https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class New NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for the Mercedes-Benz S Class. en-us Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:33:31 GMT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-1062707 Tue, 06 May 2014 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CONNECTOR FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOOD THE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICL https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-1051742 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT THE SRS SYSTEM (AIRBAGS) HAVE BEEN DEEMED INOPERABLE BY THE DEALER AND MAY EITHER DEPLOY AT ANY TIME OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A COLLISION. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER RECOGNITION SENSOR PAD LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH DISABLES/ENABLES THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONALITY. BOTH A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN THE 2000 TO 2006 MODEL YEAR MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS VEHIC https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-1051743 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT THE SRS SYSTEM (AIRBAGS) HAVE BEEN DEEMED INOPERABLE BY THE DEALER AND MAY EITHER DEPLOY AT ANY TIME OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A COLLISION. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER RECOGNITION SENSOR PAD LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH DISABLES/ENABLES THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONALITY. BOTH A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN THE 2000 TO 2006 MODEL YEAR MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS VEHIC https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-1050174 Thu, 27 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT SRS SYSTEM NOT OPERATING ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-1006924 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT WIRE HARNESS SHORTED OUT DUE TO NAKED WIRES WITH NO INSULATION CAUSING THE HARNESS TO CATCH FIRE BURNING HARNESS AND FRYING THE ALTERNATOR. THE CAUSE WAS SAID TO BE WIRE HARNESS DETERIORATED. IMPROPER INSULATION ON THE HARNESS. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-1006925 Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT WIRE HARNESS SHORTED OUT DUE TO NAKED WIRES WITH NO INSULATION CAUSING THE HARNESS TO CATCH FIRE BURNING HARNESS AND FRYING THE ALTERNATOR. THE CAUSE WAS SAID TO BE WIRE HARNESS DETERIORATED. IMPROPER INSULATION ON THE HARNESS. *JB https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-975763 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHENEVER THERE WERE WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID WOULD EITHER BECOME RESISTANT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE HATCH, OR IT WOULD CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. ON ONE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-975764 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHENEVER THERE WERE WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID WOULD EITHER BECOME RESISTANT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE HATCH, OR IT WOULD CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. ON ONE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-963136 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. ALL LIGHTING FOR INSTRUMENT DARK/UNREADABLE (SPEEDOMETER,TACH,ODOMETER,FUEL,TEMP,TURN SIGNAL ETC). TAKEN TO DEALER AND I PAID FOR REBUILD TO UNIT. IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURED AGAIN AFTER APPROX 3 MONTHS. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-963137 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. ALL LIGHTING FOR INSTRUMENT DARK/UNREADABLE (SPEEDOMETER,TACH,ODOMETER,FUEL,TEMP,TURN SIGNAL ETC). TAKEN TO DEALER AND I PAID FOR REBUILD TO UNIT. IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURED AGAIN AFTER APPROX 3 MONTHS. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-941009 Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING BEGAN APPROXIMATELY JULY, 2012. INITIALLY, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER BRIEFLY AND THEN ILLUMINATE AGAIN. SUBSEQUENT TO THE FREQUENT FLICKERING INCIDENTS, THE CLUSTER LIGHTING DIDN'T ILLUMINATE AT ALL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SMALL DIAGNOSTIC VIEWER. CURRENTLY, ALL LIGHTING, GAUGES, AND ANY DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING THE CONTROL BUT https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-926059 Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING HOT WEATHER. MORE PARTICULARLY, THE BELT WILL NOT EXTEND. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL THE BELT OUT ENOUGH TO FASTEN IT. THUS, THE ONLY WAY THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN IN HOT WEATHER IS WITHOUT THE DRIVER WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE BELT WORKS PROPERLY IN THE MORNING WHEN LEAVING OUR AIR-CONDITIONED GARAGE, BUT WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR WHILE IT HAS https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-921712 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT ON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLACK WITHOUT ILLUMINATION OR READING. AS A RESULT, GAUGES TO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, FUEL, WARNINGS TO MALFUNCTIONS, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, & ENGINE TEMPERATURE ARE NOT PRESENT. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-921713 Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT ON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLACK WITHOUT ILLUMINATION OR READING. AS A RESULT, GAUGES TO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, FUEL, WARNINGS TO MALFUNCTIONS, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, & ENGINE TEMPERATURE ARE NOT PRESENT. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-921078 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-921079 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-920640 Wed, 30 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT WENT TO MY CAR IN THE A.M. TO GO TO WORK. TURNED CAR ON, A RED LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID VEHICLE TOO LOW. SENSOR CAME ON AND SAID AIRMATIC SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. IN APRIL 2010 I PAID ABOUT $2500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS PART ARE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR AND THIS HAPPENS. AS MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, AND THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, AND MOST LIKELY ANOTHE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-919456 Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT THERE ARE NO CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER SEEMS TO THINK THE FACT THAT THE DOOR LOCKS ONCE THE CAR IS MOVING OVER A SPECIFIC SPEED IS GOOD ENOUGH, THE PROBLEM IS A CHILD CAN STILL PULL THE HANDLE TWICE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHILE IT'S MOVING, OR SIMPLY LIFT THE REAR LOCK LATCH AND PULL THE DOOR HANDLE ONCE, AND OUT THEY KID GOES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I PERSONALLY DON'T UNDERSTA https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-918224 Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAUGES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9 https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-913953 Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT 2012 MERCEDES S550. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SLID BACKWARDS IN PARKING LOT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS REGARDING THE VEHICLE BEING PUT IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THREE WEEKS AGO, HE HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF PARKING HIS VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT. WITHOUT OPENING THE DOOR, HE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAK https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-909863 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT THE ENGINE CONTROL/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ S420 (61,000 MILES), HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT-CIRCUIT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION--AND EVEN FIRE--INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-908107 Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ILLUMINATION CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,976. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-902317 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT DIESEL ENGINE PREGLOW WIRE HARNESS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM TRACTION CONTROL. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-902318 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT DIESEL ENGINE PREGLOW WIRE HARNESS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM TRACTION CONTROL. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-902319 Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT DIESEL ENGINE PREGLOW WIRE HARNESS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM TRACTION CONTROL. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-900211 Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT REAR VIEW MIRROR LEAKING . LAVA EFFECT, BLURRED, DIMMER FAILURE. *TR https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-891949 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-885253 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ ANY OF THE GAUGES OR METERS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-882417 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT MY 2002 MERCEDES S430 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BACK LIGHTING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I COULD NOT SEE MY RATE OF SPEED. ALONG WITH NOT SEEING MY RATE OF SPEED MY FUEL AND TEMPERATURE WAS NOT VISABLE. I CALLED MERCEDES DEALER IN VIRGINIA ABOUT THE RECALL THAT CAME OUT IN 2006 AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THERE IS A 10 YEAR EXTENSION BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WA https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class https://plaincars.com/make/mercedes-benz-s-class#complaint-874973 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES S430. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST OR SLOW SHE WAS TRAVELING, HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE, OR HOW MUCH OIL WAS IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL 06V028000 ( INTERIOR LIGHTING)