27 of the 307 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz R350 are about the electrical system — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
27
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I SEE I HAVE RECALLS FOR THE BACK HATCH DOOR AND SOME SUSPENSION RECALLS ELECTRICAL ALSO AIR RISING SYSTEM FOR A 2008 ARE 350 MERCEDES I CALL THE SYRACUSE NEW YORK DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT UP FOR RECALLS BUT THIS IS HOW I FOUND OUT IT WAS UP FOR RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #11328883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
"TAKATA RECALL" - WHILE DRIVING ALONG A COUNTY STREET MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. I PUT IN PARK AND IT STARTED AND WENT APPROXIMATELY A 1/2 OF A MILE AND STALLED AGAIN. IT DID THIS TWICE MORE BEFORE I GOT HOME WHERE I SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP. MY SERVICE ADVISOR CALL AND TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HONES TO THE ENGINE BURNED UP.
NHTSA complaint #11082046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11075814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL WIRING AROUND HEADLAMPS IS CRUMBLING AND EXPOSING LARGE LENGTHS OF BARE WIRES, WITH UP TO ABOUT 6" OF COPPER WIRING EXPOSED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I REPLACED A BURNED OUT HALOGEN HEADLAMP IN JUNE, THE OTHER ONE IN AUGUST, AND THE FIRST ONE WENT OUT AGAIN ABOUT A WEEK AGO (AND THIS RATE OF HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT IS MORE OR LESS TYPICAL; I KEEP TWO SPARES IN MY CAR AT ALL TIMES, AS BURNOUTS ARE SO FREQUENT). THE BARE WIRES MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO THE EXTREMELY SHORT BULB LIFE AND COULD ALSO CAUSE ARCING AND POTENTIALLY AN ENGINE FIRE. ALTHOUGH AN ENGINE FIRE HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, THE ARCING IS EXTREMELY LIKELY. HOWEVER, THE AREA WHERE THIS OCCURS IS SO HAS EXTREMELY RESTRICTED ACCESS AND DIRECT VISION INTO AND AROUND THE HEADLAMP MOUNT IS NOT POSSIBLE. ONLY UPON INSERTING MY IPHONE INTO THE AVAILABLE SPACE WAS I ABLE TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE WIRING INSULATION DETERIORATION.VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE SEGMENTED INSULATION ON THE BROWN WIRE FLAKED OFF ON MY FINGERS WHEN I INSTALLED THE NEW HEADLAMP. ALTHOUGH THE BROWN WIRE WAS MOST AFFECTED, THE YELLOW WIRE ALSO SHOWS SIGNIFICANT SIGNS OF DETERIORATION. I WORKED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY FOR OVER TEN YEARS AS AN OEM SUPPLIER AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND SUCH DEFECTS AS THIS TEND TO INDICATE INFERIOR MATERIALS OR MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. MATERIALS THIS FRAGILE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE QA PROCESS AND RETURNED TO THE SUPPLIER BEFORE INSTALLATION ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.
NHTSA complaint #11023728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE THAN MY AIRSHOCKS BLEW UP AND VEHICLE WENT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11012003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE CANT DRIVE FASTER THAN 20MPH ON FREEWAY VERY DANGEROUS. HAVE TO PULL OVER TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART CAR TO RESET. CAR JUST RANDOMLY SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRONICS DIED ON STREET. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAYS NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY OF TRANSMISSION. RESEARCHED ONLINE VERY COMMON PROBLEM. DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10949628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BACK AND CUSHION HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SEAT HEATER WAS IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BURNS TO THE BACK AREA AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THERE WERE NO FLAMES VISIBLE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SEAT AND HEATING ELEMENT WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10817006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING FROM ENGINE HARNESS TO FUEL PUMP BURNT ON FREEWAY , ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN, COULD NOT START BACK UP IN MIDDLE OF I5 FREEWAY. REPAIRS ARE AMOUNTING TO $4000. COULD HAVE BURNT ENTIRE VEHICLE AND AFTER READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10811951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REAR LIGHT MODULES (TAIL, REVERSE, BRAKE, SIGNAL) KEEPS ON FAILING. DEALER QUOTES INITIALLY $250 TO FIX/REWIRE BUT THEN GOES UP TO $950 TO REPLACE ECU. THIS IS FRUSTRATING AS THIS IS DRIVING HAZARD, OWNERS ARE LEFT WITHOUT MUCH CHOICE. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE SO MB SHOULD ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AND BE HONEST UPFRONT ABOUT IT. I HOPE NOBODY GETS HURT IF THE LIGHTS FAIL WHILE DRIVING THIS MODEL/BRAND.
