2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS: common problems and reliability
The 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS has 6 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and back over prevention. Owners most often flag air suspension failures — components (bags, pumps) begin to fail at 60,000-80,000 miles, leading to expensive repairs. frequency: very frequent.
Safety record for the 2020 model year
6
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
electrical system
4
back over prevention
1
wheels
1
engine
1
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on the specific generation and powertrain. For the first-generation (C219, ~2005-2010), owners express strong affection for its iconic, beautiful design and the reliability of the M113 V8 engine (in CLS500/CLS55 models)
Air suspension failures — components (bags, pumps) begin to fail at 60,000-80,000 miles, leading to expensive repairs. Frequency: very frequent.
M278 V8 engine cylinder scoring — a known engineering defect in earlier models (pre-2016) causing loss of compression; requires engine rebuild. Frequency: very frequent for affected years.
48V mild hybrid system failures — includes battery and DC/DC converter malfunctions, causing warning lights and electrical issues, particularly on 2019+ CLS450 models. Frequency: very frequent for this generation.
High maintenance costs — routine dealer services (A/B service), brakes, tires, and repairs are cited as significantly more expensive than mainstream brands. Frequency: very frequent.
Engine oil wicking into wiring harnesses — a common issue on M278 and M157 engines, requiring harness replacement or repair. Frequency: recurrent.
Owner insights cover all generations of the CLS.
Typical used price
Used CLS listings typically run $16,487–$30,843 across 2006 to 2021 model years.