2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 recalls and problems

The 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 has 2 safety recalls and 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Mercedes-Benz dealer.

Urgent: recall 24V-298, recall 22V-315 carry a "do not drive" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
2
Complaints
26
Crashes / fires
2 / 4
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 recalls

Recall 24V-298: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Do not driveReported Apr 26, 2024 · 15,604 vehicles affected · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML, GL, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

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

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MMUSA's number for this recall is 2024050001/2. This recall is an expansion of previous recall number 22V-315.

Recall 22V-315: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Do not driveReported May 9, 2022 · 350,294 vehicles affected · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2012 ML-Class, GL-Class, and R-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. Moisture may accumulate and cause corrosion in the brake booster housing unit, which can result in reduced brake performance or brake failure.

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

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will remove the rubber sleeve, inspect the brake booster, and as necessary, replace the brake booster. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2022050014, 2022050015 2022090006, & 2022090007.

2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Power Train6
Steering5
Electrical System5
Suspension4
Seats4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Air Bags2
Unknown or Other2
Vehicle Speed Control1
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Service Brakes1
Wheels1

Most reported parts

  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 93,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Steering · at 140,000 miles · reported Oct 10, 2023
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 restart. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed an unknown fluid covering various components. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the power steering pump. The vehicle was…
Suspension · reported Feb 2, 2023
My 2006 R-500 is leaning from the (front and back) passenger side, causing the vehicle to be unsecure to drive... It feels like both side tires are TOTALLY FLAT. I'm not a mechanic, but it looks like the AIR SUSPENSION IS MALFUNTION
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · at 117,000 miles · reported Jan 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V315000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a technician would arrive to his residence to inspect the brake booster and, if necessary, replace the brake booster. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
Power Train · reported Nov 12, 2021
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 INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Electrical System · at 179,000 miles · reported Sep 2, 2020
The vehicle's rear drivers side brake or reverse light would not go off for a week (To my knowledge) and while sitting in the passenger side I turned on the heat warming device and there was no problem. It was after we had been shopping and returned to the vehicle did we notice a smell of something burning, but could not tell where it was coming from. Still unaware that a fire could start from the back of the vehicle, is when we realized that the cargo area of the vehicles side panel was in complete flames! Thus, causing physical and mental injuries, smoke and property damage and a complete…

Other Mercedes-Benz R500 years

20072006

Compare all Mercedes-Benz R500 years · All Mercedes-Benz models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500: 24V-298 (service brakes, hydraulic), 22V-315 (service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R500?

Owners report power train problems most often (6 reports), followed by steering (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 93,000 miles.

Are Mercedes-Benz recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.