Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints across the 2 model years of the Mercedes-Benz CLS 450 (2019–2020) that have at least 5 complaints. 2019 has the most, with 15. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (8 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All CLS 450 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | 12,000 | 5 | 187 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 15 | 1,740 | 12 | 196 | — | Rising |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Electrical system8 31%
- Wheels6 23%
- Steering3 12%
- Engine3 12%
- Tires2 7.7%
- Suspension2 7.7%
- Brakes1 3.8%
- Back-over prevention (rear camera)1 3.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2020: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11373086, filed 2020-11, 2,000 miles2019: “My car cut off on the busy 405 freeway as I was driving. I have had the brand new car 3 months . I stared to receive the following alerts on the car panel: blind spot assist inoperative , active brake assist functioned limited , attention assist, system suspended . The call slowly stalled on the freeway. I had to exit on the shoulder of the freeway with my hazard lights on. The car cut off. It started again. I tried to continue my trip, but the same issue happened 2 more times. I exited the freeway near ucla . Mercedes roadside assistance picked up the car for tow. This happened on may 28th. …”
NHTSA complaint #11217434, filed 2019-06, 2,380 milesOther Mercedes-Benz models
3,965 complaintsMercedes-Benz E350
2,215 complaintsMercedes-Benz E320
1,164 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML350
952 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLK350
901 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML320
740 complaintsMercedes-Benz C250
725 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLC 300
659 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology