Short answer
Among Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class model years through 2024, 2016, 2017 and 2018 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2019 has the most (12). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 18 (2006–2023)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 32
- Fewest recalls
- 2016, 2017 and 2018 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2019 (12)
- Most recalled system
- Visibility (20)
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2022 | 6 | Not rated | Electrical system, Communication, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2021 | 8 | Not rated | Communication, Electrical system, Air bags |
| 2020 | 5 | Not rated | Communication, Back over prevention, Electrical system |
| 2019 | 12 | Not rated | Electrical system, Communication, Air bags |
| 2018 | 1 | Not rated | Communication |
| 2017 | 1 | Not rated | Communication |
| 2016 | 1 | Not rated | Communication |
| 2015 | 4 | Not rated | Communication, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2014 | 4 | Not rated | Communication, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Communication, Exterior lighting, Structure |
| 2012 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2011 | 3 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2007 | 4 | Not rated | Visibility |
| 2006 | 5 | Not rated | Visibility, Service brakes, hydraulic |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20233 recalls
- 20226 recalls
- 20218 recalls
- 20205 recalls
- 201912 recalls
- 20181 recall
- 20171 recall
- 20161 recall
- 20154 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20083 recalls
- 20074 recalls
- 20065 recalls
Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class recalls are visibility (20), communication (14), electrical system (13), exterior lighting (5) and back over prevention (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class model years have the most recalls?
2019 has the most, with 12 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "CLS-Class", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy