Mercedes-Benz · S-Class · 2006
0
Recalls
31
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has no recalls and 31 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: suspension (4 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Vehicle stall - engine cut off - on highway at speed (50-55miles/hr) posing driver and passenger safety. No OBD error code or ECU error Similar incidents reported by Mercedes owners S500 model across USA As posted on Mercedes forums.
Safety issues 1. Engine shuts off while driving. No error codes. Starts again with key and drives fine. 2. Steering locks while driving - maneuvering a turn. Stopped the car. Turn ignition off. Turn ignition on Everything works fine.
CRANK PULLEY/HARMONIC BALANCER WAS REPLACED AND STILL HAVE VERY BAD DANGEROUS VIBRATION ALL THE TIME
2006 MERCEDES BENZ S 430. CONSUMER STATES THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL IN VEHICLE WENT OUT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AGE.*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND FLICKERED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS COMPLETED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
ALL ELECTRICAL WENT OUT, IN MOTION ON CITY STREET, THEN PULLED OVER. HAD KEY IN MY POCKET. ENGINE STAYED RUNNING AND COULD NOT TURN OFF WITH BUTTON OR BY KEY. GOT OUT OF OF CAR, CLOSED DOOR AND COULD NOT GET BACK IN ANY DOOR EVEN THOUGH DRIVER DOOR WAS NOT LOCKED (BUTTON UP). ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL COOLANT EXPANSION TANK EXPLODED. IF CHILD WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BACK, WOULD HAVE HAD TO BRAKE WINDOW TO GET IN. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE WHEN SO MANY OPTIONS DEPEND ON CAR'S ELECTRICAL WORKING. MERCEDES SAIL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED CAUSING OVER $15,000 IN DAMAGE CAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO CUT ENGINE OFF. I HAVE SOLD THE CAR, BUT BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE INVESTIGATED.
MY DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT WORK, COULD NOT EVEN MANUALLY OPEN THEM FROM THE CONSOLE. TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED, WAS TOLD THAT THE ACTUATOR HAD FRIED AND MELTED THE UNIT. IT WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS THE "NEW ACTUATOR " ALSO FRIED. WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WOULD SHUT IT DOWN BUT THE UNIT CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF! WITH THE UNIT BEING IN THE TRUNK IT'S A MIRACLE THAT THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS UNIT, AND HOPEFULLY THEY MUST REMOVE ALL DOORS HEAD REST AND SEATS CHECK ALL VACUUM LINES TO FIND OUT WHICH ONE IS LEAKING, AND OR REPLACE ALL VACUUM LINES, AND PRAY THAT WORKS, THE MINIMUM COST OF THIS IS OVER $5000.00 DOLLARS! NOT ONLY IS THIS A FIRE HAZARD WAITING TO BLOW UP, NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK YOUR DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THIS SHORTY/ I'LL BUILT PART! BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED BY THIS UNIT. ALSO AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY RIGHT STRUT ASSEMBLY BROKE. I LOOKED UP RECALL INFO, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT , BUT WAS TOLD NOT FOR MY VIN! JUST ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE 2006 S430! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DO NOT BUY THESE SPEC-D HEADLAMP FOR 2006 S-430 AFTER 6 MONTHS IT WENT DEFECTIVE I BOUGHT THEM FROM CARID IN NOVEMBER 2015 JUNE/JULY 2016 THEY WENT COMPLETELY DEAD SEE PICTURE BELOW
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITION SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,085. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED BEFORE COMING TO A HALT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ S600 EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK VENTUS AS TIRES, SIZE: P265/40R/18 (NA). WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION, STEEL BELT SEPARATION, AND UNEVEN TREAD WEAR IN THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE FRONT END DROPPED MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HAD TO SLOWLY MOVE TO THE RIGHT LANE WHILE TRAFFIC IS GOING 70. THIS COULD HAVE KILLED ME.
