Mercedes-Benz is a name that has been synonymous with luxury cars, allowing its owners to exude a sense of pride and superiority. When a brand is hailed as the epitome of automotive engineering, they've got to be doing something right. Perhaps it is the fact that they are delivering the best-in-class driving experience which gives owners the right to showboat the way they do. After all, these machines are powerful and agile, making them competent enough to butt heads with modern sports cars, despite their luxury car status. Surely, there is no doubt that these cars symbolize success for most people in the world.

UPDATE: 2023/09/28 18:00 EST BY MARTIN PETER

Most gearheads have "ówning a Mercedes-Benz" as one of the top items in their bucket lists. We've updated this list with more important things to know before buying one.

However, alongside other great luxury car brands, there are certain issues that tend to lurk beneath the surface of owning a Mercedes-Benz, that owners would rather not talk about. So, here is a list that allows one to delve into the murky underworld of Mercedes-Benz ownership in order to reveal the things that proud owners of these stunning machines would never dare admit out loud. Maintenance stats are taken from CarEdge.

12 Mercedes-Benz Can Have Serious Maintenance Costs

When a gearhead finally buys that Mercedes-Benz they were craving for years, they are grateful to get their dream car. Unfortunately for them, what awaits them is something that'll drain their bank and bring them stress. The maintenance costs for a Mercedes-Benz are not something to smirk at. The maintenance costs for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class are considered higher than the industry average for luxury sedan models by $345.

There is around a 31% chance that these cars will require at least one major repair during that time. Knowing all this can make anyone second guess the purchasing of their dream Mercedes. But this is something many owners prefer to stay quiet about.

Mercedes Benz Repair And Maintenance Costs

11 Higher Cost Of Insurance Plagues Mercedes-Benz Owners

Almost everyone who buys a luxury car has a hard time getting it insured. Cars like a Mercedes-Benz tend to be more expensive to insure because they are higher in value and thus, repairs and replacement of parts cost more than usual. This drives the cost of owning a Mercedes-Benz further up, and for models like the AMG GT S, the cost to insure is at around $6,818 per year.

Insurance companies seem to be more than willing to drive these numbers all the way up to the stratosphere. Millionaires won't care, but the average Joe needs to look before he leaps.

Mercedes Benz Insurance Costs

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10 Mercedes-Benz Owners Can't Find Reliable Third-Party Mechanics

The local mechanic is almost always cheaper when one needs to get the regular family car fixed. It is always good to have him on your Christmas card list. In an ideal world, if the mechanic follows the Mercedes-Benz schedule and rule book to the letter and uses genuine parts, then the warranty on the car should still be valid. This is often not the case, however, and many drivers, as well as mechanics, don't want to risk it. They are dealing with a premium luxury car, after all. This results in long waiting times at the official dealerships and increased cost of repairs. Be careful, though, as those bills won't be for the faint of heart!

There are still some ways, however, in which you can find the best, affordable repair shop for your car that can be quite reliable.

9 Dings And Scratches Terrify Benz Owners

Another thing Mercedes-Benz owners are always worried about is the slightest scratch or dent to their beloved ride. More often than not, one can see them parking their cars in the furthest corner of a parking lot, away from other cars, just to avoid the risk of damage. Luxury cars look best in their premium condition, and even minor damage can break their character and presence. While Mercedes-Benz makes some really reliable machines, it is no invulnerable beast and fears the eerie sound of a scratch just as much as any other car does.

RELATED: Here's How To Fix Car Scratches In Three Simple Methods

8 The Risk Of Theft Is Ever Present With A Mercedes-Benz

When you own one of the most popular luxury car brands in the world, you're a prime target for thieves. Owners are always aware of the risk of theft and often have to take extra precautions like installing expensive security systems, which add to maintenance costs. There is also the fact that many insurance policies don't protect the car from theft as it is too likely a scenario depending upon where you live. Living in constant fear of vandalism and theft is not very 'luxurious', but Mercedes-Benz owners often don't like admitting it.

