What Mercedes-Benz S550 owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Mercedes-Benz S550 safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 153 |
| 2016 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 146 |
| 2015 | 47 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 137 |
| 2014 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 139 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 80 |
| 2011 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| 2010 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 107 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz S550 complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Fuel smell in vehicle. Upon investigation found fuel pump flange cracked and leaking fuel. Leaking fuel is a fire hazard. No warning lamps illuminated.
The instrument cluster on my 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 (W221) is locked by a persistent red âBattery Not Chargedâ warning message. This message appears even though the charging system is working correctly (normal charging voltage, new battery, and new battery sensor installed). Because the cluster is locked, I can no longer: ⢠View or reset tire pressure (TPMS) ⢠Access the digital speed display ⢠Adjust or enable certain lighting functions, including daytime running lights ⢠Adjust seatbelt settings ⢠Turn the blind spot monitor on or off ⢠Control PRE-SAFE braking / related safety systems ⢠Use other instrument cluster menus and driver information displays The proble…
I loss my electric steering assist!!! Takes 2 gorillas to turn the wheel i was able to stop without crashing into anything
We almost got into crash the other day, our 8-year-old kid got our attention that rear seatbelt got very loose and did NOT retract back at all. he almost hit his head. when I asked him if it has been like this he said no, it was tight when I buckled it in. We tried several times to retract it manually with no luck. I checked online and I have seen people complaining about the same thing. we have been lucky we didn't hit the other car then my child will be seriously injured. This is a very serious safety requirement. I hope Mercedes Benz will take this very seriously as well, before others get hurt.
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering failure warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that he was lucky to have been driving the vehicle in front of the residence and not on the highway. In addition, the contact stated that it was very difficult trying to move the vehicle from one parking space to another in front of the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed electric power steering module. The contact was informed that the electric power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired…
The contact owns a 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH and approaching a stop, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. There was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine, and the brakes squeaked while turning. While refueling the vehicle, there was fuel leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to stop, the brake pedal was depressed and felt loose, and the vehicle hesitated while coming to a stop. The vehicle was restarted and taken to a local dealer; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. Several local independent mechan…
The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes Benz S550. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of oil spots on the driveway after parking the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where an inspection indicated that the oil filter housing was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact was then given a list of other parts associated with the oil filter housing that also needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,…
Steering wheel will move in and out, but has stopped moving up and down. The steering wheel is stuck in the UP position. This has caused me to readjust all my seat settings and has made it more difficult to see the dash.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9GâTRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9GâTRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and more targeted diagnosis, Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) has been developed and integrated into XENTRY Diagnosis. This ensures an automated diagnosis process. Cause As part of the onâgoing quality monitoring process and associated quality and damaged part appraisals, a high number of ineffective repairs have been discovered. Such ineffective repairs have a negative imp
Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE: Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration is most likely due to excessive lateral runout on the rotor or hub/wheel bearing, the system as a whole needs to be checked for other possible contributors. 1. Prior collision damage. 2. Excessive vehicle sitting times without rotating components. 3. Wheel bearing/hub lateral runout. 4. Wheel m
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. ⢠If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Note: Please refer to this document in the warranty claim and, once diagnosis is completed, select the damage code depending on the component part that is causing the issue. ⢠If the noise stops when the door trim is removed, please
Complaint Only vehicles with a variable transfer case are affected. This can be identified through control unit N45 or N15/7 in the quick test. When accelerating with light load, vibrations or jolting sensation may come from the drivetrain. It may be mistaken for a harsh shift. Cause Modified oil quality of the transfer case over time Remedy 1. Check initial quick test for faults in the following control units. N45 or N15/7 â Allâwheel drive (ARS) N127 â 'Drivetrain' (PTCU) control unit Y3/8 â Transmission control for 9âgear transmission (VGS) N3/10 â Engine electronics for combust
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9GâTRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9GâTRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and more targeted diagnosis, Intelligent Predictive Repair (IPR) has been developed and integrated into XENTRY Diagnosis. This ensures an automated diagnosis process. Cause As part of the onâgoing quality monitoring process and associated quality and damaged part appraisals, a high number of ineffective repairs have been discovered. Such ineffective repairs have a negative im
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering (see attachment). Complaint does not impact the ability to safely steer or control the vehicle. Cause Ball screw drive (KGT) of electric steering damaged by: 1. External force due to: â Hitting the curb/posts with the front wheels. â Driving over obstacles (e.g. pothole/ threshold/ speed bump/ gully) at an inappropriate speed. 2. Corrosion/ water ingress through a damaged bo
Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally. Cause Accidental or unnoticed activation of the button to open the tailgate on the vehicle key. EXAMPLE: when stored in trouser pocket, handbag etc. Remedy As of the 6th generation, the vehicle key can be recoded so that the tailgate no longer opens as a result of a long press on the button, but by doubleâclicking on the button instead. This reduces the likelihood of the button being activated accidentally or unintentionally. The recoding can be carried out as follows: 1. Add SA Code O19 into VeDoc (O for Oscar, not "zero") ⢠an XSS ticket may be n
Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available". Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with NTG4.5 and NTG5 Head Unit Variant. Remedy No support available for NTG4.5 and NTG5 Head Unit Variants for MB App related topics. Note: Please do not create TIPS. Please do not replace any components. HU/Hermes SW update / SCN coding will not fix the issue.
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. ⢠If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary, create a TIPS case with an informative video as an attachment. Information: Please refer to this document in the warranty claim and, after completing diagnosis, select the damage code corresponding to the component part that caused the problem. ⢠If the noise stops when the door trim is removed,
Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns. It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be used on its own as justification for creating a TIPS case. Cause The root cause will vary depending on the complaint. The goal of this document is to provide diagnostic checks and procedures that may help resolve customer complaints without opening a TIPS case. Remedy Before opening a transmission-related TIPS case, the following steps must be performed to ensure all relevant data
Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid specification ATF 236.17 due to a global supply constraint. 236.17 ATF 1L and 5L (PNs: A002989060312 and A002989060313) bottles are out of stock or in limited supply at Zep. This LI has been created with the following intention: - Provide dealers with additional workshop-focused guidance regarding the current ATF 236.17 supply constraint and the planned introduction of ATF 236.18. - Supplement existing communications and address common workshop questions related to maintenance, repairs, and fluid a
Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the problem is due to cracking of the microweld between the wheel bearing inner race and the joint housing of the side shaft. Note: The collar nut must always be replaced after being loosened. See also LI33.20-P-078406 Remedy Coat contact surface of side shaft with wheel bearing with
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-spe
On January 8, 2021, after ongoing review with Mercedes Benz, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-001 to assess allegations of front roof panel detachments while driving at highway speeds in certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) C-Class vehicles. The subject front roof panel is a stationary panel composed of polycarbonate and is attached to the vehicle via adhesive at the time of manufacture. The panel is found on subject veh
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2017, owners most often name: unknown or other, steering, structure. 153 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.