THIS PROBLEM HAPPEN THREE TIMES IN ABOUT 6 MINUTES IN ONE NIGHT. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE ENGINE CUT OFF, ALMOST BEFORE I KNEW WHAT HAPPEN THE ENGINE STARTED BACK RUNNING. IN LESS THAN A MINUTE IT HAPPEN AGAIN. THE ENGINE CUT OUT THEN STARTED BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING. THE THIRD TIME IT CUT OUT COMPLETE AND STAYED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOP AND RESTART THE CAR. IT WAS VERY SCARY, ALL THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. IT'S HAPPEN BEFORE ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I MENTION IT TO THE DEALER, THEY ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOTHING THEY WERE AWARE OF. *TR
WHY IS NO ONE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THE BIG FAILURES OF 2005 AND 2006 MERCEDES ENGINE? CAM SHAFTS BREAK. ENGINES ARE TRASHED. $7000 TO REPLACE. MERCEDES WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. BIG PROBLEMS. *TR
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN 2006 S430 MERCEDES-BENZ ? JANUARY 16, 2014 AS I ACCELERATED TO GET ON THE ROAD, I SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR. I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM A TRUCK WE PASSED. I OPENED THE WINDOW & TURNED OFF THE HEATER TO CLEAR THE AIR IN THE CAR. IN A FEW SECONDS, I CLOSED THE WINDOW AND RE-STARTED THE HEATER, WHICH IMMEDIATELY FILLED THE CABIN WITH HEAVY SMOKE. I AGAIN STOPPED THE HEATER AND OPENED THE WINDOW. THE SMOKE CLEARED AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I SAW FLAMES COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE AIR DUCT GRILL IN THE HOOD. I PULLED OFF I-275 BETWEEN EXITS 63 AND 65, ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I THEN HIT THE MERCEDES SOS BUTTON. MY PASSENGER DIALED 911. WHEN THE MBRACE OPERATOR CAME ON THE LINE, I SAID THAT I HAD AN ENGINE FIRE, BUT THE CABIN WAS FILLING WITH SMOKE. I OPENED THE HOOD, I GRABBED MY PHONE AND EXITED THE CAR. AT THIS POINT, STARTED TAKING PHOTOS. I TOOK A WINDSHIELD CLEANER SPRAY FROM THE TRUNK, TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH IT. IT FAILED TO HAVE ANY EFFECT. ABOUT AT THAT TIME A GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED HIS PICKUP TRUCK. HE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, WHICH HE USED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE UNION TOWNSHIP FIRE ENGINE ARRIVED, BUT THE FIRE WAS OUT. THEY DID A REPORT. THEN THE UNION TOWNSHIP POLICE ARRIVED. THE OFFICER SAID THE REPORT WILL BE FILED BY THE FIRE DEPT. *TR
WENT OUT TO THE CAR TO GO TO THE PHARMACY TO GET MY ASTHMA MEDS AND THE CAR WAS DOWN ON THE GROUND,TOTALLY DEFLATED SHOCKS. START CAR AND RISES TO HEIGHT BUT SINKS WHEN CAR IS OFF, THIS IS A DANGER IF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, I HAVE A WIFE AND A YOUNG SON. I FEEL THAT THE DEALERS SHOULD RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM CORRECTLY, AND NOT HAVE PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER ON THE ROADS OF AMERICA, ANY HELP WOULD GREATLY BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU , A CAUTIOUS DRIVER. *TR
MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR. I TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT DID NOT CLEAR. I GOT A "PRE-SAFE UNAVAILABLE" MESSAGE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND LEARNED THIS IS A "TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE. IT IS VERY UNSAFE IN THAT THE CAR CANNOT KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC AND IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES S350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 25-40-MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT AIR STRUTS COULD BE REPLACED UNDER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB-32-25-82. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TR
THE "AIRMATICS-VISIT WORKSHOP" WORDING CAME ON MY SCREEN YESTERDAY ON THE HIGHWAY. HITTING THE UNLOCK BUTTON KICKED ON SUSPENSION AS IT SHOULD AND IT WAS SPUTTERING INSTEAD OF THE USUAL RAISE NOISE. IT SAT OVERNIGHT AND NOW IT SITTING PRETTY LOW. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 6 MONTHS THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAS GONE OUT. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 31 owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are suspension (4 reports), engine (4 reports), tires (3 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.