Total Complaints
17 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS · model year
17 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004MERCEDES-BENZS CLASS carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 S CLASS is electrical system with 3 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and air bags:frontal (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2004 S CLASS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
17 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| VISIBILITY | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
SRS SYSTEM NOT OPERATING ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR
Mileage: 108,749
REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAKING . LAVA EFFECT, BLURRED, DIMMER FAILURE. *TR
Mileage: 38,954
I RECEIVED A BAS/ESP MALFUNCTION ON MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS THE SECOND TIRE MONITOR THAT HAS FAILED ON THIS CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THIS SAFETY/MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THESE SENSORS GOING BAD THIS QUICKLY.
Mileage: 64,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ SL500. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND OIL WAS LEAKING IN THE VEHICLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AS THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE STARTED TO SMELL AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO HIS DESTINATION. AFTER ARRIVING TO HIS DESTINATION HE NOTICED THAT EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM THAT THE DRAIN HOLE FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD FILLED THE FLOOR BOARD WITH WATER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSPONDER MODULE AND THE FUSE BOX SINCE THE TRANSPONDER MELTED DURING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,243 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,300.
Mileage: 33,243
2 WEEKS AGO THE SHIFTER ON THE CAR STARTED TO GET HARDER AND HARDER TO GET OUT OF PARK. LAST WEEK THE CAR'S SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN PARK POSITION AND DOES NOT MOVE. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE SHIFTER. *TR
Mileage: 72,568
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO CABLE HARNESSES FOR SEAT BELT IN BOTH FRONT SEAT. CONNECTORS ARE BEING REPLACED IN EVERY S CLASS DUE TO MORE THAN FREQUENT FAILURE. MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT THESE CONNECTORS BY NOT OPERATING WILL CAUSE SAFETY RESTRAINT AND AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. CONSEQUENTLY HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER CHILD RESTRAINT SENSOR IN A 2004 S500 MERCEDES 4MATIC DUE TO FAILURE ALSO. BOTH ITEMS AS DESCRIBED ARE CONSTANTLY BEING REPLACED IN S-CLASS VEHICLES DUE TO FAILURE. LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT TO FIND OUT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD NOT ACTIVATE IN A CRASH. *TR
IN 12-06 I BOUGHT A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. SINCE THAN I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER MORE TEN TIMES THE LATEST WAS 1-09 FOR THE SAME REASON THE AIR MATIC DEFECTED ORCOMPRESSURE LEAK,PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTION,AIR MATIC VALVE BLOCK DEFECTIVE. SOME TIME THEY FOUND THE AIR MATIC COMPRESSORS W/ EXTERNAL LEAK CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO BE LOW. IN MAY 2008 FOR LEAK IN THE COMPRESSOR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. AGAIN IN JULY 2008 AIR MATIC COMPRESSOR AGAIN LEAK. AUG 2008 THEY TOLD ME IT RELAY DEFECTIVE THE AIRMATIC PUMP WAS STUCK AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP DID NOT PASS PNUMATIC TEST AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THE DEALER CHARGED $821.03.JAN2009 AIRMATIC VALVE BLOCK DEFECTIVE AGAIN CHARGED $765.89.I THINK SOME COMPLETELY WRONG WITH THIS CAR, BUT THE DEALER AND THE HEAD OF THE MERCEDES BENZ DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ME THE CAR COST ME ALOT OF MONEYS AND EVERY OTHER MONTH I MUST FIND MONEY TO FIXED THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT NOT FAIR. *TR
Mileage: 86,666
