Mercedes-Benz S500 Problems by Year
Mercedes-Benz S500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S500 year: 2000, 2001, 2002. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 S500: 55 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 S500: 34 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 S500: 25 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercedes-Benz S500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 93 | 12 | 1 |
| Suspension | 27 | 7 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 21 | 5 | 1 |
| Power Train | 15 | 8 | 0 |
| Engine | 12 | 7 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Steering | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Structure | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Mercedes-Benz S500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 S500 | 1 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2021 S500 | 1 | 7 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2007 S500 | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2006 S500 | 13 | 0 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 S500 | 11 | 0 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 S500 | 12 | 0 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 S500 | 10 | 0 | — | Seat Belts | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 S500 | 25 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 S500 | 34 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 S500 | 55 | 0 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 S500 | 2 | 0 | — | Electronic Stability Control (esc) | |
| 1996 S500 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1995 S500 | 4 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Mercedes-Benz: all Mercedes-Benz models · Mercedes-Benz VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz S500 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2000 (55), 2001 (34), 2002 (25) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S500 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercedes-Benz S500?
Electrical System, with 93 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz S500 have?
10 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.