Total Complaints
6 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ S55 · model year
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S55
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002MERCEDES-BENZS55 carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2002 S55 is engine with 2 filings, followed by structure:body (1) and electrical system (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 15 investigation files overlapping the 2002 S55. 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.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20231201SUSPENSION
ABC high pressure hose blew off while driving at low speed made a loud popping sound abc light came on with message drive carefully and fluid came pouring out
20231201ENGINE
ABC high pressure hose blew off while driving at low speed made a loud popping sound abc light came on with message drive carefully and fluid came pouring out
20160307EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 06V028000 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH BOARD DOES NOT ILLUMINATE MAKING IT UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT RESULTING IN UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND CREATING UNDESIRABLE SAFETY CONDITIONS. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF GEORGE TOWN TEXAS TODAY MARCH 7 2016 AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR IT BUT THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH $160 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I CAME HOME ON FRIDAY MARCH 4TH AND WHEN I WENT TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. I CAN BE REACHED AT[XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF
Mileage: 94,000
20150824ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. MA 10/19/15 UPDATED 12/15/15.*JB
Mileage: 150,000
20150106STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST ON ALL FOUR DOORS AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
20141027ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL HOSE HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Mileage: 92,000
Compare 2002MERCEDES-BENZS55 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S55 have?▼
The 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S55 has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S55?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S55 is ENGINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S55 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.