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2001 Mercedes-Benz S500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 34 owner complaints about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500, most often about the electrical system. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the S500 median · #2 of 7 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints343 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage125kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 22, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500 has problems

34 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system211
Exterior lighting90
Suspension60
Interior lighting61
Vehicle speed control51
Steering20
Power train20
Structure10
Engine10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

2001 Mercedes-Benz S500 recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

2001 vs. every other S500 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the S500 median. How we score

'93'94'95'96'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'21'23
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500, and the recalls they led to.

  1. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILUREPE05062 · closed Feb 8, 2006
    Led to recall 06V-028
In owners' words

What S500 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR MAKES NOISES LIKE I'M PULLING A TRAILER AND I'M NOT.. IN JULY MY RIGHT SHOCK WENT OUT SO I REPAIRED IT.. THEN PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DETECTED SO I REPAIRED THAT AND JUST LAST WEEK MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT OUT. MY SUSPENSION IS REALLY MESSED UP AND I CAN'T SHIFT AT ALL
Complaint 11365685 · Oct 22, 2020
WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 MERCEDES S-500 USED. EVERYTHING RAN FINE. AFTER RUNNING IT THROUGH AN AUTO CARWASH WITH A UNDER BODY SPRAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS SOAKED. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDED NON FUNCTIONING LOCKS, WINDOWS, AIR, ALL LIGHTS…
Complaint 11323603 · May 7, 2020 · 165,000 miles
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS RIDING MY VEHICLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT HAYWIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY BUT IT WASN'T THE CAUSE IT DRAINED 4 BATTERIES I HAD ON WARRANTY AND 1 I HAD TO PURCHASE. I FOUND OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DRAINS THE BATTERY AND LOSS OF POWER. I REACHED TO A…
Complaint 11124600 · Sep 5, 2018 · 160,000 miles

Own a 2001 S500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.