATION. I WAS TOLD BY THE SELLER AND DEALERSHIP... TEXT MESSAGE SAVED, THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND THAT THE VEHICLE BEING SOLD ONLINE HAD NO PROBLEMS AND PASS ALL REQUIRED USED CAR INSPECTIONS, CARFAX TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. I RESIDE IN MS, SEARCHED ONLINE SOME TIME PRIOR TO BUYING. I READ THE DEALERSHIP REVIEWS WHICH WERE SATISFACTORY UNTIL … | 1100.0%ODI 11457710The steering wheel power adjustment function stopped working. The steering wheel went to the topmost position and got stuck there. It still telescopes in and out, but the up and down function stopped working, and it's stuck at the highest position and won't move down. The car has 52K miles and was not in an accident. Due to the strange position of the steering wheel, it is more difficult to control the car. There were no warning lights about this. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 28.7%ODI 11611787Premature rusting on brake and fuel lines which lead to further issues with driveability and saftey. This us caused by the same defects leading to the Premature rust on the subframe that can cause a serious wreck on the interstate. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 220.0%ODI 11468097Front passenger assembly strut went out suddenly while driving almost caused an accident.No warning signs just gave out. Vehicle is in the shop but cannot be repaired because the part is out of stock and no ETA on when vendor will restock them. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | Too few reports for a range | 27,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11149825 · 27,000 miTHE WHEELS ARE DEFECTIVE HAVE HAD 8 BLOWOUTS IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS A SAFETY ISSUE |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2015: 0 complaints · 2017: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Wheels |
|---|---|
| Wheels | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.