Total Complaints
24 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ S500 · model year
2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500
24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004MERCEDES-BENZS500 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, 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 S500 is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by suspension (3) and service brakes (3). 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 15 investigation files overlapping the 2004 S500. 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.
24
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 1 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20211208EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The dash board lights lose their ability to illuminate the dashboard and the back airbags on the suspension keep deflating
20211208SUSPENSION
The dash board lights lose their ability to illuminate the dashboard and the back airbags on the suspension keep deflating
20190204SUSPENSION
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
Mileage: 98,000
20171212SERVICE BRAKES
SYSTEMATIC WATER INTRUSION BY AIR COWL DISABLED ELECTRONICS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO LONG TERM CAUSED A HEALTH ISSUE RESPIRATORY NEUROLOGICAL - TWO YEARS HOMEBOUND AFTER WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED W/UNKNOWN CANCER
Mileage: 93,000
20171212ENGINE
SYSTEMATIC WATER INTRUSION BY AIR COWL DISABLED ELECTRONICS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO LONG TERM CAUSED A HEALTH ISSUE RESPIRATORY NEUROLOGICAL - TWO YEARS HOMEBOUND AFTER WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED W/UNKNOWN CANCER
Mileage: 93,000
20171212STEERING
SYSTEMATIC WATER INTRUSION BY AIR COWL DISABLED ELECTRONICS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO LONG TERM CAUSED A HEALTH ISSUE RESPIRATORY NEUROLOGICAL - TWO YEARS HOMEBOUND AFTER WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED W/UNKNOWN CANCER
Mileage: 93,000
20151027ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE TRUNK WIRING HARNESS HAVE WIRES THAT THE PROTECTIVE COVERING HAS SHRED AND ALL COME APART. CAUSING WRITERS TO TOUCH. LOCKS NOT TO LOCK. TRUCK WON'T OPEN AND LICENSE PLATES LIGHTS ARE OUT
Mileage: 108,000
20151004AIR BAGS
LICENSE PLAYE LIGHT OUT SHORT CAUSES SRS LIGHT TO COME ON AND HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE IS NOW AN SIS DEFECTIVE LIGHT DUE TO THE WIRING. MY TRUCK DOES NOT POWER CLOSE. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. AND WHILE TURNING IT CAUSED AN ERROR FOR TURN LIGHTS
Mileage: 106,000
20151004ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LICENSE PLAYE LIGHT OUT SHORT CAUSES SRS LIGHT TO COME ON AND HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE IS NOW AN SIS DEFECTIVE LIGHT DUE TO THE WIRING. MY TRUCK DOES NOT POWER CLOSE. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. AND WHILE TURNING IT CAUSED AN ERROR FOR TURN LIGHTS
Mileage: 106,000
20151004EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LICENSE PLAYE LIGHT OUT SHORT CAUSES SRS LIGHT TO COME ON AND HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE IS NOW AN SIS DEFECTIVE LIGHT DUE TO THE WIRING. MY TRUCK DOES NOT POWER CLOSE. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. AND WHILE TURNING IT CAUSED AN ERROR FOR TURN LIGHTS
Mileage: 106,000
20150712CrashSTEERING
DURING RAIN STORM, WATER SEEPEED INO AIR COWL INTO CABIN-PASSENGER SIDE- FLOODED FLOOR EVENTUALLY SAM ELECTRONIC MODULE UNDER FLOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SHUT OFF ELECTRONICS IN AUTOMOBILE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY- WITH OUT POWER CONTROLS OPERATING IT MADE DRIVING AND STOPPING THE CAR A VERY DANGEROUS FEAT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF ROAD INTO GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN AWARE (A LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CA) OF DESIGN DEFECT OF AIR COWL DRAIN CLOGGING AND FLOODING CABIN BUT HAS KEPT THIS DANGEROUS FLAW FROM OWNERS EVEN THOUGH WE LEARNED THEY HAVE FOR SALE AN UPDATE KIT TO PREVENT THIS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. OUR CASE FORTUNATELY DID NOT CAUSE A FATALITY BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HAD IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BY AN EXPERT DRIVER- LOOSING POWER CONTROLS ON A RAIN STORM/ WET ROAD WITH NO POWER ACCESORIES / BRAKES IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP FOLLOWING THIS MISHAP WE CONTACTED LOCAL MERCEDS DEALERSHIP IN PLANO,TX AUTOHAUS WHO RESPONDED B
Mileage: 98,000
20150712CrashSERVICE BRAKES
DURING RAIN STORM, WATER SEEPEED INO AIR COWL INTO CABIN-PASSENGER SIDE- FLOODED FLOOR EVENTUALLY SAM ELECTRONIC MODULE UNDER FLOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SHUT OFF ELECTRONICS IN AUTOMOBILE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY- WITH OUT POWER CONTROLS OPERATING IT MADE DRIVING AND STOPPING THE CAR A VERY DANGEROUS FEAT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF ROAD INTO GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN AWARE (A LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CA) OF DESIGN DEFECT OF AIR COWL DRAIN CLOGGING AND FLOODING CABIN BUT HAS KEPT THIS DANGEROUS FLAW FROM OWNERS EVEN THOUGH WE LEARNED THEY HAVE FOR SALE AN UPDATE KIT TO PREVENT THIS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. OUR CASE FORTUNATELY DID NOT CAUSE A FATALITY BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HAD IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BY AN EXPERT DRIVER- LOOSING POWER CONTROLS ON A RAIN STORM/ WET ROAD WITH NO POWER ACCESORIES / BRAKES IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP FOLLOWING THIS MISHAP WE CONTACTED LOCAL MERCEDS DEALERSHIP IN PLANO,TX AUTOHAUS WHO RESPONDED B