7 Older Mercedes-Benz Can Be Prone To Oil Leaks

A common issue with many Mercedes-Benz cars that are older than a decade is their oil leak issues. The last thing one wants is to be driving down the road and suddenly finding themselves with a seized engine all because they failed in keeping up with their oil levels. While more modern variants of these cars are many times more reliable in terms of hardware quality, the same cannot be said about every generation of the Mercedes-Benz.

The owners of any Mercedes-Benz pre-2010 are well aware of their reputation for being over-engineered and running into valve gasket seal problems every once in a while. Hopefully, these problems will remain in the past, along with the cars they haunt.

6 Mercedes-Benz Rusts Faster Than A Sinking Ship

It's not just an issue with older models – even some newer Mercedes-Benz cars can start showing signs of rust before one knows it. It's like they're built to dissolve in saltwater. When you're spending big bucks on a Mercedes-Benz, you expect it to last. And rust is not something you want to have to deal with, especially if you live in a place with harsh weather conditions.

Prevention is better than cure, so in case you live in coastal regions of North America, it would be prudent to protect your Mercedes-Benz with regular cleaning and waxing. The wax will act as a protective layer and prevent moisture from seeping into the paint and causing rust. It is also recommended to follow helpful guides and take extra steps for prevention and treatment of rust and corrosion.

5 Mercedes-Benz Is No Stranger To Misfiring Engines

Before they even reach the 100,000-mile mark, Mercedes-Benz owners may get to witness the blinking of their 'check-engine' light. It might just be the beginning of an engine misfiring problem which, if not diagnosed and treated, will most likely only get worse. Since the older Mercedes-Benz models are good friends with corrosion and rust, the most likely cause of such engine misfiring is corroded spark plugs. Replacement and sandpaper treatment might be your best bet in this scenario.

The worst of these cars is, perhaps, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250, which has five recalls and over 300 complaints in its name, which could very well win a medal if there were such a thing as a world championship in engine problems.

4 Mercedes-Benz Cars Depreciates Like Crazy

Unfortunately for those readers who were hoping to trade in their cars for something shinier in the future, the depreciation rate of a Mercedes-Benz is some of the highest in the industry and for good reasons. While it depends on a variety of factors, like the model year and the kind of driving it has been subjected to, one can reasonably expect these cars to lose 40% to 50% of value over three years and up to 60% over five years.

While the Mercedes-Benz is not a favorable choice for those looking for a car with good resale value, a high depreciation rate has upsides too. For example, while it is true that many drivers want to own a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, they may not have the money to pay for that privilege. In such a scenario, it might be in their best interests to put their name down for a used one, and still get something reliable and luxurious.

Mercedes Benz Depreciation Rates

RELATED: 10 Luxury Cars With The Highest Depreciation Rates

3 Mercedes-Benz Is Not So Kind To The Environment

They don't tell drivers about the environmental impact of driving a gas-guzzling luxury vehicle. It may not be common knowledge for the average car enthusiast, but Mercedes-Benz has been sued many times for emissions cheating. They also found themselves fined $16.9 million over emission rules breach by the South Korean authorities. The claim was that Mercedes had installed software in their cars to alter the pollution mitigation devices, changing their performance in ordinary driving conditions in comparison to certification tests. While some might not take the environmental impact of such incidents seriously, drivers should certainly understand that when a top car manufacturer like Mercedes-Benz is willing to go to such lengths to hide emissions related information, it is not something to take lightly.

Mercedes Benz Fuel Efficiency

2 Mercedes-Benz Cars Have Poor Aftermarket Support

Most cars have great aftermarket support in case you need to repair them or modify them. This isn't the case for most Mercedes-Benz models - due to its precise engineering, Mercedes-Benz recommends that only OEM parts are used during repairs and maintenance.

These OEM parts are usually expensive and can be hard to find if you live in a small town. This is also the reason why Mercedes-Benz models are some of the worst project cars.

1 Mercedes-Benz Cars May Incite Road Envy

Since the Mercedes-Benz badge is typically associated with luxury and wealth, it's not uncommon to run into envious road users when you're out and about. Get ready to be cut off, honked at, or even verbally abused by drivers who wish they'd be sitting in your heated and ventilated seats instead of their uncomfortable Nissan Altimas.

You must also be careful of where you park as some envious fool may decide to key your car or slam their door into your side panel, leaving you with costly repairs.