The Lemon IndexAll cars · Mercedes-Benz E-Class
2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is better than average by owner complaints: 29 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 83, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 16 to 27 mpg combined. The best Mercedes-Benz E-Class year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 503 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Mercedes-Benz E-Class year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 60K to 120K miles on the car (421 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 64K–120K miles
- fuel system, gasoline complaints mostly came at 60K–100K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 105K–149K miles
Recalls 4
- visibility 2024
Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years.
- visibility 2022
Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details.
- visibility 2021
The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
Show all 4 recalls
- visibility 2019
The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Mercedes-Benz told dealers about
Mercedes-Benz sent dealers 136 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Dirt can collect in the rear sleeves on the front axle carrier
- Model 171.454, 456 (2005-2008) slk class; 204.054, 056, 081 (2008) c class; 211.022, 056, 072
- Models 203, 209, 211, 219,230, and 463; model years 2005-2007
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedFuel leakage from the fuel tank2013–2014
- ClosedDriver air bag circuit high resistance2010
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★★
Fuel cost and engines
About $3500–5000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.2L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Automatic transmission is malfunctioning, fairly consistent at low speeds.
2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class owner · NHTSA complaint 10138459
Quick answers
Is the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 83; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Mercedes-Benz E-Class year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (21%), airbags (17%) and tires (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have?
4 safety recalls (latest: visibility). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class get?
16 to 27 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 60,000 and 120,000 miles. The middle report was at 87,000 miles, from 421 complaints.
Does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 21% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost in fuel a year?
About $3500 to $5000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have?
3.2L 6-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl.
What Mercedes-Benz E-Class year is better than the 2006?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works