NHTSA complaint #10811954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BECAME HOT AND BURNED THROUGH, CREATING A HOLE ON THE SEAT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #10795069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE RIGHT AIR BAG SUSPENSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE IT SAT ON THE BACK RIGHT WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10779358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REPLACE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, 3 SUSPENSIONS IS 3 YEARS-TWICE ON THE RIGHT SIDE MERCEDES AND INTERCAR CLAIMED THAT RIGHT REAR AIR SPRING HAD A LEAK LEFT REAR SHOCK LEAKING AND CLAIMED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AT 71725 MILES-SO WAS THE PAGES AND PAGES OF THE LINK BELOW AT 71000 MILES, POWER DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING, POWER DRIVERS MIRROR STOPPED WORKING, SAFETY LOCK FOR BACK WINDOWS STOP WORKING, BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL A MONTH, SUNROOF LEAKS, AND DOESN'T ALWAYS CLOSE ALL THE WAY, ABS SPEED SENSORS DEFECTIVE, REAR MAIN RADIAL SEAL IN TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE, REPLACE DEFECTIVE ENGINE THERMOSTAT, REPLACED THE BATTERIES DUE TO CORROSION (UNDER THE SEAT), FAULTY SIGNALS FOR TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING TAIL LAMPS (ELECTRICAL), AIR CONDITIONING AMBIENT SENSOR DEFECTIVE, REPLACE DEFECTIVE RADIO ANTENNA. THIS CAR HAS MAJOR DESIGN FLAWS, AND HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY MB. MY 2007 R350 HAS HIT EVERY DEFECT LISTED BELOW WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PARKING BRAKE, AND STEERING COLUMN. MERCEDES-BENZ ALWAYS CLAIMS IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I KNOW OF NO CAR LET ALONE A MERCEDES WITH THIS MANY DEFECTS, I WANT THEM TO BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK BACK, THEY OFFERED ME 2000 TOWARDS A NEW MERCEDES, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MERCEDES SINCE 1995 AND NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. YOU WOULD THINK AS MANY OF THEIR CARS I OWNED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE STEPPED UP TO SAVE NOT JUST THEIR REPUTATION BUT O SAVE A CLIENT. SUSPENSION COMPLAINTS: ALL AT SIMILAR MILEAGE, MB RESPONSE WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/MERCEDES-BENZ/R350/SUSPENSION.
NHTSA complaint #10713541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND UNDER THE COVERED PORTICO AND PLACED MY CAR IN "PARK" WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN.I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND WENT TO CHECK SOMETHING AT MY FRONT DOOR WHICH WAS FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT OF THE PARKED CAR BEFORE PROCEEDING TO OPEN THE GATE ACROSS OUR DRIVEWAY.THE GATE IS AT THE END OF AN 11 FOOT LONG BRICK EXTERIOR HOUSE WALL ON THE LEFT OF THE DRIVEWAY.I NOTICED THE CAR MOVING AND ON IMPULSE TRIED TO ENTER THE CAR TO STOP IT.I GOT MY RIGHT LEG IN THE DOOR JUST BEFORE THE DOOR HIT A CONCRETE PLANTER TO THE RIGHT OF THE FRONT DOOR AND SHUT ON MY LEG MID-THIGH.THE DOOR THEN HIT THE EXTERIOR WALL OF THE HOUSE AND MY LEG WAS CLAMPED IN.I FLATTENED MY BODY AS CLOSE TO THE CAR AS POSSIBLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID BEING CRUSHED.THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE SCRAPING THE DOOR AND MY FRONT BODY ALONG THE BRICK WALL.WHEN THE CAR REACHED THE CLOSED GATE IT PUSHED IT OPEN.ONCE THE DOOR WAS PAST THE HOUSE WALL, IT OPENED AND FREED ME.THE CAR THEN CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD TO THE BACK YARD AND CRASHED INTO A RETAINING WALL.IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT I DID NOT GET THE CAR IN "PARK" THIS CAR HAS A SAFETY FEATURE WHEREIN THE CAR IS AUTOMATICALLY THROWN INTO "PARK" SHOULD THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN UNDER A CERTAIN SPEED.IF THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPEN AND YOU TRY TO PUT THE CAR IN "DRIVE" RED WARNING LIGHTS COME ON THE DASH BOARD.I HAVE TRIED TO RECREATE THESE EVENTS AND CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR WAS MOVING ON ITS OWN.
