2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has 20 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 12 CLS-Class years on this site. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
Photo by Dinkun Chen, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

20

Per year

2

Recalls

0

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Wheels (9 of 20), then Electrical system (4) and Steering (4).

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 CLS-Class has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2020 has 6 complaints, 1 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (0)

No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Complaints by component (20 total)

Wheels
9
Electrical system
4
Steering
4
Engine
2
Service brakes
2
Suspension
2
Tires
2
Back-over prevention
1
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

42019120202202162023420242202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My vehicle steering wheel completely disengaged/malfunctioned when driving home. The steering wheel continuously rotates however there is no shifting of wheels. This is hazardous as I had to brake the car and call…"
    Steering · filed 2026-07-21
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway,…"
    Electrical system · filed 2025-08-13
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS450. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was black. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact…"
    Back-over prevention · filed 2025-06-27
  • "I have had 5 tire blow outs on my 2019 CLS 450 Mercedes. I purchased the car in August of 2023 and since that time I have experienced 5 tire blow outs on brand new tires within a 1-year time frame. When I got the tire…"
    Tires · filed 2024-12-26
  • "I am getting repeated flats in this car after hitting small bumps in the car. Whether I am on the freeway or driving around town. I have hit bumps that will blow out the tire. Here are more complaints from consumers :…"
    Wheels · filed 2024-08-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 4 DR 4WD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 4 DR RWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

C257, 2019–2023
Body styles Coupe
Oil 0W-20, 0W-30, or 0W-40 (engine-dependent)
Tire size 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 19V-605 covers certain 2019 CLS 450 Coupe and CLS 450 Coupe 4MATIC vehicles with 6-cylinder gasoline engines: the electrical line that supplies power to the engine coolant pump may contact the engine fan and chafe, which can cause a coolant-pump malfunction or a deactivation that may lead to overheating. Dealers inspect the coolant pump electrical line for damage, then repair and reroute it as necessary. Recall 18V-911 covers certain 2019 CLS450, CLS450 4MATIC, and CLS53 AMG vehicles: the horizontal headlight adjustment screw may not be effectively sealed, allowing improper headlight aim; dealers inspect and seal the screws as necessary.

Compare

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class reliable?

The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has 20 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 2 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 12 CLS-Class years on this site. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.

What are common problems with a 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?

The complaints owners file most often name Wheels (9 of 20), then Electrical system (4) and Steering (4).

Is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 CLS-Class has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2020 has 6 complaints, 1 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class been recalled?

NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?

Owners have filed 20 complaints about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a US Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class use?

0W-20, 0W-30, or 0W-40 (engine-dependent)

What tire sizes fit a US Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?

Published US specs commonly list front 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent) and rear 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class?

Recall 19V-605 covers certain 2019 CLS 450 Coupe and CLS 450 Coupe 4MATIC vehicles with 6-cylinder gasoline engines: the electrical line that supplies power to the engine coolant pump may contact the engine fan and chafe, which can cause a coolant-pump malfunction or a deactivation that may lead to overheating. Dealers inspect the coolant pump electrical line for damage, then repair and reroute it as necessary. Recall 18V-911 covers certain 2019 CLS450, CLS450 4MATIC, and CLS53 AMG vehicles: the horizontal headlight adjustment screw may not be effectively sealed, allowing…