2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 3 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 3 |
Wheels: 3
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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11608769 · 2024-08-15 (August 15, 2024)
The car is equipped with Continental ProContact GX SSR 245/40R19 runflat tires in the front. Since January of this year I have replaced the front tires 5 times. Once for the left front and four times for the right front. One time it was due to a bubble in the sidewall. Other four were from the sidewall tearing vertically in 2 places a few inches from each other. The pictures attached show how the tire failed four times. In the cases where the sidewall failed in some cases was from running over what felt like a shallow pothole and/or broke…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11608769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11641516 · 2025-02-08 (February 8, 2025)
This vehicle has 6,600 miles on it. All 4 wheels have been bent driving on normal roads at normal speed. There have been 2 sidewall tire bubbles as a result. And after having all wheels straightened one of the wheels has now cracked. This caused the tire to deflate and the vehicle can no longer be driven. Is speaking with a wheel shop this is a known problem with this vehicle. Mercedes will not do anything about it.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11641516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11724619 · 2026-03-16 (March 16, 2026)
Description of Defect: I am reporting a chronic and dangerous structural failure of the factory-equipped alloy wheels on my 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 4MATIC. Since purchase, this vehicle has suffered 8 documented incidents of wheel failure, consisting of 5 rim cracks and 3 complete wheel replacements. The failures are occurring under normal, paved driving conditions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This persistent cracking indicates a severe structural design defect where the wheel’s load rating is insufficient for the vehicle’s weight and low-p…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11724619 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V445000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2023-06-26 (June 26, 2023)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS, SL, GT, GLC, GLE, GLS, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The fuel pump may shutdown, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 14, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023070012.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V574000 · Electrical System:Adas:Blindspot:Sensors
Reported: 2023-08-11 (August 11, 2023)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2023 E450, E350, AMG E63 S, AMG E53, CLS450, AMG GT53, and AMG GT43 vehicles. Due to a software error, the exit warning system audio and visual warnings may fail to alert occupants about approaching vehicles.
Consequence: Failure to alert occupants of an approaching vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the exit warning system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023080005.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V100000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2024-02-09 (February 9, 2024)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 CLS450, E450, E450 All-Terrain, AMG E53, AMG GT43, AMG GT53, and 2021 AMG CLS53 vehicles. The 48-volt ground cable connection located in the engine compartment may not be tightened properly and may result in the ground cable overheating.
Consequence: An overheated ground cable increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the 48-volt ground cable connection and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024MMNNNN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 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 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 428.6%ODI 11300055 · 1,100 miI AM ALSO HAVING THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM ISSUE AS STATED IN: NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11280637 | 120.0%ODI 11579206I purchased my 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 with approximately 12,000 miles on 08/16/2022. Throughout the course of my ownership the vehicle has had multiple sets of tires replaced due to them either being prematurely bald, developing multiple bubbles, or shredding due to cracked rims. Along with the tires being constantly replaced, I have had to replace 8 rims that have cracked under normal driving conditions. Upon doing research into why my rims crack so frequently, I discovered that this is a common occurrence with my model of Mercedes, as wel… | 1100.0%ODI 11472277During a trip driving from Sedona to San Diego, the rear passenger side rim (Part No. 25740120007x23) (see Picture1) failed with a through crack on the shoulder opposite the spoke side (see Picture2). This led to the loss of air pressure in the tire. The tire pressure sensor did indicate a low pressure condition. Upon inspection of the rim, the only possible solution was to have it welded in order to continue the trip. When the rim was taken to the repair shop, three more cracks were discovered on the rim inner surface. None of these three crac… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 3100.0%ODI 11608769The car is equipped with Continental ProContact GX SSR 245/40R19 runflat tires in the front. Since January of this year I have replaced the front tires 5 times. Once for the left front and four times for the right front. One time it was due to a bubble in the sidewall. Other four were from the sidewall tearing vertically in 2 places a few inches from each other. The pictures attached show how the tire failed four times. In the cases where the sidewall failed in some cases was from running over what felt like a shallow pothole and/or broke… |
| Electrical System | 321.4%ODI 11434449While driving on an interstate highway, I received a yellow "48V Battery malfunction" notice. Because this battery had failed before, I had read on internet forums that the car could just stop working, so I took the next exit (about 3-4 miles). At the top of the ramp, I had a red "Battery Malfunction" (red=stop driving); then, within 15 seconds the car had no power and gave me a critical "engine overheated" message. I was able to coast into a parking lot. Had I not exited, the loss of power would have likely resulted in an accident and we … | 480.0%ODI 11373086 · 2,000 miTHE 2020 MERCEDES CLS HAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THEIR 48V SYSTEM THAT TURNS THE ENGINE OFF IN LOCATIONS WITH HIGH HET ZONES. I WAS TOLD BY THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND SAUDI ARABIA. IT'S A KNOW ISSUE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX CURRENTLY. