Sedan, gasoline, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from May 26, 2017 to Jul 12, 2025.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V-854 | Dec 15, 2023 | Front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair,… | Structure | 2,976 | Part replacement |
| 21V-197 | Mar 19, 2021 | Front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair | Structure | 15,096 | Repair or modification |
| 21V-072 | Feb 12, 2021 | On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles | Communication | 67 | Inspection |
| 21V-058 | Feb 5, 2021 | Software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the… | Communication | 1,292,258 | Software update |
| 19V-787 | Nov 1, 2019 | For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf | Communication | 24,226 | Software update |
| 17V-816 | Dec 18, 2017 | Rear passenger door on the driver side may indicate that it is locked, when it may not be | Latches and locks | 8,700 | Part replacement |
| 17V-714 | Nov 14, 2017 | Transistor within the power steering control unit may overheat resulting in the power steering system being disabled | Steering | 72 | Part replacement |
| 17V-251 | Apr 11, 2017 | Affected vehicles have front seat seatbelt pretensioners that may not function properly in the event of a crash | Seat belts | 12,743 | Part replacement |
| 16V-829 | Nov 16, 2016 | Seat belt extenders on the affected vehicles may not retract as intended and may potentially break the event of a crash | Seat belts | 672 | Software update |
| 16V-760 | Oct 20, 2016 | Low beam headlights on the affected vehicles may not be properly adjusted | Lighting | 996 | Repair or modification |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
16 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
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.
NHTSA complaint 11673103The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, the mechanic discovered that the front driver's side CV-boot had cracked and was leaking oil. The contact was advised that the CV-boot could cause the front axle to eventually fail. The contact was advised that the front axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 76,000.
NHTSA complaint 11631560This car since new has had moisture in the headlight from rain or washing. MB has installed moisture packets in the headlights that they said would fix the problem. It never did. I called the dealership and complained, they said sorry but that was their fix (MB TSB LI82.10-P-062051). Now the lights have failed, and they want me to spend $10K to replace the headlights and continue with the same issue. The problem still exists with the new headlights. This is not only a poor way to fix an ongoing problem (Moisture packets) for something that is severely related to safety on the highways in America. I believe you will agree. Please respond? Thank you
NHTSA complaint 11597343The dashboard is separating where the airbag is on the passenger side and also the driver side which could deploy the airbag
NHTSA complaint 11595072I was sold a vehicle by a dealership with a busted gas tank. It appears to have been an attempt to repair it with patching material. I am unsure if the defect was a result of manufacturing versus acquired damage. My safety is at risk because of leaking gas that could potentially ignite and inhaling strong gas fumes that could impact my lungs and health. The fuel tank damage has been confirmed by a mechanic and documented. It has not been inspected by any other entity while in my possession other than reported inspection by the dealership. I secured the vehicle on [XXX] from the dealership with these safety concerns. A mechanic stated the damage could have resulted either with the dealership or during on and off the trailer during transport of the vehicle from Florida to Indiana. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint 11581358B Camshaft position timing over-advanced or system performance Bank1 A Camshaft position timing over-advanced or system performance Bank 2 and Mercedes Benz didn't want to fix this problem and just wanted to change out the engine for 50 thousand dollars. the car is a 2017 w222 Mercedes Benz s550 s Class with a m278 engine.
NHTSA complaint 11525746Had my S550 into this dealership two (2) consecutive years for a power steering rack issue that ended up being related to rodent damage. The first time it happened the dealership replaced the wiring free of charge after discovering it, after initially telling me that the rack itself would have to be replaced. This year both the wiring and the rack itself needed to be replaced, and I was made to go through my auto insurance to have it fixed. My sons Cadillac, and my girlfriends Range Rover Sport share the same driveways with me, and have had no rodent damage. I did a bit of research and found that Mercedes now designs their cables with soy based materials, which attract rats, so the fact that my car has been eaten twice is more or less by MB design, as they apparently care more about the environment than they do about my ability to steer my car continuously for 1 year straight. My service Manager and his Manager acknowledged that they see this a lot, and were laughing when I asked for an inedible cable. I submitted a complaint to MBUSA, one which I had to continuously follow up on, as they weren’t proactive at all, and after contacting me this AM, they informed me that they don’t see a problem, and are not considering reimbursing me for my $750 deductible, or the 3 + weeks that I was without my car between both incidents. My issue isn’t necessarily with the dealership, although if they are quick to acknowledge that their cables are attractive to animals, they should have in my estimation been my advocate in the complaint. Mercedes can make their decisions, and for me it wasn’t really about the money anyway, rather the inherent safety issue that their design decisions have caused for me and for my family.
NHTSA complaint 11517064The leather is coming out of the dashboard as a result of that the air bag on the passenger front window is coming out. you can literally see the white part of the air bag. its a matter of time before the leather comes out all the way and the air bag will pop out. the dealer refuses to fix it and the car is still under warranty.
NHTSA complaint 11483911The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated the vehicle's front passenger seat belt failed to lock into the seat buckle. The failure occurred intermittently. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated the entire seat belt buckle needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V829000 (Seat Belts). The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000
NHTSA complaint 11480834The contact owns a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH and closing the sunroof, he heard a cracking sound and the sunroof failed to close properly. The contact stated he attempted to open and close the sunroof however, the sunroof only partially closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was similar to the failure mentioned in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V197000 (Structure). The contact was then referred to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,000.