NHTSA complaint #10559859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR TAILGATE AREA WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10554713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, SMELLED BURNING ODOR BUT SAW NO SMOKE OR FIRE. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER WAS ON AT TIME ODOR WAS NOTICED. TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY AND STOPPED VEHICLE. ODOR WENT AWAY BUT NOTICED UPPER LEFT OF SEAT BACK HAD TWO BURN HOLES. MADE APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10505737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I TURNED ON THE SEAT WARMER AND A MINUTE LATER I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND I LOOK TO THE SIDE AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY JEANS AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND I SEE SMOKE COMING OUT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE CAR AND IT OPEN A SMALL HOLE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10496337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R 350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM CAUSED THE FRONT END TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE SUSPENSION TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSED THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE EXACT REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10494987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR MERCEDES R350 WITH TWO OF OUR CHILDREN AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, SHE SOON REALIZED THAT THE HEAT WARMER ON THE SEAT HAD BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND SINGED HER SWEATER LEAVING A BLACK MARK. SHE TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER TO AVOID ANY FURTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL OF A FIRE OR AN INJURY TO HER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1,200. WHEN WE PASSED ON THE ITEM AND SAID WE SIMPLY WOULD STOP USING THE WARMER, THEY OFFERED 2/3 ASSISTANCE (1/3 FROM THE DEALERSHIP & 1/3 FROM MERCEDES) WITH US PAYING THE REMAINING 1/3. WE ACCEPTED THE OFFERED AND HAD THE SEAT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS HAD A FIRE OCCURRED, HAD SHE BEEN BURNED OR HAD SHE LOST FOCUS ON THE ROAD CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM APPRECIATIVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS SITUATION - ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE READ MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF VERY SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN MERCEDES VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10493644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS VEHICLE HAS A BALANCE SHAFT AND INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUE AS WELL AS A AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT IS COMMON IN OTHER MB R350 VEHICLES. MB ACCEPTS THAT THIS VEHICLE MODEL HAVE A CONGLOMERATE OF PROBLEMS AND IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE A RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS MAINTAIN AND SERVICE BY AN AUTHORIZED MB DEALER AND THEY INSURE THAT IN ANY OF THE PREVIOUS SERVICES THE DIAGNOSIS WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED OR MENTION. THE LOW SUSPENSION IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE THE WHEELS TO RUB AGAINST THE FENDERS AND CAUSE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL. THE BALANCE SHAFT MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOOSE POWER AND CREATE A REAR ENDING CRASH. *TR 10/01/2012 *JS UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10475739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 MERCEDES BENZ R350 STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL INTERSECTION SHORTLY AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER GETTING THE CAR, WE ALSO FELT A STRONG JERKING THEN SHIFTING GEARS, BUT IT WAS DOING IT ON ITS OWN. WE TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT'S JUST LOUD. THEN WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO FIX IT BUT IT NEVER STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO THE ENGINE HAD TO BE FIXED RATHER QUICKLY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN THE END OF 2005, AND HAS 88,000 MILES. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE CAR BEGAN IDLING/SHAKING REALLY BAD. I CALLED MB ROADSIDE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE GAS CAP WASN'T PLACED BACK ON THE CAR CORRECTLY AND GAS WAS LEAKING. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THERE WAS NO GAS LEAKING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE COULD BE DIAGNOSED. THE CAR IS STILL IDLING BAD AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED FROM FOR A DIAGNOSIS, WHICH I SHOULD RECEIVE TOMORROW.
NHTSA complaint #10444995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.