Mercedes Benz R500 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file for the Mercedes Benz R500, across 3 model years (2006–2008). The 2006 model year has the most complaints (26). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Mercedes Benz R500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No R500 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2006 R500: 26 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2007 R500: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2008 R500: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercedes Benz R500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Mercedes Benz R500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 R500 | 1 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2007 R500 | 2 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2006 R500 | 26 | 2 | — | Power Train |
More from Mercedes Benz: all Mercedes Benz models · Mercedes Benz VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes Benz R500 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2006 (26), 2007 (2), 2008 (1). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercedes Benz R500?
Power Train, with 6 complaints across 1 model year.
How many recalls does the Mercedes Benz R500 have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.