The Lemon Index

All cars · Mercedes-Benz E-Class · 2006

2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index83100 = average car
Complaints29NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold50,195U.S. model year
Per 100K sold58complaints
Year rank#16 of 18#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 6

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.2L 6-cyl turbo dieselAuto 5-spdRWD23 / 33 / 27Diesel$3,500
3.5L 6-cylAuto 7-spdRWD17 / 25 / 20Premium$3,850
3.5L 6-cylAuto 5-spd4Wheel or AWD16 / 23 / 19Premium$4,050
5.0L 8-cylAuto 7-spdRWD15 / 23 / 18Premium$4,300
5.0L 8-cylAuto 5-spd4Wheel or AWD14 / 19 / 16Premium$4,850
5.4L 8-cyl superchargedAuto (S5)RWD13 / 19 / 16Premium$4,850

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 60,000 and 120,000 miles. Median 87,000, from 421 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Fuel or ev drive system91,10064,200–120,000140
Fuel system, gasoline80,00060,000–100,10093
Brakes133,000105,100–149,00055
Engine110,00087,000–143,00035
Transmission & drivetrain72,70038,500–102,60036

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain21%
Airbags17%
Tires14%
Electrical14%
Brakes10%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
50318915115

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 4

  • 24V874000 Nov 2024 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

    Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

    Risk. A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.

  • 22V954000 Dec 2022 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

    Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

    Risk. A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

  • 21V196000 Mar 2021 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

    Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2006-2007 C350, C230, C280, CLK350, E320CDI, E350 Wagon, E350, 2006 C55 AMG, CLK500, CLS500, CLS55 AMG, E500 Wagon, E500, E55 AMG, 2007 CLK550, CLS550, CLS63 AMG, E550, E63 AMG, and E63 Wagon AMG vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly causing the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk. A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 7, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021040012.

  • 19V918000 Dec 2019 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

    Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

    Risk. A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
ClosedFuel leakage from the fuel tank20132014
ClosedDriver air bag circuit high resistance20102010

Manufacturer communications 136

Mercedes-Benz filed 136 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • 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

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20031326055,683Brakes
2004542758,954Brakes
2005823050,383Airbags
2006832950,195Transmission & drivetrain
2007552448,950Transmission & drivetrain
2008–1838,576Wheels
2009–1343,072Fuel system, gasoline

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data