What year Mercedes-Benz R350 should I avoid?

Avoid the 2006 and 2007 model years. They have the highest complaint indexes (100 and 83) and the most reports of engine, suspension, and seat-fire problems.

Is there a Mercedes-Benz R350 year with no problems?

No. Every R350 year is capped at a Caution verdict or worse because all years, 2006 through 2012, are tied to recall campaigns, including do-not-drive brake recalls.

What are the lowest-risk R350 years to buy?

2009, 2010, and 2012 have the lowest complaint indexes (33, 17, and 0) among non-Avoid years, though they still carry recall campaigns and are rated Caution.

What is the most common problem on the R350?

Across all years, suspension, wheels, and tires account for 56 complaints (24% of the total), followed by engine issues at 55 complaints (23%) and airbags at 40 complaints (17%).

Does the R350 have a recall for brakes?

Yes. NHTSA recall campaigns 24V298000 and 22V315000 cover 2006-2012 R-Class vehicles for moisture corrosion in the brake system and are marked do-not-drive until repaired.

Mercedes-Benz R350 Best and Worst Years (2006–2012)

2006 and 2007 are the Mercedes-Benz R350 years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 100 and 83, the highest in the lineup, driven by engine, suspension, and seat-fire complaints. No R350 year earns a Good or Best verdict because every year carries recall campaigns; 2009, 2010, and 2012 are the lowest-risk choices.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2006 Avoid 2007Lowest-risk years:Caution 2009 Caution 2010 Caution 2012

Model years: 7; 2006–2012
NHTSA complaints: 235
Recall campaigns: 3
Crashes reported: 4
Fires reported: 15
Top problem area: Suspension, Wheels & Tires

R350 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Mercedes-Benz R350 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2006	Avoid	100	99	2	10	2 !	Engine	16	—
2007	Avoid	83	47	1	5	2 !	Suspension, Wheels & Tires	16	—
2008	Caution	67	35	0	0	2 !	Suspension, Wheels & Tires	16.5	—
2009	Caution	33	15	0	0	3 !	Airbags	16	—
2010	Caution	17	13	0	0	3 !	Airbags	16	—
2011	Caution	50	18	1	0	3 !	Airbags	16	—
2012	Caution	0	8	0	0	3 !	Airbags	18	—

R350 years to avoid: what went wrong

2006 Mercedes-Benz R350 Index 100 · 99 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2006 R350 has the highest complaint index (100) of any year and ranks worst overall. Owners reported engine problems most often (35 complaints, 35% of the year's total, median failure mileage 80,000), followed by suspension and wheel issues (27 complaints, median 82,000 miles) and electrical system failures (17 complaints, median 80,000 miles). Several owners described heated seats smoking or catching fire, and one reported an engine wiring harness burning near the fuel pump. NHTSA lists two do-not-drive brake recalls for this year covering rubber sleeve corrosion.

2006 engine problems →2006 suspension, wheels & tires problems →2006 electrical system problems →

2007 Mercedes-Benz R350 Index 83 · 47 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2007 R350 ranks second-worst with a complaint index of 83. Suspension, wheels, and tires led complaints (16, or 34% of the year's total, median failure mileage 74,610), with engine issues (10 complaints, median 54,109 miles) and structure/body problems (10 complaints, median 90,000 miles) close behind. Owners again reported heated seats catching fire while driving, plus one report of brakes failing to respond and a steering column rattle tied to a sunroof malfunction. Like 2006, this year carries two do-not-drive brake recalls for rubber sleeve corrosion.

2007 suspension, wheels & tires problems →

Most common Mercedes-Benz R350 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires56 (24%)
Engine55 (23%)
Airbags40 (17%)
Electrical System34 (14%)
Brakes27 (11%)
Structure & Body25 (11%)
Transmission & Powertrain20 (9%)
Steering17 (7%)
Other10 (4%)
Fuel System7 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What year Mercedes-Benz R350 should I avoid?: Avoid the 2006 and 2007 model years. They have the highest complaint indexes (100 and 83) and the most reports of engine, suspension, and seat-fire problems.
Is there a Mercedes-Benz R350 year with no problems?: No. Every R350 year is capped at a Caution verdict or worse because all years, 2006 through 2012, are tied to recall campaigns, including do-not-drive brake recalls.
What are the lowest-risk R350 years to buy?: 2009, 2010, and 2012 have the lowest complaint indexes (33, 17, and 0) among non-Avoid years, though they still carry recall campaigns and are rated Caution.
What is the most common problem on the R350?: Across all years, suspension, wheels, and tires account for 56 complaints (24% of the total), followed by engine issues at 55 complaints (23%) and airbags at 40 complaints (17%).
Does the R350 have a recall for brakes?: Yes. NHTSA recall campaigns 24V298000 and 22V315000 cover 2006-2012 R-Class vehicles for moisture corrosion in the brake system and are marked do-not-drive until repaired.