NHTSA complaint 11469322The vehicle panoramic sunroof came across a discrepancy that can damage the owner and other innocent vehicles on the road. Since it has been stuck on one side it can possibly break and fly off. The vehicle has been recalled, unfortunately my vehicles vin number was not chosen although it has the similar problems that the recall vehicles had. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA complaint 11469252IN 2018 I HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD, THEY TOLD ME A SMALL ROCK HIT MY WINDSHIELD, HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE M BENZ DEALERSHIP, THEN IN 2019, AUGUST I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO MY WINDSHIELD, THEY SAID THE SAME THING, HAD THEM REPAIR IT AGAIN, SEPTEMBER 2019 & OCTOBER 2019,HAD A CRACKED WINDSHIELD WITH AN EXPLOSIVE SOUND, HAD IT REPAIRED, THAT'S 3 IN A ROW AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP, THEY BRUSHED ME OFF AFTER I COMPLAINED TO THEM, SAYING IT WAS " PURE BAD LUCK" 3 IN A ROW IN AUG,SEPT, & OCT 2019.THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON SURFACE ROADS & A HIGHWAY TOO AT THE TIME OF OCCURRENCE, IT WAS A SMALL SOUND FOLLOWED BY A EXPLOSIVE SOUND & CRACKS ABOUT 10" LONG APPEARED ON MY WINDSHIELD, THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOTALLY UNHELPFUL, SPENT $10,000/ REPAIRING IT, & WHEN ASKED "DID ANYBODY HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE , 3 MONTHS IN A ROW" THEY SAID NO.1 COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, SAYING THE GLASS WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT TO NO AVAIL, SO I TALKED TO THE M BENZ DISTRIBUTOR IN GEORGIA , BUT HE WAS EVASIVE TOO. I THEN WROTE TO THE CEO IN STUTTGART , BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE TOO BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS, I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY & HEALTH HAZARD, THEY WERE NONCHALANT ABOUT IT.*DT CONSUMER STATED WINDSHIELD WOULD EXPLODE WITH SLIGHTEST CRACK. *JB*DT *JB *DT*JB
NHTSA complaint 112974442017 MERCEDES BENZ S550. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DAMAGED WINDSHIELD. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDSHIELD CONTINUES TO CRACK. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE STATING THE FAILURES WERE BAD LUCK. *JS
NHTSA complaint 11280092STARTING OUT FROM AN INTERSECTION THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIED, NO ENGINE, NO LIGHTS, NO ABILITY TO OPEN TRUNK, NOTHING. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I FEAR SUCH AN EVENT COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING, EG. IF IT HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED. I BELIEVE THE AIRBAGS MAY HAVE BEEN DISABLED ALONG WITH ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL. DEALER REPORTS THERE WAS A SIMILAR EVENT WITH ANOTHER OF THE SAME CAR ONE WEEK EARLIER, AND THAT IT IS APPARENTLY CAUSED BY A CONTACT FOR THE BATTERY GROUND "BURNING OUT." I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE AN URGENT RECALL.
NHTSA complaint 11075262REAR WINDSHIELD, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, FRONT WINDSHIELD, REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAVE LARGE AREAS (OVER 1 SQUARE FOOT) OF GLASS DISTORTION MADE IN THE FABRICATION OF THE GLASS. STATIC NON MOVING CAR SITUATION: WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING IT LOOKS LIKE THE SHIMMERING EFFECT OF HOT AIR RISING UP FROM A VERY HOT ASPHALT ROAD. ALL IMAGES THROUGH THE AREAS OF DISTORTION BECOME NOTICEABLY DISTORTED LIKE A CIRCUS MIRROR OR AN ALTERNATING CONVEX CONCAVE MIRROR. AS THE DRIVER THESE AREAS IMPAIR MY VIEW AS I LOOK AHEAD AND SCAN THE VIEW FROM 60 DEGREES TO MY LEFT OR RIGHT (IN MY SPECIFIC SITUATION). THIS AFFECTS THE IMAGE I SEE OF PEDESTRIANS OR BICYCLISTS WAITING TO CROSS THE CROSSWALK OR ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. DYNAMIC MOVING CAR SITUATION: AS YOU DRIVE FORWARD ALL IMAGES NEAR AND FAR PASS FRONT TO BACK THROUGH THE DISTORTION-CAUSING AREAS OF THE GLASS WINDOW AND RESULT IN IMAGE OSCILLATIONS. AS YOU DRIVE FASTER THE UNDULATIONS APPEAR TO UNDULATE AND OSCILLATE FASTER. ROAD LANE LINES APPEAR TO OSCILLATE INSTEAD OF REMAIN STRAIGHT. ALL IMAGES SEEN THROUGH THIS DISTORTION OSCILLATE THE FASTER YOU DRIVE. IN YOUR PERIPHERAL VISION IT IS NOTICEABLE AND VERY DISTRACTING AS YOU ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT YOUR REAR VIEW MIRRORS THROUGH THE DISTORTION AREA AND TO THE RANGE OF VIEW 60 DEGREES OR MORE TO THE SIDES AND IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. YOU CANNOT IGNORE THESE QUICKLY OSCILLATING/VIBRATING LIKE IMAGES IN YOUR PERIPHERAL VIEW. IT HAS THE EFFECT OF LOOKING OUT OF A SHIP'S PORTHOLE AND SEEING ROUGH SWELLY SEAS THAT CAUSE SEASICKNESS AND NAUSEA. IT IS LIKE YOUR CORRECTIVE EYE GLASS LENS HAS A BLURRY SPOT. AS SOON AS I BOUGHT THIS NEW CAR AND DROVE IT HOME I NOTICED IT 6-15-2017.
NHTSA complaint 11002511TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND THE POWER STEERING WAS INOPERABLE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOKEY MERCEDES-BENZ IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
NHTSA complaint 10991841Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall; the 60 most recent are listed.