MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS · model year

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS

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.

17
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
STRUCTURE1
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1
SUSPENSION1
WHEELS1
SEAT BELTS1
STEERING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
VISIBILITY1
AIR BAGS1

Recent Complaints

20140327AIR BAGS

SRS SYSTEM NOT OPERATING ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 108,749

20120116VISIBILITY

REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAKING . LAVA EFFECT, BLURRED, DIMMER FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 38,954

20110414SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

20110118STEERING

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

20100921FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20100727POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20100411SEAT BELTS

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

20090130TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

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

20090130SUSPENSION

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

20090130WHEELS

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

20080522ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20051212POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20051212POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20051212STRUCTURE

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

20050131SUSPENSION:FRONT

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

20040803CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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

20040614ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Compare 2004MERCEDES-BENZS CLASS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS have?
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS has 17 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS?
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.