2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 17, 2026 · 3 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other S 450 years
Not enough data 3rd of 3 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450. That ranks 3rd out of 3 S 450 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is unknown or other (2 complaints, 67%), typically at around 3,700 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash. There are 8 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Unknown or Other2 · ~3,700 mi
Power Train1
Service Brakes1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Unknown or Other267%3,700——
Power Train133%———
Service Brakes133%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2019, with 1 complaints
2019: 1201912025: 1202512026: 120261

n = 3 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450 recalls (8)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Electrical system:software; communication: auto crash notificationMay 20, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V365000 · 242,722 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

Structure:body:roof and pillarsMar 19, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V197000 · 15,096 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Communication: auto crash notification; electrical system:softwareFeb 5, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V058000 · 1,292,258 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.

Risk: Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.

Electrical system:software; seat belts:front:warning light/devicesJul 31, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V449000 · 56 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300, C300 Coupe, CLS450, E450 Coupe and S450, 2017-2019 E300, 2018 E400 Coupe, E400 Stationwagon, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced. The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if either the driver or passenger seat belt is unfastened, instead of a blinking light with an audible tone.

Risk: Without the audible tone and blinking warning light to remind the front seat occupants that their seat belts are not buckled, they may forget to buckle their seat belt, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began September 8, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020080015.

Structure:body:roof and pillarsAug 9, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V584000 · 1 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling a 2019 S450 vehicle. The A, B, and C pillar covers may have been improperly installed, possibly affecting the deployment of the side curtain air bags and allowing the covers to detach in the event of a crash.

Risk: If a side curtain air bag does not deploy as intended, or the pillar covers detach during a crash, there is an increased risk of injury.

Fix: MBUSA will notify the owner, and a dealer will inspect the pillar covers, reinstalling them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 13, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019080006.

Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: radarJul 19, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V540000 · 1,957 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300 Cabrio, C300A Cabrio 4MATIC, C300 Coupe, C300 Coupe 4MATIC, C300, C300 4MATIC, C43 AMG Cabrio 4MATIC, C43 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, C43 AMG 4MATIC, C63 AMG Cabrio, C63S AMG Cabrio, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C63 AMG, C63S AMG, CLS450, CLS450 4MATIC, CLS53 AMG 4MATIC, E300, E300 4MATIC, E450 Cabrio, E450 Cabrio 4MATIC, E450 Coupe, E450 Coupe 4MATIC, E450 Wagon 4MATIC, E450 4MATIC, E53 AMG Cabrio 4MATIC, E53 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, E53 AMG 4MATIC, E63S AMG 4MATIC, E63S AMG Wagon 4MATIC, S450, S450 4MATIC, S560 Cabrio, S560 Coupe 4MATIC, S560, S560 4MATIC, S560 4MATIC Maybach, S63 AMG Cabrio 4MATIC, S63 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, S63 AMG 4MATIC, S65 AMG Cabrio, S65 AMG, and AMG GT53 Coupe 4MATIC vehicles, and 2020 GLC300 Coupe 4MATIC, GLE350 4MATIC, and GLE450 4MATIC vehicles equipped with the Driver Assistance Package. A software error in the radar sensor control unit may impair the functionality of the Active Brake Assist.

Risk: An impaired Active Brake Assist may not automatically apply partial or full braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the radar sensor control unit software, free of charge. The recall began September 13, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019080008.

Lane departure: lane keep: steering assist; lane departure: lane keep: automatic steering; steering:electric power assist systemDec 19, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V910000 · 6,200 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (Mercedes) is recalling certain 2018 S450 4MATIC, S560 4MATIC Coupe, S63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe, Maybach S560 4MATIC, S560 4MATIC, S63 AMG and S63 AMG 4MATIC Cabrio vehicles. The Hands-off-Detection system may malfunction, causing the Active Steering Assist system to remain engaged despite the driver's hands not being on the steering wheel for a prolonged period of time.

Risk: If the system remains active despite the driver not having their hands on the wheel, the driver's inattention may increase the risk of crash.

Fix: Mercedes has notified owners, and dealers will update the software of the steering control unit, free of charge. The recall began May 13, 2019. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019040024.

Seat beltsNov 27, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V839000 · 4,969 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C300 Cabriolet, C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG Coupe, E450 Coupe, E53 AMG Cabriolet, S450, S560, E450 Cabriolet, E450 4Matic Cabriolet, E450 4Matic Coupe, E53 AMG Coupe, S450 4Matic, S560 4Matic, S63 AMG and S65 AMG vehicles and Mercedes-Mayback S650 and S560 4 Matic vehicles. A correctly fastened seatbelt may be inaccurately detected as being unfastened, preventing the seat belt pre-tensioners from activating in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the seat belt tensioning does not activate in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt buckles, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019020012.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Front Roof Panel Detachment (PE21001) — opened Jan 8, 2021, closed Oct 14, 2021, led to recall 21V197000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Power Train · received Jun 17, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11744748

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…

Service Brakes · received Sep 19, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11688276

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.

Unknown or Other · received Nov 17, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11280685

Other Mercedes-Benz S 450 years

← 2018 S 450 · 2020 S 450 →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2020 S 45044
201938
2018 S 45078

See all Mercedes-Benz S 450 problems by year, every Mercedes-Benz model, or the Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450?

Owners most often report unknown or other, power train, service brakes problems. The top one, unknown or other, accounts for 2 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450?

Yes, 8 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 450 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S 450 model years, the 2019 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.