IN 12-06 I BOUGHT A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. SINCE THAN I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER MORE TEN TIMES THE LATEST WAS 1-09 FOR THE SAME REASON THE AIR MATIC DEFECTED ORCOMPRESSURE LEAK,PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTION,AIR MATIC VALVE BLOCK DEFECTIVE. SOME TIME THEY FOUND THE AIR MATIC COMPRESSORS W/ EXTERNAL LEAK CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO BE LOW. IN MAY 2008 FOR LEAK IN THE COMPRESSOR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. AGAIN IN JULY 2008 AIR MATIC COMPRESSOR AGAIN LEAK. AUG 2008 THEY TOLD ME IT RELAY DEFECTIVE THE AIRMATIC PUMP WAS STUCK AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP DID NOT PASS PNUMATIC TEST AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THE DEALER CHARGED $821.03.JAN2009 AIRMATIC VALVE BLOCK DEFECTIVE AGAIN CHARGED $765.89.I THINK SOME COMPLETELY WRONG WITH THIS CAR, BUT THE DEALER AND THE HEAD OF THE MERCEDES BENZ DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ME THE CAR COST ME ALOT OF MONEYS AND EVERY OTHER MONTH I MUST FIND MONEY TO FIXED THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT NOT FAIR. *TR
Mileage: 86,666
IN 12-06 I BOUGHT A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. SINCE THAN I TOOK THE CAR BACK THE DEALER MORE TEN TIMES THE LATEST WAS 1-09 FOR THE SAME REASON THE AIR MATIC DEFECTED ORCOMPRESSURE LEAK,PRESSURE SENSOR MALFUNCTION,AIR MATIC VALVE BLOCK DEFECTIVE. SOME TIME THEY FOUND THE AIR MATIC COMPRESSORS W/ EXTERNAL LEAK CAUSE THE SUSPENSION TO BE LOW. IN MAY 2008 FOR LEAK IN THE COMPRESSOR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED. AGAIN IN JULY 2008 AIR MATIC COMPRESSOR AGAIN LEAK. AUG 2008 THEY TOLD ME IT RELAY DEFECTIVE THE AIRMATIC PUMP WAS STUCK AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP DID NOT PASS PNUMATIC TEST AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THE DEALER CHARGED $821.03.JAN2009 AIRMATIC VALVE BLOCK DEFECTIVE AGAIN CHARGED $765.89.I THINK SOME COMPLETELY WRONG WITH THIS CAR, BUT THE DEALER AND THE HEAD OF THE MERCEDES BENZ DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ME THE CAR COST ME ALOT OF MONEYS AND EVERY OTHER MONTH I MUST FIND MONEY TO FIXED THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT NOT FAIR. *TR
Mileage: 86,666
A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OCCURRED AFTER A RAIN. AS A RESULT I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. MERCEDES AUTHORIZED MECHANIC CITES "AIR INTAKE AT BLOWER INTAKE AREA WAS INVERTED AT INSTALLATION FROM THE FACTORY". THE CAR IS IN PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED. THE MERCEDES DEALER CALLS IT "WATER INTRUSION". *TR
Mileage: 37,823
VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. PROCEEDED INTO AN INTERSECTION, UPON ACCELERATION VEHICLE CUT OFF, NO BREAKS, NO POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE ROAD, EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN AND I DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED AFTER A TEST NO PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. *NM
Mileage: 6,080
ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PROCEEDING TO ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING REMAINING HESITANT WHEN ACCELERATING. DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, TEST PERFORMED. IT WAS DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. PARTS ORDERED AND VEHICLE REPAIRED. *NM
Mileage: 6,482
RAINING, VEHICLE LEAK OF WATER FROM STORM FRONT PASSENGER, LEFT AND RIGHT REAR PASSENGER FLOOR AREA COMPLETELY SOAKED WITH WATER. WATER RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL SHORTAGE. NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO SPEEDOMETER, INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERING. DROVE TO DEALER, DIAGNOSIS WATERDRAIN OFF NEAR WINDSHIELD DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED AFTER PARTS ORDERED. *NM
Mileage: 11,693
THE FRONT SUSPENSION FALLS DOWN DURING COLD WEATHER, CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO SINK DOWN ON THE WHEELS. A WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON INFORMING THE DRIVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH WHILE STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED HIP, AND A SWOLLEN KNEE. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER INDICATED THAT THE FRONT SENSOR WASN'T HIT UPON IMPACT AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED RUNNING, BUT THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKE OR POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND HAD BEEN THERE FOR 3 WEEKS, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED, BUT NO FAILURE CODE WAS FOUND. DEALERSHIP WAS AWAITING A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE.*AK
Mileage: 4,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.