Mercedes-Benz is one of the pioneers of the automobile industry and generally a giant car manufacturer with a good reputation. Look no further than the AMG One, S-Class, W124 500E and 300 SL Gullwing to get an idea of how great their cars can be.
But none of them are perfect, and even Mercedes-Benz can offer a few mistakes throughout its long and prestigious line over the years. Some of the most reliable European luxury cars ever include icons like the W124, W123 and the 2011 C-Class. While Mercs tend to be reliable machines, you can’t just blindly pick one and assume it’s going to last. Unreliability has been an unwavering problem for the German manufacturer.
In some cases, their product is simply not up to par and is inferior compared to rivals with similar or even lower price tags. Either way, there have been a few Mercedes-Benz cars that left their owners with regret and disappointment. Here are 10 of the most prominent of them available at the used car market today
10 Mercedes X Class
Many pickup truck fans were disappointed to learn that the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class was essentially a Nissan Navara in disguise. Mercedes-Benz was successful at making good SUVs and vans, and it looked like they could make a pickup truck, too, so the fact that they were selling a crappy Navara was also confusing.
Now, Nissan can offer good build quality and the Navara went through a lot of changes, but it’s not up to Mercedes-Benz standards, especially when you’re paying more than a real Navara because of that silver arrow badge on the front part .
9 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG 2008-2012
The SL 63 AMG had it all: a cool name, cool design and a cool engine that makes a cool noise. But the engine in question, the M156 had trouble keeping things smooth after a while. It was a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 that tempted many fans to buy the car, but smiles quickly turned to scowls.
Oil leaks and hydraulic lifter failures would initially greet owners, and after a while the engine would suffer from much more serious things like head bolts and camshaft failures. The car may be good, but the repair and maintenance costs are not worth it.
8 1981-1985 300 SL
When the first 300 SL debuted, it was a phenomenal car with an epic design. Cut to 3 decades later, and the 1981-1985 300 SL was ready to tarnish the series’ image and legacy with such a weak entry. While the third generation offered good build quality and ride quality, there were problems waiting in line for owners.
Rust was the biggest problem, and the distributor cap would cause misfires, difficulty during operation and even while starting the engine. The heavy chassis supporting a weak and sluggish engine didn’t help either.
7 2018 S-Class
The S-Class is the premier luxury sedan to come out of Germany and one of the best on the market worldwide. So to see a modern S-Class suffer from multiple build quality issues is pretty rude at this point. As if a roof panel drop wasn’t enough, incorrect brake components and a faulty eCall system would make it even lower.
Even the Maybach model had to go through some of the 13 recalls that the S-Class went through. Leaking oil caps, an unlockable tailgate, malfunctioning power steering and loose electrical material in car were some of the culprits that passed the quality tests.
6 C-Class 2015-16 (C300)
The entire 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class lineup had 13 recalls. But the C300 suffered the most damage of all. This one also had a removable roof panel. Apparently, the adhesive would deteriorate over time and could loosen the roof panel, creating a hazard for vehicles behind it.
Aside from engine problems such as broken pistons, engine knocks, and oil pan leaks, the C300 also suffered from many electrical problems.
5 W163 Class ML
One of the most prominent features of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle is its German build quality, which adheres to strict standards. The W163 ML-Class, which debuted in 1998, lost this important feature when MB decided to go with a factory in Alabama to handle its production.
Some critics went so far as to call him the Alabama trash can, and his looks didn’t do much to save him either. Mercedes improved its quality in later models, although the ML-Class still had some unreliable ones, like the one below.
4 Class M 2015
Mercedes-Benz did a great job with the GLE-Class, and people loved it, but part of the reason is that it replaced the M-Class. One of the main problems with the 2015 M-Class was with the tensioner gasket chain as it was prone to oil leaks.
The oil that leaked turned out to be a fire hazard, a massive no-no. Speaking of safety compromises, the right rear seat belt would not work at times, so this particular passenger has one more thing to worry about.
3 W202 C Class
Before the W202 came out, Mercedes used to do everything with indestructible, over-engineered cars. But from the W202 C-Class onwards, we started to get hints of cost-cutting and the W202 proved to be the beginning of the end for the German manufacturer’s timeless machines.
Objectively speaking, it wasn’t a bad car, but owners expecting the level of sophistication and ruggedness they’d previously seen were disappointed. There were some complaints about the build quality, and the interior was also not as good as expected, and was slow even for its segment.
2 2011-2016 SLK200
This isn’t so much a case of a bad car as a case of competing against a better car. The SLK200 entered its third generation with the 2012 model year and received rave reviews for its sleek design and luxurious interior. However, that’s where the pretty things end. The steering wheel felt dull which made it a pain to drive.
The transmission, camshaft sprockets, timing chain and suspension also suffered from defects and failures. But more importantly, owners regretted it more because the 2012 Audi TT was a much better sports car, especially when compared to the SLK200.
1 2006 E-Class (E350)
If you take a look at the total number of complaints about Mercedes-Benz cars, the 2006 E350 would appear as the champion, with about 524 complaints to its credit. If that wasn’t enough, it also had 4 manufacturer recalls for reasons related to a separate sunroof panel, a separate glass panel, and faulty software that wouldn’t stop fuel delivery in the event of an accident.
Most of the complaints about the E350 had to do with the engine, specifically the balance shaft failure. Some reported that the car jerked when shifting, while some noted that it needed a new front axle.
Sources: CarComplaints, WhatCar, NHSTA, Consumer Reports, CoPilotSearch.
