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Model-year record

2020 Mercedes CLS
Image: Own work · CC BY-SA 3.0

2020 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.

This page shows records, not a buy or avoid call.

The same model year can include a well-kept car and a neglected one. Use these records to plan what to check. Use the specific-car check when you know the mileage.

Complaints filed

6

Reports to NHTSA, 2020

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Not rated

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

No data

EPA estimate

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (67% of 6 reports), followed by back over prevention (17%).

Electrical System67% · 4 reports
Back Over Prevention17% · 1 report
Wheels17% · 1 report

Share of all 6 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11496546, ODI 11496545, ODI 11481015, ODI 11373086.

Individual complaint reports(6)

Showing the 6 most recent reports
Back Over PreventionNov 2024 · ODI 11625622Details +

Rear view camera sticks open and shows a black screen in the car... there is a recall but not for my specific vehicle... when it sticks open its inoperable and using the same "button" to open the trunk is also inoperable..

Reported
Nov 2024
Incident date
Oct 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11625622 at NHTSA →
WheelsMar 2024 · ODI 11579206Details +

I 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 well as several other models. The online forums state, “This is not as a result of your driving, potholes, etc. but due to a design defect with some Mercedes vehicle. This is due to the fact that the factory installed cast aluminum rims coupled with low profile stiff run-flat tires and a relatively stiff suspension result in the rims momentarily exceeding their yield strength during typical driving conditions and failing by cracking, bending and so on which usually also causes the run-flat tires to be damaged as well. This will continue to happen over and over several times per year because this is a design defect.” According to several sources, Mercedes-Benz is aware of this situation and has done little to counteract this situation, only offering a comprehensive tire and wheel package to drivers, at an extra cost of course and paying a few settlements under the table to those who threaten to expose this situation to the public. Mercedes- Benz has ultimately developed, and put into circulation, several models of vehicles with wheels that cannot support the vehicles weight while the vehicle is stationary, let alone while in operation. This flaw in their design is not only costly to replace or an inconvenience to try to resolve, but deadly if the right combination of failures were to occur.

Reported
Mar 2024
Incident date
Mar 2024
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11579206 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemDec 2022 · ODI 11496546Details +

******* DELETE VOQ ******* THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING MARKED FOR DELETION BECAUSE IT IS AN INADVERTENT DUPLICATE OF ODI# 11496545*DJR ******* DELETE VOQ *******

Reported
Dec 2022
Incident date
Sep 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11496546 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemDec 2022 · ODI 11496545Details +

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V733000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms remedy not available.

Reported
Dec 2022
Incident date
Sep 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11496545 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemAug 2022 · ODI 11481015Details +

The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V533000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Reported
Aug 2022
Incident date
Apr 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11481015 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemNov 2020 · ODI 11373086Details +

THE 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 THEY TRIED TO FIX MY CAR. I WAITED 9 WEEKS TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT, BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I NO LONGER WANT TO LEASE TIS VEHICLE AS IT IS A DANGER TO MY FAMILY. THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE CAR BACK NOR OFFER A BUYBACK OPTION. THE ONLY OPTION GIVEN WAS A TRADE IN LEASE, BUT THE OPTIONS FOR A CAR COMPARABLE WAS NON EXISTENT IN THE UNITED STATES AS THEIR INVENTORY IS EXTREMELY LIMITED. I ASKED AGAIN SINCE THEY HAD NO CARS TO OFFER ME TO GET MY MONEY BACK AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER COMPANY. I WAS TOLD NO SO I HAD VERY LITTLE OPTIONS AND TOOK THAT CAR BACK LAST WEEK. MICHAEL FAUL THE GENERAL MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH TOLD ME IN OUR FIRST MEETING THAT OF COURSE THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME FOR THE 2 MONTHS OF LEASES I PAID WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAR. TODAY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THIS MERCEDES THAT HAS A LETTER ATTACHED TO THIS EMAIL THAT SAID THEY WILL PAY BACK THE TWO MONTH'S OF LEASES IF I SIGN THIS RELEASE THAT THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR IF ME OR MY FAMILY GET HURT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. (I HAVE ATTACHED LETTER FOR YOUR REVIEW) I HAVE TRIED VERY MUCH TO WORK WITH MERCEDES CORPORATE IN ATLANTA AS WELL AS THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ. I FEEL THIS IS BLACKMAIL AND A TERRIBLE WAY OF HIDING A DANGEROUS CAR.

Reported
Nov 2020
Incident date
Aug 2020
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11373086 at NHTSA →

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

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 4 DR RWD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 4 DR 4WD NHTSA source

Overall
Not rated
Frontal
Not rated
Side
Not rated
Rollover
Not rated

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

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.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

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Compare the year-by-year record

Open another year for its own evidence-gated decision. TireKick does not crown a best year from raw complaint totals.

2020 Mercedes CLS: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2020 Mercedes CLS?

Owners filed 6 NHTSA complaints about the 2020 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 2020 Mercedes CLS?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (67% of complaints) and back over prevention (17%).

How many recalls does the 2020 Mercedes CLS have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2020 Mercedes CLS as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Mercedes CLS get?

EPA fuel-economy figures for the 2020 Mercedes CLS aren't available yet.