Most common 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 problems
Share of the 50 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E500 complaints by model year
Best E500 years: 2006, 2003. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 recalls (4)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500:
Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the…
Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on January 23, 2012 as PE12-001 based on 20 consumer reports in model year (MY) 2003-2006 E55 AMG vehicles.Based on new reports in other E-Class vehicles, ODI upgraded the investigation to Engineering Analysis (EA) 13-003 on March 15, 2013, and expanded the scope to all E-Class vehicles through MY 2008.The complainants alleged a strong odor of…
What 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 29 →
The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a fuel leak, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. A diagnostic test revealed an Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) control system leak. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.
Also I have had the exact same thing happen to me in the recall dated 3/15/2013. After taking a long trip up to san francisco when I got home my oil tank was leaking -there was a strong odor of gasoline coming from my backseat. I took it in to the dealer they replaced my fuel tank but before they did that they sent me on the road without fixing and no rental car. I thought I would pass out from the smell of gasoline. The dealer told me to roll my windows down when driving what? I drove my car like that for approx 1 week before the fuel tank came in. They did pay for it. I was concerned if I where to smoke in the car what would happen?
Wheels & tires
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the front driver's side tire struck an object and caused four air bags to deploy. The tire was destroyed on impact, but the vehicle was not damaged at all. There were no injuries. The contact called Mercedes-Benz of coconut creek at [phone] (located at 4250 n. State road 7, coconut creek, fl 33073) where the contact was provided with the manufacturer's number and was advised to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the same dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The technician diagnosed the vehicle and informed the manufacturer that the vehicle struck an object, which caused the air bags to deploy. The manufacturer informed the contact about the dealer's diagnosis and stated that the repairs would be at the contact's expense. …
On two separate occasions in the last two months, my car has experienced flat tires due to a crack in the wheel/rim. I believe the OEM rims May be defective as it is uncharacteristic for a rim to crack, and to have it occur twice is extraordinary. I do not believe this is a result of hitting a pothole, etc. The resulting flat tire which occurred on a busy expressway caused a hazardous driving situation. In each case, due to tire damage, I had to replace both the tire and the wheel/rim at a cost of over $600 per event, or about $1,200 total. The serial number on the inside of one of the wheels is: a2114014702.
Air bags
My father and mother were driving back home on the evening of 1/29/25 when all of a sudden they heard a loud pop/explosion and their seat belts tightened. They were traveling at a speed of approximately 35 mph on local roads. There was no accident, collision, or warning signs, but the driver's side airbags, left side of the car, deployed. The message on the odometer said SRS Restraint system malfunction. The car is a 2006 Mercedes E500 with 58,900 miles having one owner and all maintenance performed on time. This is a high safety concern as it could have caused a severe accident and if the front airbags had deployed erroneously, this could have injured my elderly parents. I put a call into Mercedes corporate on 1/31/25 at 9:30 am but so far they do not appear to be taking this issue seriously. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the front driver's side tire struck an object and caused four air bags to deploy. The tire was destroyed on impact, but the vehicle was not damaged at all. There were no injuries. The contact called Mercedes-Benz of coconut creek at [phone] (located at 4250 n. State road 7, coconut creek, fl 33073) where the contact was provided with the manufacturer's number and was advised to call the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the same dealer where a diagnostic test was performed. The technician diagnosed the vehicle and informed the manufacturer that the vehicle struck an object, which caused the air bags to deploy. The manufacturer informed the contact about the dealer's diagnosis and stated that the repairs would be at the contact's expense. …
2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 a good car?
Based on 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 E500 rates better than average: 45% fewer complaints than a typical year of the E500 at the same age. It is one of the best E500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500?
The fuel & propulsion system — 29 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the wheels & tires (4) and air bags (4).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004 and 2005. See the full Mercedes-Benz E500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 16% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.