Model year record
2005 Mercedes-Benz 211 recalls & problems
The 2005 Mercedes-Benz 211 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 13 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (7 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz 211.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 7 | 131,500 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, diesel | 1 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Service brakesCrashFire
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.
- Service brakes
CAR WENT INTO BRAKE FAILURE BARELY COULD STOP THE CAR ONCE IN PARK COULD NOT GET INTO DRIVE
- Service brakes
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
- Service brakes
I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES E320 2005 ON I-75 AND TOOK EXIT 107. WHEN I PUSHED MY BRAKE PEDDLE I HAD WHAT SEEMED TO BE NO BRAKES AND A RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I RAN THE CAR OFF ON THE GRASS TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND RAN ON THE SIDE STREET. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM UPSET THAT MERCEDES WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT COULD DO THIS.
- Service brakes
SBC BRAKE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSES ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. AT THE MOMENT I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO BLINK RED AND BEEPING WITH BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE BRAKE POWER. I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FELT NO RESISTANCE AND VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. I'M ESTIMATING 5% POWER FROM NORMAL. I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE I BLEW STRAIGHT THROUGH IT AND EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 200 YARDS. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO PRIOR MESSAGES OR WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR…
- Fuel/propulsion system
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE VAPORS IN GARAGE WHEN VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK. FAINT SMELL DETECTABLE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SMELL SUBSIDES WHEN FUEL TANK LEVEL REACHES 3/4 TO 1/2 FULL.
- Service brakes
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
- Service brakes
CAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CAR BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. A RED LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SAYING "REDUCED BRAKING POWER".
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.