The Shocking Truth About Mercedes Benz Reliability...

I've owned a number of Mercedes Benz, but I've now come to the conclusion that Mercedes are not reliable cars anymore. They're falling off when it comes to car reliability and they just don't make cars like they used to. At least as far as I'm concerned....

This is the shocking truth about Mercedes Benz reliability, at least as I've experienced it.

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[kyronrc]

I get the feeling MOST brands nowdays dont make durable cars. Some 30 years ago Mercedes were very reliable, BMW too! Its all on purpose so we keep buying parts and fixing these things, and having to trade for new ones.

[matthewlok]

Cars built these days are throwaway consumables

[franciskowalski]

sad to say I totally agree with your assessment of MB today. Bought a new 1997 E320. Bulletproof for 300, 000 miles. Bought a Lexus ES and never regretted it. I miss my MB but would not own one for the reasons you gave. Thank you

[p.chrisr]

I had a Mercedes c280 for 12 years. Minimum money on service. Donated the car with over 270 thousand miles and was still working wonderfully. Wish I didn’t give it away.

[BehindTheCounter_TFSO]

I have a young man in our warehouse who recently bought a 2015 Mercedes-Benz with 80, 000 miles from a used car lot. Unfortunately, he's already dealing with issues like timing chain rattle during the initial start-up, and there are clear signs of the transmission starting to slip. The most unfortunate part is that he's making payments on what was initially a nice car, which now seems to be turning into a money pit. Finding someone who can repair the vehicle without breaking the bank has become quite a challenge for him. What started as a nice car is on the verge of becoming a beached whale in some independent garage's parking lot.

[peterhermina]

Mercedes NA engines are generally bullet proof. If you regularly change the oil; you should easily get 300k out of them. Same with BMW I6 NA engines. All the problems started when they started using Turbos.

[ogradychinunda]

This dude is paid to slam the Mercedes benz. Why did you keep that car if it's as shitty as you put it . The Toyota that you are paid to praise keep killing people here due to unstability and always lose the moose tests, too many cheap servicing parts that don't last so these German cars are never cheap so if you buy it prepare to spend and when you spend it stays for years I have been driving BMWs, Jaguars and Mercedes and of them all the Merc proved stronger. Toyota parts are so weak the body and chasis is so weak that when you crush chances of surviving is merely 0.1 % the Toyota that you praise most has taken a lot of people's lives here. Toyota engine smokes faster especially if you are a fast drive not so much a performance car. So 4yrs and you are complaining like this, what the hell is the reason for your keeping it that long especially if you care how much it costs to repair or service? Leave it to the Big Guys.

[mariuszek]

I have 2016 gla 45 amg. at 97.000 miles holding strong. oil pump replaced and very few minor issues.. perhaps amg has a better build quality...?

[Raider]

My wife thought you were saying "Life's too short to drive foreign cars 🚗 " 😂.

[Riconald]

I bought a 2013 C300, and I love it. I bought it used 6 years ago, and there’s no problem at all. I also bought a 2021 GLC300 3 years ago, and it’s still running amazingly. I love Mercedes Benz cars.

[MrT-nhdi]

Mercedes are reliable, just certain models and years to buy. Same as BMW, DIY helps as well. Go to the dealership, and they will rob you blind especially if you don't know your car. Own an OBD 2 Scanner, these handy pieces of technology for vehicles are a godsend.

[socalbadger]

Fluid may be getting caught in the bottom panels. I bought a 2008 ML320 CDI new back in 2008, had nothing but problems the entire time - turbo seals cracking within 2 years, COMAND center stopped working - and the car stopped working because it controls the entire vehicle 1 week before warranty expired - a 5k repair under warranty, tailgate motor problems they could never resolve. Finally sold it after 4 years; stuck with Lexus, Toyota, Honda vehicles since - never been happier. Simple, reliable, and no unexpected or nagging problems.

[paulmbugua]

The speaker falling off really pissed you off huh .

[canadapainter]

$908.00 repair cost/yr average? YOU KIDDING ME....?
I got a 1992 Ford Tempo V6...I spend about $500-$600 every 4-5 yrs on the car on parts... THAT IS IT....- hoses, , starter motor, alternator, belts etc..(506K in it now original)

[stevemaggs]

Interesting how things change over time. It wasn't that long ago that you rightly said that BMWs were poorly made, particularly in the engine area. Now, MB seems to have taken the top spot and BMW has improved. Strange how some manufacturers can go through cycles of producing problem cars, then improve quality, then decline again in quality. To address this, IMO consumers shouldn't just focus on the brand for their purchase decisions, but also the specific model year and its features/components.

I own a Volvo (2020 V90 Inscription T6). LOL! I don't think this brand has been known for reliability, at least in his century. My V90 has been problem free, going on 4 years. Starting around 2015/2016, when the Geely/SPA models were introduced, these new models had a host of problems (e.g., defective oil rings that caused excessive oil usage, defective coolant O-rings that could cause an engine fire, spark plugs with exploding ceramic material that could trash the engine, poorly performing infotainment system, defective supercharger seals, weak brake pad springs contributing to premature brake wear, etc.). By the time of my 2020 model, the earlier issues were mostly addressed. Then, around the 2022 model year, Volvo's Google-based infotainment system introduced a host of serious issues.

Even with Lexus, my 2007 ES350 (purchased new in 2007), it has been rock solid, AFTER they replaced its transmission after 6 months of initial ownership. Noticing that the front dashboard is prone to getting "sticky" and soft in extremely hot weather, I purchased a high quality windshield reflector to reduce sunlight intensity and cabin heat, and on particularly hot days cover the entire car. Yes, some Lexus cars have had a problem with the dashboard cracking.

No car is perfect, and some cars are more-or-less perfect than others.

[Toyotacorollaaltis-cnfd]

Yea sure completely ignore the many many modern Mercs with high miles I have put 430, 000 km on my 2016 A-45 AMG not one issue

[EnriquezFamily-im]

Yes you are 100% accurate. Some years ago I purchased a ML series Mercedes. At around 45, 000 miles I needed water pump. Door motors required to be replaced. Also, window switches.

[jimrusch]

Your right. Not only MB but all manufacturers are using more and more cheap plastics everywhere. The under hood temperatures with turbo charged engines are rendering plastic connectors dry and brittle. I think the manufacturers know this but all they care about is getting the vehicle past the warrantee finish line.

[LawrenceMarkFearon]

2009 SL65. Kept my head in the SL forums 5 years. Bought the reference books. Everyone has the same problem areas. At the time I bought every area of vulnerability was upgraded before the risk became reality. I'd only buy another Mercedes from before 2012. Decontenting and cost cutting followed manifested as lower quality and resiliency of the [automatic start/stop, no fog lights, no spare tire] modern Mercedes era. Those features mark a mechanical shift in engineering philosophy prioritizing decontenting. Every year seems to get worse: now new SL's are backsliding to cheap fabric roofs without including any bolt on hardtop. My 2009 top is permanent and never needs replacing like a new SL's fabric roof every 4 years.

[greathey]

Unfortunately most German cars are not suitable for daily use. I own a 3 series and an Audi TT for very very very light use once or twice a month