Model-year record
2011 Mercedes CLS
See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.
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Complaints filed
7
Reports to NHTSA, 2011
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
No data
EPA estimate
Known issues
Air Bags issues lead owner complaints (14% of 7 reports), followed by electrical system (14%).
Share of all 7 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11035150.
Individual complaint reports(7)
Showing the 7 most recent reportsAir BagsOct 2017 · ODI 11035150Details +Close −
NO REMEDY TO REPLACE DANGEROUS AIRBAGS. IM AT HIGHER RISK DUE TO LIVING IN A HIGH HUMIDITY STATE OF FLORIDA.
- Reported
- Oct 2017
- Incident date
- Oct 2017
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
SeatsJul 2015 · ODI 10731740Details +Close −
SITTING @ RED LIGHT NOT MOVING AND BOTH HEAD RESTS DEPLOYED. HADN'T HIT ANY POT HOLES NOR WAS MY VEHICLE JARRED IN ANY WAY. HAD TO PAY $165 FOR DEALER TO RESET THEM AS IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY....UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF THE HEADREST MECHANISM MUST BE DEFECTIVE TO DEPLOY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS SITTING PERFECTLY STILL. UPDATED 12/9/2015 *JS
- Reported
- Jul 2015
- Incident date
- Jul 2015
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Fuel/Propulsion SystemJan 2015 · ODI 10670555Details +Close −
I 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.
- Reported
- Jan 2015
- Incident date
- Jan 2015
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Electrical SystemNov 2014 · ODI 10658520Details +Close −
TODAY, 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 CABLE TO BE CUT UP SHOULD BE AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE TO FIX EACH TIME IT HAPPENS FROM SIMPLY USING OUR TRUNKS. I ALSO HAVE A DISABILITY RETIREMENT DUE TO INJURES TO MY NECK AND BACK WORKING AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND THAT BACK UP CAMERA HELPS TO INSURE SAFE BACK UPS FOR PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF. *TR
- Reported
- Nov 2014
- Incident date
- Nov 2014
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
TiresJun 2013 · ODI 10520226Details +Close −
THE FIRST TIME ON 05.01.2013, I WAS APPROACHING THE EXPWY EXIT (AT ABOUT 45MPH) WHEN I HEARD A LOAD POP & THE CAR SYSTEM WARNING FOR LOW TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE THAT APPEARED TO BE FLAT. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM MERCEDES BENZ- SAN JUAN CAME & THE GENTLEMAN PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRES. UPON INSPECTION, HE STATED THAT THE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT FROM THE INSIDE WAS AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO PUNCTURE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. LATER, THE DEALERSHIP ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO IDENTIFIABLE PUNCTURE MARK AND THAT THE TREADING WAS LIKE NEW. MY 2011 CLS63 HAS ONLY 23,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES THAT I HAD WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, AND PROCEED TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THEN ON 06.09.2013 THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, ON A 30 MPH ROAD. SAME SCENARIO, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND PULLED OVER. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS AGAIN ON SITE, AND THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT FROM THE INSIDE WALL. UPON DISCUSSING THE OBVIOUS TIRE DEFECT WITH THE SAME DEALERSHIP, THEY AGAIN STATED THAT THE TREADING WAS LIKE NEW AND THERE WAS NO IDENTIFIABLE PUNCTURE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. THEY LATER STATED THAT I MUST HAVE HIT A SIDEWALK TO MAKE THE TIRE BURST. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT IF I HAD HIT A SIDEWALK, WOULDN'T THE DAMAGE HAVE BEEN ON THE OUTER WALL? OR AT LEAST, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE VISIBLE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HITTING THE SIDEWALK? THEY LATER STATED THAT AFTER FURTHER REVIEW THEY HAD IDENTIFIED A PUNCTURE MARK. UPON QUESTIONING THEIR NEW FINDINGS AND MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, JUST ONE MONTH EARLIER WITH THE OTHER FRONT TIRE, THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER ROAD HAZARD DAMAGES - EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY, AND THEY ALSO KEPT NO RECORD OF MY FIRST COMPLAINT. HOW IS IT THAT THE TIRES POSE A HAZARD AT SUCH A LOW SPEED, ON A SPORTS CAR? *TR
- Reported
- Jun 2013
- Incident date
- May 2013
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Power TrainMar 2012 · ODI 10451642Details +Close −
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES BENZ CLS 550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AFTER BEING SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CODES NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THERE WAS A LONG DELAY TO ENGAGE. UPDATED 05/02/12
- Reported
- Mar 2012
- Incident date
- Apr 2011
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Service BrakesAug 2011 · ODI 10418100Details +Close −
