Mercedes-Benz CLS problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Mercedes-Benz CLS, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 5 known faults for this model, 4 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Mercedes-Benz CLS reliable?
The Mercedes-Benz CLS has 5 known faults in our database across 3 generations, 4 of them rated high severity. The most serious are suspension (two owners reported the front suspension collapsing on a first-generation CLS) and engine (timing chain stretch (rear-mounted chain) resulting in engine rattle and potential failure). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Mercedes-Benz CLS years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
C219, 2004 to 20102 high severity
3 known faults, the serious ones in the suspension, engine
C218, 2011 to 20182 high severity
2 known faults, the serious ones in the engine, bodywork and trim
C257, 2018 to 2023
No faults on record yet
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2005 to 2011, All engines: two owners reported the front suspension collapsing on a first-generation CLS
2009 to 2016, 2.1 CDI (OM651): timing chain stretch (rear-mounted chain) resulting in engine rattle
2004 to 2008, V6 petrol (M272: C 230/280/350, E 280/350, SLK 280/300/350, ML 350) / V8 petrol (M273: E 500 from 2006 and ML 500 from the 2008 model year; not fitted to the SLK, whose SLK 55 AMG uses the M113): soft metal on the timing chain sprocket that drives the balance shaft
2012 to 2018, All engines (Shooting Brake): two owners reported a CLS Shooting Brake catching fire at the back of the car
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 33 known faults · 3 owner reports
Mercedes-Benz CLS C219 (2004 to 2010) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Soft metal on the timing chain sprocket that drives the balance shaft on the M272 V6 (and the matching idler gear on the M273 V8) wears away, the camshaft timing drifts and eventually the engine timing is destroyed. It was covered by a manufacturer technical bulletin. One owner paid 2,000 pounds for a balance shaft on a 2005 CLK 350, and another car needed a timing repair and then a balance shaft within months.
Rough guide
£2000-4000
Typical symptoms
Engine Management Light (EML) on
fault codes P0016 / P0017 (camshaft timing)
rough running or misfiring
Affected vehicles
Engines:
V6 petrol (M272: C 230/280/350, E 280/350, SLK 280/300/350, ML 350) / V8 petrol (M273: E 500 from 2006 and ML 500 from the 2008 model year; not fitted to the SLK, whose SLK 55 AMG uses the M113)
Typical mileage:
60000-90000 miles
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Transmission/ClutchMedium severity📝 Editorial
7G-Tronic conductor plate (electrohydraulic control unit) speed sensor failure
Rough guide
£500-1200
Typical symptoms
gearbox stuck in one gear (limp mode)
harsh downshifts or flaring between gears
loss of drive
Affected vehicles
Engines:
7G-Tronic automatic (722.9 gearbox)
Typical mileage:
60000-100000 miles
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SuspensionHigh severity💬 2 owner reports, 2016
Two owners reported the front suspension collapsing on a first-generation CLS. A 2010 CLS 350 Grand Edition with a full Mercedes history needed both front dampers and both springs, a bill of about £1,500, and the dealer also advised newly developed rear shims to correct the ride height. A CLS 320 CDI dropped at the offside front, cause not identified.
Rough guide
£1500
Typical symptoms
one front corner suddenly sitting low
tyre rubbing on the wheel arch
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All engines
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
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What owners report on the C219
3 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · October 2017A 2007 CLS 500 had its secondary air injection pump replaced at 28,000 miles for £852.64, then again at 49,533 miles for £914.70.
Electrics · August 2013The Mercedes-Benz badge on the keyfob can snag in the steering column, causing the ignition to switch off.
Suspension and steering · May 2011The Airmatic suspension system is highly susceptible to corrosion issues caused by winter road salt.
Generation 2 of 32 known faults · 3 owner reports · 6 good notes
Mercedes-Benz CLS C218 (2011 to 2018) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Timing chain stretch (rear-mounted chain) resulting in engine rattle and potential failure
Rough guide
£1500-2500
Typical symptoms
rattle on cold start
prolonged metallic noise from back of engine
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.1 CDI (OM651)
Typical mileage:
80000-120000 miles
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OtherHigh severity💬 2 owner reports, 2017
Two owners reported a CLS Shooting Brake catching fire at the back of the car. One, a CLS 250 CDI, had given off an intermittent burning smell from the rear for some time, which the dealer dismissed; it later burst into flames while parked and empty and was written off. The other, a 2014 car, caught fire under the load deck. Neither report gives a confirmed cause.
Typical symptoms
intermittent burning smell from the rear of the car
smoke from under the boot floor
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All engines (Shooting Brake)
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
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What owners report on the C218
3 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Electrics · December 2019A 2016 CLS 350d at 9,689 miles had a faulty front SAM board causing rear interior lights to activate and drain the battery.
General · September 2016A 2015 Mercedes CLS 350 Shooting Brake experienced multiple issues and only achieved 32 miles per gallon fuel economy.
Fuel system · January 2014A 2012 CLS 250 CDI had its injectors replaced under recall, resulting in significantly worse fuel economy afterwards.
What owners like about the C218
6 notes
The car provides a high-quality feel from the driver's perspective, enhancing the overall driving experience.
The styling is attractive, representing an evolution of the original CLS design.
The CLS 500 engine produces a superb sound, while the 350 CDI is considered the best engine choice in the range.
This stylish estate car offers a generous 590 litres of load space, combining practicality with elegant design.
The available diesel engines are powerful and provide strong performance for the vehicle.
The car features sleek, coupe-like aesthetics combined with the practical advantages of a shooting brake design.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: November 2026
Mercedes-Benz CLS buying questions
What are the most common Mercedes-Benz CLS problems?
Three stand out. Suspension: two owners reported the front suspension collapsing on a first-generation CLS. Engine: timing chain stretch (rear-mounted chain) resulting in engine rattle and potential failure (typically 80000 to 120000 miles). Engine: soft metal on the timing chain sprocket that drives the balance shaft on the M272 V6 (typically 60000 to 90000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Mercedes-Benz CLS years should I avoid?
No Mercedes-Benz CLS year is a write-off, but the C219 (2004 to 2010) carries the most serious faults: suspension and engine. The C218 (2011 to 2018) has high-severity faults on record too. The C257 (2018 to 2023) has none rated high severity. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Mercedes-Benz CLS?
Ask the seller about the suspension and engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for one front corner suddenly sitting low, rattle on cold start and engine Management Light (EML) on. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 5 known faults before you travel. Check a Mercedes-Benz CLS advert →
What is the real MPG of a Mercedes-Benz CLS?
Owners report 37.6 mpg on average across the Mercedes-Benz CLS engines with data, about 93% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 463 owner submissions. Mercedes-Benz CLS Real MPG by engine →
Where this Mercedes-Benz CLS fault data comes from
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Mercedes-Benz CLS owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Mercedes-Benz CLS goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.