Mileage: 98,000
20150712CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DURING RAIN STORM, WATER SEEPEED INO AIR COWL INTO CABIN-PASSENGER SIDE- FLOODED FLOOR EVENTUALLY SAM ELECTRONIC MODULE UNDER FLOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SHUT OFF ELECTRONICS IN AUTOMOBILE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY- WITH OUT POWER CONTROLS OPERATING IT MADE DRIVING AND STOPPING THE CAR A VERY DANGEROUS FEAT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF ROAD INTO GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN AWARE (A LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CA) OF DESIGN DEFECT OF AIR COWL DRAIN CLOGGING AND FLOODING CABIN BUT HAS KEPT THIS DANGEROUS FLAW FROM OWNERS EVEN THOUGH WE LEARNED THEY HAVE FOR SALE AN UPDATE KIT TO PREVENT THIS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. OUR CASE FORTUNATELY DID NOT CAUSE A FATALITY BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HAD IF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN BY AN EXPERT DRIVER- LOOSING POWER CONTROLS ON A RAIN STORM/ WET ROAD WITH NO POWER ACCESORIES / BRAKES IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP FOLLOWING THIS MISHAP WE CONTACTED LOCAL MERCEDS DEALERSHIP IN PLANO,TX AUTOHAUS WHO RESPONDED B
Mileage: 98,000
20150422EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR REGULATOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Mileage: 103,000
20150422ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR REGULATOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Mileage: 103,000
20150307ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MAY 16, 2014, I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500 WITH 61,649 MILES FROM CAR CREDIT NATION.AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND VISITING WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, WE FOUND FURTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, THAT WE FELT WERE LIFE THREATENING AND HAZARDOUS TO THE ROAD, OTHER DRIVERS, AND OUR SAFETY. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY BAD ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH THEY NOTICE AT THE TIME OF THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CUTOFF,THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF AND LOCKED, THE COMMAND CENTER SHUTTING OFF WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AND THE SRS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT DISPLAYING ON THE DASHBOARD CENTER. ALSO WHILE OUT ONE NIGHT AT A FAMILY EVENT, HAS WE WERE LEAVING THE EVENT DRIVING HOME WE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP,THE BRE
Mileage: 68,000
20150307SERVICE BRAKES
ON MAY 16, 2014, I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500 WITH 61,649 MILES FROM CAR CREDIT NATION.AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND VISITING WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, WE FOUND FURTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, THAT WE FELT WERE LIFE THREATENING AND HAZARDOUS TO THE ROAD, OTHER DRIVERS, AND OUR SAFETY. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY BAD ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH THEY NOTICE AT THE TIME OF THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CUTOFF,THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF AND LOCKED, THE COMMAND CENTER SHUTTING OFF WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AND THE SRS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT DISPLAYING ON THE DASHBOARD CENTER. ALSO WHILE OUT ONE NIGHT AT A FAMILY EVENT, HAS WE WERE LEAVING THE EVENT DRIVING HOME WE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP,THE BRE
Mileage: 68,000
20150307AIR BAGS
ON MAY 16, 2014, I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500 WITH 61,649 MILES FROM CAR CREDIT NATION.AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND VISITING WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, WE FOUND FURTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, THAT WE FELT WERE LIFE THREATENING AND HAZARDOUS TO THE ROAD, OTHER DRIVERS, AND OUR SAFETY. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY BAD ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH THEY NOTICE AT THE TIME OF THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CUTOFF,THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF AND LOCKED, THE COMMAND CENTER SHUTTING OFF WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AND THE SRS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT DISPLAYING ON THE DASHBOARD CENTER. ALSO WHILE OUT ONE NIGHT AT A FAMILY EVENT, HAS WE WERE LEAVING THE EVENT DRIVING HOME WE APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP,THE BRE
Mileage: 68,000
20141008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT
Mileage: 158,000
20141008INTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT
Mileage: 158,000
Compare 2004MERCEDES-BENZS500 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 have?▼
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 has 24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.