Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The 2006 Mercedes Benz R350 with the airmatic suspension has multiple problems that seem to never end. My car has only 70K miles on it. The suspension has been fixed twice by an authorized Mercedes Benz shop. While looking up some information on various websites and forums I noticed I am not the only owner with this problem. While driving down the highway a light came on the dash screen stating vehicle too low to driveto shop. When the suspension goes out the vehicle frame is approximately 2 inches from the ground. The stiffened ride makes it difficult to maneuver the vehicle. Mercedes Benz stated you can't get a traditional coil spring conversion in the united states. The suspension problems with the R350 are also very costly ($3600) every time this has to be fixed. My car is currently in storage due to not being able to afford a third time to the shop. …
We have had a continuous problem regarding rear suspension, right side started first, the rear would drop down but yet the left side would be up. This created a horrific unsteady drive. We had a suspension air bag replaced. Now the left side is doing it. Car can not be driven. From all that I have read and from dealers, this is a ongoing problem with Mercedes. Why has Mercedes not issued a recall regarding this problem? This should not happen and definitely not at a vehicle that has low miles. Now this issue is also causing uneven wear on tires, 2years later we are still dealing with this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350. The contact stated that the suspension failed on the front passenger side of the vehicle while parked. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the compressor, relay, fuse link, air suspension, and core return needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred two more times. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle leaned to the driver's side and caused the passenger side to become elevated. While making a left turn, the vehicle almost flipped over. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Yesterday, while parked, I noticed the car is leaning towards left side. Mechanic checked and found the air spring bag was leaking. Also, the strut on right got shot. Many owners have the same complaint. I'm scared to travel with my kids and grand kids in the car. These cars must be recalled for suspension problems. Http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2006/Mercedes/R350/suspension/problem.aspx
Everyday I get a red signal alerting me to stop driving, car too low. It usually occurs when initially turning on the car or at the beginning of the drive. The rear of the car is visibly low and when driving it is uneven and bumpy. I have seen other R350 owners with same complaint and repeat costs to fix ~1200.00 each side. No suspension recalls on an apparent defect in manufacturing?
I drove my 2006 Mercedes R350 to work and when I came out for lunch I noticed the car leaning severely to the right. I took the car to have it diagnosed and was told it was the rear air spring suspension. My warrant paid to have the vehicle repaired and the part was replaced. Two months later the vehicle was leaning again. I took the car back and was told it was a part defect and they replaced it at no charge to my warranty company. Just this Saturday, August 3, 2013 I came out from the movies to find my car leaning for the third time. I contacted the warranty company and was informed that it was a 1 year warranted since it was last fixed on September 25,2012 so I took the car back to the shop that fixed it and was told that now its the opposite side of which was fixed but the car is leaning the same position as the last 2 times and now I have to pay out of pocket to get it repaired …
2006 Mercedes r-350 suspension defect I agree that something should be done about the rear suspension defect on the 2006 r-class Mercedes. I also own a 2006 Mercedes Benz R350. This vehicle kept leaning to the right side. The automatic suspension on the vehicle was uneven. The red light asked me to stop?car too low. I stopped and it pumped up again. Drove a couple of miles and it did same thing. Took to mb dealer they said it was the suspension this passenger?s side issue of the vehicle being notably higher than the driver?s side of the vehicle. Leaning to one side has occurred twice. The rear air spring suspension has required replacement two times in the last five months (7/1/2013 & 11/28/2013): - both sides in the rear of vehicle have been replaced. - each rear suspension repair has cost me $1200.00 each time (totaling $2400 for rear air suspension replacement). …
I took car in because it had lowered down. I paid for it.I took it home wife said it is still driving wrong. She took it in and serviceadvisor drove around with her and said he feels it. We drove to dallas checked in hotel went out to car lowered again pressed button to raise it. Made it home to houston and lowered again. Took it in to service at Mercedes and now it needs front struts are leakingand some other things. The air bags in the back were replaced also when I took it in before. I have seen several cars like mine on the side of the road with the car leaning&lowered so something has to be wrong with this make model car. There are a lot of web sites with customer complaints about the suspension of this car. NHTSA its time to investigate. I see no investigation fromnhtsa websight. No one has investigated this car. …
I agree that something should be done about the rear suspension defect on the 2006 r-class Mercedes. I also own a 2006 Mercedes Benz R350. This vehicle kept leaning to the right side. The automatic suspension on the vehicle was uneven. The red light asked me to stop?car too low. I stopped and it pumped up again. Drove a couple of miles and it did same thing. Took to mb dealer they said it was the suspension this passenger??s side issue of the vehicle being notably higher than the driver??s side of the vehicle. Leaning to one side has occurred twice. The rear air spring suspension has required replacement two times in the last five months (7/1/2013 & 11/28/2013): - both sides in the rear of vehicle have been replaced. - each rear suspension repair has cost me $1200.00 each time (totaling $2400 for rear air suspension replacement). …
Suspension complaints in other R350 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the suspension of the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350, 26% of the model year's 99 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 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.