Total Complaints
8 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ S550 · model year
8 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012MERCEDES-BENZS550 carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 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 2012 S550 is engine with 3 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (3) and steering (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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2012 S550. 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
8 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE | 3 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011. Due to an irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes Benz) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S550, S550 CGI, S63, S600 Bi-Turbo, S65 AMG, S550 4-Matic, and S550 CGI 4-Matic and S400 Hybrid vehicles manufactured from March 3, 2011, through July 30, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Mot
I purchased this vehicle in July 2020. I did a through check for recalls, warranty problems and could not identify any with this vehicle. From the get go the check engine light would come on. I checked the codes and they indicated an "electrical fault on bank 1, oxygen sensor 1. I replaced the wiring harness on that sensor as well as the sensor. From then until now the car would code weekly about the same issue. Eventually I started using a catalytic converter cleaner (it cleans off sulfur deposits) in an attempt to solve the issue. It would work for a couple of tanks of gas and then continuing coding. I asked MB on numerous occasions about what the issue was. They all said they had no idea. It looks to me like they knew what the issue was, but kept it to themselves. Several weeks ago I received a letter in the mail(not dated by postmark) but the letter was dated August, 2023. The letter outlined an issue with the catalytic converter system identifying my vehicle by vin. The same probl
I purchased this vehicle in July 2020. I did a through check for recalls, warranty problems and could not identify any with this vehicle. From the get go the check engine light would come on. I checked the codes and they indicated an "electrical fault on bank 1, oxygen sensor 1. I replaced the wiring harness on that sensor as well as the sensor. From then until now the car would code weekly about the same issue. Eventually I started using a catalytic converter cleaner (it cleans off sulfur deposits) in an attempt to solve the issue. It would work for a couple of tanks of gas and then continuing coding. I asked MB on numerous occasions about what the issue was. They all said they had no idea. It looks to me like they knew what the issue was, but kept it to themselves. Several weeks ago I received a letter in the mail(not dated by postmark) but the letter was dated August, 2023. The letter outlined an issue with the catalytic converter system identifying my vehicle by vin. The same probl
I purchased this vehicle in July 2020. I did a through check for recalls, warranty problems and could not identify any with this vehicle. From the get go the check engine light would come on. I checked the codes and they indicated an "electrical fault on bank 1, oxygen sensor 1. I replaced the wiring harness on that sensor as well as the sensor. From then until now the car would code weekly about the same issue. Eventually I started using a catalytic converter cleaner (it cleans off sulfur deposits) in an attempt to solve the issue. It would work for a couple of tanks of gas and then continuing coding. I asked MB on numerous occasions about what the issue was. They all said they had no idea. It looks to me like they knew what the issue was, but kept it to themselves. Several weeks ago I received a letter in the mail(not dated by postmark) but the letter was dated August, 2023. The letter outlined an issue with the catalytic converter system identifying my vehicle by vin. The same probl
There is a strong smell of fuel in the cabin. When I lifted up the rear seats, where the odor is coming from, I see a film of fuel around the fuel sending unit on the driver's side. I lift up the sound insulation and I see fuel that has leaked on total the top of the sending unit.
VEHICLE CUT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING LUCKY OUTSIDE, THE CORNER OF ENGINE PASSENGER SIDE BELLOW THE HEADLIGHT STORES THE SUSPENSION AIR PUMP AND ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP.. BASE ON MY INSPECTION THE EHPS HEATED AND SET ON FIRE.SOMEONE SAW THE CAR ON FIRE AND CALLED FIRE DEPT.. CAR WAS LOCK AND STORE AFTER HOURS
Mileage: 22,300
VEHICLE CUT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING LUCKY OUTSIDE, THE CORNER OF ENGINE PASSENGER SIDE BELLOW THE HEADLIGHT STORES THE SUSPENSION AIR PUMP AND ELECTRIC HYDRAULIC STEERING PUMP.. BASE ON MY INSPECTION THE EHPS HEATED AND SET ON FIRE.SOMEONE SAW THE CAR ON FIRE AND CALLED FIRE DEPT.. CAR WAS LOCK AND STORE AFTER HOURS
Mileage: 22,300
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2019, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY SOMEONE OF A FUEL LEAK UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V557000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF ARROWHEAD (LOCATED AT 9260 W BELL RD, PEORIA, AZ 85382, (623) 815-3900) AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Mileage: 86,000
THERE IS AN PLASTIC PLUG IN THE OIL SYSTEM THAT LEAKS OIL FROM THE ENGINE ON TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS WAS REPORTED BECAUSE OF INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION, VAPOR IN THE ENGINE SPACE AND A SMELL OF BURNED OIL. THE PLASTIC PLUG IS KNOWN TO LEAK AND MERCEDES DOES NOTHING ABOUT THIS DURING WARRANTY AND INSTEAD WAITS UNTIL THE VEHICULAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY CAUSING AN INCREASED TIME FOR A FIRE POTENTIAL. THIS CAR IS DRIVEN ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS WITH THIS FIRE POTENTIAL.
Mileage: 92,565
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.