Menu

Mercedes-Benz S550Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 206 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls on record for the Mercedes-Benz S550.

Mercedes-Benz S550
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints206Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls152007–2017 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Mercedes-Benz S550 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the S550 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'07'08'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2017Not rated–/10016 complaints · 10 recalls2016Not rated–/10015 complaints · 5 recalls2015Not rated–/10041 complaints · 5 recalls2014Not rated–/10024 complaints · 5 recalls2013Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls2012Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls2011Not rated–/1009 complaints · 2 recalls2010Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls2008Not rated–/10019 complaints · 0 recalls2007Not rated–/10054 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Mercedes-Benz S550 problems

All model years combined: 206 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 system267
Suspension240
Steering211
Engine203
Power train201
Fuel/propulsion system172
Structure173
Seat belts132
Air bags136
19 other systems878
15 recalls

Mercedes-Benz S550 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

41%Body: roof and pillars23V-854 · 2014–2017 · Dec 15, 2023 · 2,976 vehicles55%Body: roof and pillars21V-197 · 2014–2017 · Mar 19, 2021 · 15,096 vehicles82%Communication21V-072 · 2017 · Feb 12, 2021 · 67 vehicles95%Communication: auto crash notification21V-058 · 2017 · Feb 5, 2021 · 1,292,258 vehicles78%Communication19V-787 · 2014–2017 · Nov 1, 2019 · 24,226 vehicles93%Doors: latch17V-816 · 2017 · Dec 18, 2017 · 8,700 vehicles86%Steering: electric power assist system17V-714 · 2017 · Nov 14, 2017 · 72 vehicles100%Seat belts: pretensioner17V-251 · 2017 · Apr 11, 2017 · 12,743 vehicles86%Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive17V-177 · 2015 · Mar 14, 2017 · 51 vehicles83%Steering: electric power assist system16V-899 · 2014–2015 · Dec 14, 2016 · 70 vehicles92%Seat belts16V-829 · 2016–2017 · Nov 16, 2016 · 672 vehicles93%Exterior lighting: headlights16V-760 · 2016–2017 · Oct 20, 2016 · 996 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 15 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the S550

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · 2016 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  2. Front Roof Panel DetachmentPE21001 · 2014–2017 · closed Oct 14, 2021
    Led to recall 21V-197