MERCEDES-BENZ S600 · model year

2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600

44 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001MERCEDES-BENZS600 carries 44 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 2001 S600 is engine and engine cooling with 9 filings, followed by suspension (6) and engine and engine cooling:engine (6). 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 2001 S600. 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.

44
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

44 filings

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

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING9
SUSPENSION6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
ENGINE6
INTERIOR LIGHTING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL2
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION:LINES AND FITTINGS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20181204ENGINE

ENGINE OIL COOLER UNDER INTAKE LEAKING OIL DEALERS WANT ALMOST 6000.00 TO REPAIR.

Mileage: 78,000

20160713ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING OIL LEAK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED OIL LEAKED OUT ON TO THE MANIFOLD CAUSING HEAVY SMOKE. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SAG OR LEAN IN THE FRONT END AND REAR. *JS

Mileage: 84,000

20160713ENGINE

TAKATA INFLATORS MY CAR SEEMS TO BE LEAKING OIL. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY OIL COOLER, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ S 600 IN THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER...WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED OIL LEAKS IN MY GARAGE SO AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR I PULLED THE CAR OVER SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED THE TOW TRUCK...

Mileage: 84,000

20160204ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20160204ENGINE

ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKS. THIS LOOKS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL WITH V12 ENGINE.THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 80,015

20160204ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THESE S600 WITH V12 ENGINES FROM 2000-2005 HAVE SEVERE ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKS. SOME WITH AS LITTLE AS 30,000 MILES. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO NOW MERCEDES WANTS TO CHARGE FROM 5,OOO TO 6,000 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND DONT WANT TO WARRANT AFTER FIX BECAUSE ITS A RECURRING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF POOR ENGINEERING. THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 80,000

20160204ENGINE

OIL COOLER SEALS FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 50 TO 60,000 MILES & IN ORDER TO CHANGE THEM YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE HEADS OFF THE ENGINE.THIS JOB COST ANYWHERE FROM $3,400 TO $6,000 DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO. FIRST & FOREMOST THE OIL LEAK BECOMES BAD VERY QUICKLY & SPILLS DOWN THE MANIFOLD, WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE A FIRE & EVEN WORST DEATH.

Mileage: 70,000

20150128ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,600.

Mileage: 87,600

20120813ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHT SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

20120411SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL LOWERED THE SUSPENSION ON TO THE TIRES, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT DID NOT INFORM THE CONTACT OF THE TEST RESULTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 04V228000 (SUSPENSION) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UDPATED EVOQ 04/19/12

Mileage: 82,000

20110630INTERIOR LIGHTING

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN VEHICLE DISPLAYING SPEED, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL LEVEL, AND OTHER ENGINE FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING. REFERRING TO RECALL ID 06V028000, I CONTACTED LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND OWNER OF VEHICLE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS. CONTACTED MERCEDES-BENZ REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD EXACTLY THE SAME. I EXPLAINED TO BOTH REPRESENTATIVES THAT I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN 2008 AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON VEHICLE, BUT THEY BOTH GAVE SAME RESPONSE, EMPHASIZING OF AN EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT OF RECALL AS MENTIONED. (REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY RECALL EXISTING.) WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, SUPENSION GOES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY; WHILE DRIVING STILL GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT NOT AS CONSTANT. DID NOT REPORT TO DEALERSHIP OR REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE AS MENTIONED, THEY KEPT REFERRING TO AND EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS UNKNOWN TO ME, AND DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALLS. THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON THIS MODEL VEHI

Mileage: 98,000

20110630SUSPENSION:REAR

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN VEHICLE DISPLAYING SPEED, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL LEVEL, AND OTHER ENGINE FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING. REFERRING TO RECALL ID 06V028000, I CONTACTED LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND OWNER OF VEHICLE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS. CONTACTED MERCEDES-BENZ REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD EXACTLY THE SAME. I EXPLAINED TO BOTH REPRESENTATIVES THAT I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN 2008 AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON VEHICLE, BUT THEY BOTH GAVE SAME RESPONSE, EMPHASIZING OF AN EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT OF RECALL AS MENTIONED. (REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY RECALL EXISTING.) WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, SUPENSION GOES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY; WHILE DRIVING STILL GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT NOT AS CONSTANT. DID NOT REPORT TO DEALERSHIP OR REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE AS MENTIONED, THEY KEPT REFERRING TO AND EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS UNKNOWN TO ME, AND DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALLS. THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON THIS MODEL VEHI

Mileage: 98,000

20110415ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER LEAK. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20100119SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ACTIVE CONTROL BODY PUMP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ACTIVE CONTROL BODY PUMPS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $3,700. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V228000, SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20100119SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ACTIVE CONTROL BODY PUMP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ACTIVE CONTROL BODY PUMPS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $3,700. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V228000, SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 70,000

20100115ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER, LEAKING SUDDENLY, 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 2 DAYS (25 TO 50 MILES.) VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNED OIL UPON EXITING CAR. NORMAL DRIVING. NO REASON FOR LEAKAGE, NO ACCIDENTS, SERVICED REGULARLY AND ON TIME. CONCERNED ABOUT OIL HITTING THE EXHAUST, RESULTING IN A FIRE. A FRIEND HAD HIS MERCEDES CATCH ON FIRE, ON THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM, TOTAL LOSS OF CAR, BUT DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE. MERCEDES ESTIMATES REPAIRS TO BE BETWEEN $8,000 & $10,000.....TO FIX AN OIL LEAK !!!!! TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE S600'S, AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE A RECALL. (SAID, UNFORTUNATELY, REPAIR SHOPS LOVE IT, $10,000 JOBS ARE FEW & FAR BETWEEN.) UPON CHECKING ON VARIOUS WEB SITES AND 'GOOGLING" THE PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. OTHERS H

Mileage: 69,000

20091112ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY OIL COOLER HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE 41,000 MILES AND I HAVE READ OTHER MERCEDES BENZ S600 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A SHOP 4K DOLLARS. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR I THINK MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I LEAK UP TO A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2 WEEKS. *TR

Mileage: 44,000

20091105ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES. THE ENGINE OIL COOLER IS LEAKING, AND THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. THE LEAKING OIL CAN RUN ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. MBA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20091017SUSPENSION

ABC HIGH PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING BADLY. *TR

Mileage: 71,250

20090918ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER LEAKING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. THE CAR IS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK AND VACATION TRIPS. NOTHING SPECIAL LEADING UP TO THE OCCURRENCE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. I AM AFRAID THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF OIL THAT LEAKS AND HOW IT RUNS DOWN THE BELL HOUSING AND HITS THE EXHAUST, THAT A FIRE IS POSSIBLE. WITH THE WINDAGE TRAY THAT IS MOUNTED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION, IT CAUSES IT TO POOL THE OIL AND LEAKS ON THE EXHAUST WHEN IT IS DRIVEN. THE OIL COOLER IS MOUNTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REQUIRES THE HEADS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE OCCURS APPROX EVERY 40K-60K MILES. A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT HERE THAT MBUSA IS NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE WITH THE CUSTOMER OR A CHANGE IN DESIGN FOR RESOLUTION. I HAVE CALLED MBUSA (1-800-367-6372, 4,5) AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MB IN NW ARKANSAS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE SAME ISSUE

Mileage: 50,000

Compare 2001MERCEDES-BENZS600 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 have?
The 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 has 44 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600?
The most-complained component for the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600 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.