Mercedes BENZ S Class Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mercedes BENZ S Class options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mercedes BENZ S Class has 172 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
- Make
- Mercedes BENZ
- Model
- S Class
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 172
- Safety recall campaigns
- 0
- Crash-related complaints
- 6
- Fire-related complaints
- 4
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS has 172 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. 6 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 172 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 0 federal recall campaigns
- 6 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
0 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
No NHTSA recalls were found in our database for this model. Always verify open recalls using your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 172 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
172 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S450. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experience a failure.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560. The contact stated that while parking their vehicle, a burning-leather odor entered the cabin, and they noticed smoke in the cabin. The contact noticed a small fire beneath the driver's seat. The fire was extinguished with nearby snow. At which time the vehicle's engine failed to start despite the vehicle starting. The windshield wipers would turn over; however, systems like the door locks and the windows fail to activate. The fire department was not called. There were no injuries, and no medical attention was needed. The contact called their insurance company, Progressive, which informed them that there was a recall for the same issue regarding their same year, make, and model. The contact checked their VIN and discovered their vehicle was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The car is out of control! It first began a couple of weeks ago when (1) the side view mirrors no longer closed automatically 2) Next, while I was driving, the car yesterday, the seat belt suddenly tightened as the car prepared for a sudden impact (which there was none).3) Today, the car refused to stop when I backed it out of the garage. It hit a tree behind us and the car has a rear dint! I am now fearful of driving this car. It needs major servicing or something!!! I have had it towed in to my local Mercedes-Benz dealer.
Rear drivers side seat belt/airbag combo locked in place and will not retract.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 560 E. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560 E. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Get B Service Done In 19 days" was displayed two weeks after an oil change was performed on the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing; however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure, and an oil change was performed. The contact stated that a couple of weeks later, the message "Add a Quarter Oil" was displayed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined and an oil change was performed. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously serviced under an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number related to engine replacement. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Read 14 more owner reports
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560. The contact stated that when his wife started the vehicle, the rear brake actuator seized, and became inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed rear brake actuator. The contact was informed that the rear brake actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG S63. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor detected. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that there was fuel leaking from the fuel rail. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V961000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
Keyless entry problem. July 26, 2022 I placed my 2 small dogs and pursewith key in car. I was unable to enter car on drive's side because the key locked the car from inside. I have since learned from several people they experienced same problem (with infant in rearseat) and that if battery is low on key fob the car will lock with key inside. I attempted to reach MB roadside assistance but after 30 minute wait decision was made to break window to remove the dogs that were in distress. I did see message that same day on dashboard to replace the battery but had NO idea I should immediately do so or only use the "blade" key. I have been diligent about keeping car serviced but apparently battery wasn't replaced during routine service. I would have immediately replaced the battery if I knew key would malfunction thereby locking animals in car. Although I filed complaint with MB they denied my request to reimburse me the cost of replacing the window. I strongly encouraged them to advise service technicians to replace battery at scheduled service (my last service was 5 weeks earlier). I also recommended MB and local dealerships should have better response to calls when it's urgent. The possibility of locking pets or children in car is far more important than the $1900 cost to replace the window so I'm hoping you will take this seriously and advise all MB owners to frequently change batteries at certain intervals and advise service dept personnel to automatically do so. Again, I had no idea it was so important to immediitely do so.
The adjustment up and down of the vehicle's steering column regularly sticks in the full "up" position and then cannot be easily re-adjusted. I have taken the vehicle in three times for servicing of this problem and the dealer solution was to only re-lubricate bearings and gears. Finally after problem has become more acute has the Mercedes dealer agreed to replace steering column in total.
The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S560. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would jerk upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the battery auxiliary warning message would appear on instrument panel. The contact had initially taken the vehicle to a dealer where they stated that water in the fuel tank had caused the failure; the fuel was drained and replaced with the gasoline at the dealer. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer. The contact was informed by the dealer that she had compromised the vehicle and that she had to pay for any future repairs to the vehicle, which the contact objected to. After the third failure, the contact was informed that the fuel in her vehicle would be sent to the manufacturer to be tested. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and was assured that they would test both the fuel and the vehicle however, the contact had yet to receive an update about the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN VIOLENT SHAKING, AND SHUT DOWN, DECREASE FROM 60 TO 0 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MERCEDES-BENZ S560. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD TIGHTEN AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF BUCKHEAD (2799 PIEDMONT RD NE, ATLANTA, GA 30305) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ENTERED ARBITRATION WITH THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
THE STEERING SHIFTER WOULD NOT CHANGE THE CAR INTO PARK NOR NEW RAM, FROM DRIVE. AFF'L, THE SHIFTER INSTEAD BEGAN OPERATING THE NAVIGATION MAP CURSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH OF THE 3 TIMES IT HAPPENED IN ONE DAY.
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING BREAK PROBLEMS SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.THE BREAKS HAD NEVER HELD WELL AND AT TIMES I HAD TO DOUBLE PUMP THE BREAK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING AND IN RESULT, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT. ADDED PROBLEM:WHEN PUTTING ON MY BREAKS WHILE REVERSING A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD ALMOST AT ALL TIMES.
