Is the Failure Rate of Mercedes-Benz Transmissions High?
2 Answers
Mercedes-Benz transmissions have a relatively high failure rate. Transmission Slipping: While driving, if you hear the engine revving without a noticeable increase in speed or acceleration, or experience difficulty climbing hills with an unexplained rise in engine RPM while performance on flat roads seems normal, these are signs to watch for. This can be caused by excessively high hydraulic oil levels, which create excessive foam when agitated by planetary gears, or by worn or burnt clutch or brake friction plates and bands. Transmission Oil Leak: You may notice that the car struggles to start and, although the engine RPM increases when you press the accelerator, there is no significant increase in speed. This indicates an oil leak. Oil leaks lead to insufficient lubrication inside the transmission, preventing it from functioning properly.
From my over ten years of experience driving Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the transmission failure rate is not high, and they are generally reliable. Early models like the 7G-Tronic are very durable—my own car ran 150,000 kilometers with smooth transmission performance and no issues. Later, the 9G-Tronic had some user feedback regarding minor shifting problems in certain models like the C-Class, such as jerking or delays, but most could be fixed with software updates. The failure rate is related to driving habits—if you often accelerate aggressively or neglect maintenance, the risk increases. Maintenance is key; changing the oil every 60,000 kilometers is a must to effectively prevent issues. Overall, Mercedes-Benz's quality ranks among the top in luxury brands. While transmission repairs can be expensive, the failure rate is indeed lower than many economy car models. I recommend driving smoothly and keeping up with regular inspections.