MY NEW 2011 MERCEDES C300 2500 MILES IN. THE FRONT ROTORS WARPED. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN YOU APPLY BRAKES. THIS ISSUE WAS CONFIRMED BY FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES BENZ OF NEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA. MERCEDES CORPORATE AND FLETCHER JONES MERCEDES DENIED BY REQUEST TO REPLACE. THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. THIS IS MY SECOND NEW MERCEDES IN 3 YEARS AND LIKELY MY LAST. *TR
- Reported
- Aug 2011
- Incident date
- Jul 2011
- Mileage
- Not provided
- Outcome flags
- None reported
Recalls
No recalls are listed for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change when NHTSA publishes new information.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on record
Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of loss of rear lighting in model year (MY) 2008-2011 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles.Complainants alleged that one or both rear lighting assemblies fail to illuminate (i.e., all lights housed within the assembly extinguish, including the stop, tail, and turn signal functions) or illuminate dimly.In some reports, complainants also alleged that the failure was accompanied by a burning smell emanating from the trunk of the vehicle.When examined, these vehicles showed evidence of overheating at the lighting assembly harness connector, including damaged (blackened) wiring and plastic.The rear lighting failures typically involved one side of the vehicle however in some cases both assemblies failed (although probably not simultaneously).ODI identified 5 fire and one injury allegations during the course of this investigation.Two fires occurred while the vehicles were parked.One originated in the vicinity of the driver?s side light assembly where the fire and associated damage was confined to the trunk area, and the fire self extinguished due to oxygen starvation.As a result of the fire, the vehicle was repurchased by Mercedes and salvaged.The second fire originated on the passenger's side and required fire department response to extinguish; the fire damaged the tail light and surrounding body panels as well as the trunk area and wiring.The vehicle was repaired and returned to service.Two firesoccurred while the vehicle was being driven.In the first instance, the driver detected an odor and pulled over to observe smoking and a small flame at the lighting assembly wiring in the trunk.The owner was able to extinguish the fire before any significant damage occurred.In the second instance, the driver smelled smoke, pulled over, and opened the trunk to find smoke and sparks emanating from the forward facing side of the tail light.The driver was able to extinguish the sparks and drive the vehicle to the dealer. A fifth fire was reported by a fleet manager who observed a vehicle with fire damage originating near one of the tail light assemblies.The injury incident occurred when a technician burned their hand while diagnosing a failed light.The technician touched the tail light wiring which was hot enough to burn him although the injury did not require medical attention.On April 10th, 2014, Mercedes notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall to remedy the rear light assemblies in approximately 252,867 MY 2008 - 2011 C-Class vehicles including the C300, C350 and C63 AMG models.Each rear light assembly has separate bulbs that act as brake, tail lamp, backup and turn signal indicators.The bulbs are mounted in a bulb carrier which uses a common electrical ground circuit at the harness connection.According to Mercedes, oxidation due to the use of dissimilar metals on the harness and bulb carrier electrical connectors can result in increased resistance and a subsequent dimming or loss of lighting function.The heat caused by the increased resistance/oxidation can also lead to the melting of the surrounding plastic, or in some cases, present a fire hazard.In conducting recall 14V-171, Mercedes dealers will inspect the left and right bulb carriers and harness connectors for the presence of dissimilar electrical connectors and/or evidence of related thermal damage; affected bulb carriers and/or harness connectors will be replaced free of charge.Mercedes notes that service replacement bulb carriers produced from January 2012 eliminate the dissimilar metal condition and that these bulb carriers will not requ
Crash-test ratings
2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 4 DR RWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
- Not rated
Fuel economy by trim
No EPA fuel-economy record is available for this model year. Some trims and older vehicles were not tested or are not in the current EPA feed.
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2011 Mercedes CLS: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2011 Mercedes CLS?
Owners filed 7 NHTSA complaints about the 2011 Mercedes CLS. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.
What are the most common problems on the 2011 Mercedes CLS?
The most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (14% of complaints) and electrical system (14%).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mercedes CLS have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2011 Mercedes CLS as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Mercedes CLS get?
EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2011 Mercedes CLS aren't available yet.