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2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

Gas

Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

97 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns1

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA0

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA21 mpg

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the CLS550, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
CLS550	Gas	RWD	4.7L 8-cyl turbo	18	26	21	$3,700
CLS550 4matic	Gas	4WD	4.7L 8-cyl turbo	17	25	20	$3,900
AMG CLS63 S 4matic	Gas	4WD	5.5L 8-cyl turbo	16	22	18	$4,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 39390, 39391, 39392.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Electrical System

2021020025

1,292,258 vehicles

ProblemMercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.RiskFailure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.FixMBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

NHTSA campaign 21V058000reported Feb 5, 2021Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

No owner complaints on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other CLS-Class model years

2023 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

3 recalls · 3 complaints

2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

6 recalls · 3 complaints

2021 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

11 recalls · 2 complaints

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

8 recalls · 6 complaints

2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

14 recalls · 20 complaints

2017 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

1 recalls · 2 complaints

2016 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

1 recalls · 0 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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