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME, LEAVING ME IN A PANIC TO TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN BEFORE GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. MERCEDES PROVIDED ME A LOANER WHILE TH… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11546289While driving in traffic, a warning box appeared indicating a problem with the 48volt charging system. The A/C system stopped working (in 115 degree heat) and engine power was reduced to crawl speeds. Another warning box indicated to turn the engine off to avoid damage. I did manage to pull off the roadway and then contacted Mercedes Roadside assistance. The danger here is a sudden shutdown of the engine systems in traffic, or worse, in the middle of nowhere, in extreme weather conditions. The vehicle was towed to the nearest dealer (90 mi… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 17.1%ODI 11217434 · 2,380 miMY CAR CUT OFF ON THE BUSY 405 FREEWAY AS I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE HAD THE BRAND NEW CAR 3 MONTHS . I STARED TO RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ALERTS ON THE CAR PANEL:"BLIND SPOT ASSIST INOPERATIVE , "ACTIVE BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTIONED LIMITED" ,"ATTENTION ASSIST, SYSTEM SUSPENDED". THE CALL SLOWLY STALLED ON THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO EXIT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. THE CAR CUT OFF. IT STARTED AGAIN. I TRIED TO CONTINUE MY TRIP, BUT THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. I EXITED THE FREEWAY NEAR UCLA . MERCEDES ROADSIDE ASSISTA… | 120.0%ODI 11373086 · 2,000 miTHE 2020 MERCEDES CLS HAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THEIR 48V SYSTEM THAT TURNS THE ENGINE OFF IN LOCATIONS WITH HIGH HET ZONES. I WAS TOLD BY THE MERCEDES SERVICE DEPARTMENT THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING IN ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, FLORIDA, NEVADA AND SAUDI ARABIA. IT'S A KNOW ISSUE THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX CURRENTLY. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME, LEAVING ME IN A PANIC TO TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN BEFORE GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. MERCEDES PROVIDED ME A LOANER WHILE TH… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11546289While driving in traffic, a warning box appeared indicating a problem with the 48volt charging system. The A/C system stopped working (in 115 degree heat) and engine power was reduced to crawl speeds. Another warning box indicated to turn the engine off to avoid damage. I did manage to pull off the roadway and then contacted Mercedes Roadside assistance. The danger here is a sudden shutdown of the engine systems in traffic, or worse, in the middle of nowhere, in extreme weather conditions. The vehicle was towed to the nearest dealer (90 mi… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 321.4%ODI 11280637 · 250 miUPON DRIVING OVER CERTAIN BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE SUSPENSION HAS THE SENSATION THAT THE WHEELS AND/OR LUG NUTS ARE LOOSE. THIS PRODUCES A DISTURBING SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT THAT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE LACKS CONTROL. THIS CONDITION IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT ROTORS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY; TWO SETS IN 4700 MILES. BAD ROTORS PRODUCE A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. EVEN AFTER REPLACING ROTORS AND THE REPAIRS APPEARS TO BE DONE, THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL COMES BACK READILY AFTER AN EPISODE OF HITTING BUMPS THAT PRODUCE THE SIDE TO 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. |
| Suspension | 214.3%ODI 11280637 · 250 miUPON DRIVING OVER CERTAIN BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE SUSPENSION HAS THE SENSATION THAT THE WHEELS AND/OR LUG NUTS ARE LOOSE. THIS PRODUCES A DISTURBING SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT THAT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE LACKS CONTROL. THIS CONDITION IS RELATED TO THE FACT THAT ROTORS WEAR OUT PREMATURELY; TWO SETS IN 4700 MILES. BAD ROTORS PRODUCE A SHAKING STEERING WHEEL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. EVEN AFTER REPLACING ROTORS AND THE REPAIRS APPEARS TO BE DONE, THE SHAKING STEERING WHEEL COMES BACK READILY AFTER AN EPISODE OF HITTING BUMPS THAT PRODUCE THE SIDE TO 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. |
| Tires | 214.3%ODI 11510194I was scared for my life. I was driving on the freeway and went to change lanes then all of a sudden i lost control and slid sideways and luckily didn’t hit anything. These tires only have 3000 miles on them and are COMPLETELY BALD!! This is not safe and horrible. Falken needs to make this right | 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. |
| Wheels:Rim | 17.1%ODI 11222710 · 10 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ CLS450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WHEELS WERE NOT DESIGNED FOR DAILY DRIVING. THE RIMS WERE BENDING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION, WHICH CAUSED A BUMPY RIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF MASSAPEQUA (101 SUNRISE HWY, AMITYVILLE, NY 11701, [phone removed]) SEVEN TIMES. THE RIMS WERE REMOVED AND SHIPPED OFF FOR REPAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EACH VISIT TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THE RIMS AND WHEELS WERE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11627357 · 11,000 miThe contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front tire had a blowout. The contact stated that the failure had occurred because the rim was cracked. The contact stated that the failure almost caused the vehicle to go off the roadway. The contact stated that the failure had occurred six times with a cracked rim causing the tire to blowout. The contact stated that all four rims were cracked and were rewelded due to the failure. The contact was informed by an independent … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11540102 · 200 miThe contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The front passenger side and driver's side air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a head injury, right leg and left shoulder injuries and the front passenger sustained unknow injuries. Both occupants were transported from the crash site to the local hospital and received medical treatment. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The contact… | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
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 | 1 | None | ODI 11641516This vehicle has 6,600 miles on it. All 4 wheels have been bent driving on normal roads at normal speed. There have been 2 sidewall tire bubbles as a result. And after having all wheels straightened one of the wheels has now cracked. This caused the tire to deflate and the vehicle can no longer be driven. Is speaking with a wheel shop this is a known problem with this vehicle. Mercedes will not do anything about it. |
| 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 | 1 | None | ODI 11724619Description of Defect: I am reporting a chronic and dangerous structural failure of the factory-equipped alloy wheels on my 2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 4MATIC. Since purchase, this vehicle has suffered 8 documented incidents of wheel failure, consisting of 5 rim cracks and 3 complete wheel replacements. The failures are occurring under normal, paved driving conditions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This persistent cracking indicates a severe structural design defect where the wheel’s load rating is insufficient for the vehicle’s weight and low-p… |
| 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.
2022: 3 complaints · 2023: 3 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 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.