FROM DAY ONE DELIVERY, CAR TECHNOLOGY DIDN'T WORK. A COUPLE OF MONTHS, MORE PROBLEMS BEGAN: ODD SECURITY WARNINGS - CAR WOULDN'T LET ME PUT INTO PARK, NOR NEUTRAL, NOR REVERSE. THIS OCCURRED 3 TIMES, SETTING STILL, IN 3 RURAL LOCATIONS. INSTEAD THE SHIFTER OPERATED THE CENTRAL NAVIGATION MAP DIRECTIONS! TWO DEALERS COULDN'T FIX. INVESTIGATION INTO HISTORY, THE CAR HAD UNDISCLOSED DAMAGE TO THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER. PARTS WERE REPLACED BEFORE BEING TITLED TO ME. MERCEDES REFUSED TO ASSIST. AT MY EXPENSE I HAD CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WORKED ON THE COLUMN SHIFTER REPLACEMENT. THEY DETERMINED THE CAR WAS NEVER SET UP PROPERLY BY THE DEALER, AND THEY ALSO REPLACED RELAYS FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. MERCEDES REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY OF THIS EVEN AFTER THE THIRD DEALER REMEDIED. THE FACT THEY DIDN'T SET UP SECURITY PROPERLY, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS UNABLE TO SHIFT CAR TRANSMISSION AND THERE WERE NO WARNINGS OF CAR NOT SET UP ON DEALER SIDE, IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THEY ALSO NEVER DISCLOSED THIS CAR FOR ADAQUATE OPERATION NEEDS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER MERCEDES CARS. I CAN SEE ADDITIONAL FEATURES RELYING I THIS, BUT A CAR SHOULD NEVER BE INACCESSIBLE TO THE OWNER WHO HAD KEYS IN HAND, AND OWNER DID SET UP HER PROFILE IN THE CAR AND WITH HER PHONE. I WAS TOLD THE FAILURES WERE FAULTY SOFTWARE, FAULTY RELAYS, AND THE ORIGINAL DEALER MUST SET UP CAR FOR PROPER SECURITY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE EXPERIENCED A DEALER WHO DIDN'T SET UP A CAR CORRECTLY. BUT THE FIRST TIME IT NEVER INTERFERED WITH THE CAR OPERATION. OVERALL THE CAR SPENT MORE TIME AT THE SHOP THAN IN MY POSSESSION THE 7 MONTHS I LEASED IT. MERCEDES ALSO WOULDN'T LET ME PUT OF THE LEASE AND I HAD TO PAY SUBSTANTIAL MONEY TO BUY OUT THE CAR. MERCEDES I'M CONVINCED THOUGHT I WAS SCAMMING THEM TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I'VE NEVER BEEN TREATED WITH SUCH DISRESPECT OVER A DANGEROUS MATTER.
A PORTION OF THE GLASS ROOF SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MULTI LANE HIGHWAY GOING SLOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT SINCE IT WAS EVENING COMMUTER TIME. THE ROOF HAS THREE GLASS SECTIONS. THE FORWARD MOST SECTION OF THE GLASS ROOF IS WHAT SHATTERED.
While driving down the road I heard a loud explosion that sounded like a gunshot hit my read window. This caused me to jerk the car and almost hit the driving car next to me. I pulled over and realized that my sunroof had suddenly exploded and shattered onto the shade located in the ceiling.
The fuel pump My car stopped on the highway [XXX] on [XXX] with my children in the car with no warning at all. I was so lucky nobody hit us and it took 20 minutes of trying to start it to get off of the highway to a gas station where it cut off again The dealer said it is a known problem however my vin number was included despite the fact that they know that the 2020 mercedes benz s450 has an issue that should be recalled due to the severity of the situation and safety of the public. Warning lights did not come on until the car totally stopped. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2020 Mercedes-Benz S 560. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the warning light was cleared; however, the failure recurred the following day. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil pump and an unknown wiring harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 29,100.
Had windshield breakage and replacement on 14 December 2023. On 29 January 2024, had an apparent windshield strike (pinhead size) and windshield cracked from middle to top. Within 20 minutes crack had spread all across the top of windshield. While parked crack spread down and completely across the bottom of windshield in about 30 minutes. Vehicle is now in Mercedes dealership for windshield service once again. I have been driving for 60+ years and never saw this massive of a windshield crack caused by a pinhead size strike. My belief is that either it was bad glass or installation. I have read numerous complaints regarding Mercedes glass and am concerned whether I can safely operate this vehicle. Would appreciate you looking into this issue.
Showing 20 of 172 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mercedes BENZ S Class
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mercedes BENZ S Class, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mercedes BENZ S Class has 172 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mercedes BENZ S Class has 0 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 6 of the Mercedes BENZ S Class's 172 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mercedes BENZ S Class vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mercedes BENZ S Class vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mercedes BENZ S Class has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Mercedes BENZ S Class reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes BENZ S Class reliable?
Poor. The Mercedes BENZ S Class has 172 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mercedes BENZ S Class years to avoid?
Check individual year pages for complaint breakdowns.
What are the most common Mercedes BENZ S Class problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31 complaints); FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (30 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (23 complaints).
Does the Mercedes BENZ S Class have recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns are currently on record for the Mercedes BENZ S Class. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.