2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic

Routine

Owners filed 11 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other4
000
Wheels2
000
Visibility/Wiper2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Service Brakes1
000
Air Bags1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Communication19V787000
Filed Nov 1, 201924,226 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.

Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf

Risk. An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Wheels
Filed May 21, 2024NJ

I got this certified car from Mercedes Benz dealer. I have driven it sparingly for less than 10K miles without really any hitting any bumps or potholes . After a recent service [XXX] 2024 at a MB dealer, I was told that 2 wheels were cracked 1 front & 1 back . I took it to another MB dealer (MB Morristown, NJ) to change the wheels & they advised that all 4 wheels were cracked, & one wheel had 3 cracks. These are premium AMG staggered wheels & without a doubt there is genuine design issue or defect to wheels which at high-speed could crack & crumble causing major injury & destruction to property. I have all the service records regarding this issue INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Wheels
Filed Nov 24, 202040,000 milesMA

I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED CRACKS ON THREE SEPARATE TIRE RIMS. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 41,000 MILES.THE TIRES ARE LOW PROFILE, RUN FLAT TIRES AND THE RIMS APPEAR TO BE ALUMINUM AND FAULTY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 24, 202034,000 milesFL

2016 MERCEDES CLS550... I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND I'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I'VE ALREADY HAD A SEIZURE IN THE CAR AND WAS FOUND SLUMPED OVER BY FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL AT A DEAD STOP WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND THE AIR ON AND I WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IS THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN PUT TOGETHER. THE HOSPITAL OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT THINK THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY AIR CONDITIONER. THEY DID A CAT SCAN EVERYTHING FINE . THEY DID A COVID TEST EVERYTHING AND I WAS CLEARED AND OUT THE DOOR IN 5 HOURS. I HAVE PUT THIS TOGETHER AND FIGURED IT OUT MYSELF. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT A FOUL SOUR DISGUSTING ODOR COMING THROUGH MY AIR CONDITIONER AND I HAVE ALMOST PASSED OUT ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS SAME EXACT FEELING UP UNTIL I HAD MY SEIZURE. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG AND I WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED MY CABIN FILTER. I STILL HAVE THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE CAR. I WANT COMPENSATION FOR THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BECOME OF MY BODY BECAUSE OF THIS CAR. I HEARD THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY LAWSUITS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THIS MODEL AND OTHER MODELS BUT NEVER ANYTHING THAT WOULD KILL SOMEONE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I'VE HAD A TESTER USED IN MY CAR AND IT PICKED UP CARBON MONOXIDE. I AM GOING TO SUE THE BALLS OFF OF MERCEDES AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR FOR NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM OR ANY RECALLS THAT WERE PUT OUT. ANYWAYS I CAN ALMOST SMELL THE EXHAUST FUMES ON TOP OF A SOUR SMELL. GOOD THING I'M SMART ENOUGH TO PUT

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 14, 202025,000 milesMI

HEARD A LOUD BANG WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL RETURNING HOME AND LOOKED UP AND SAW THE RIGID CRACK FROM FRONT TO THE BACK ON THE PANORAMIC GLASS. THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF DEBRIS HITTING THE GLASS AS THERE ARE NO CHIPS.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jun 18, 202025,600 milesNY

VEHICLE'S FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE VEHICLE AS PARKED IN A LOCKED PRIVATE GARAGE. CRACK ORIGINATES AT TOP OF WINDSHIELD FRAME WHERE BODY TORQUES THE GLASS AND CONTINUES THROUGH ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS, ENDING UP IN DRIVER'S LINE-OF-SIGHT. NO VISIBLE POINT OF IMPACT ON DAMAGED AREA OF GLASS. DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED BY THE STRESS CRACK, RENDERING THEM NON-FUNCTIONAL. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THAT STRESS CRACK WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS, NOT DUE TO ANY IMPACT OR ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER DENIED COVERAGE UNDER NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY (4YR./50,000 MI), STATING THAT GLASS DEFECTS ARE ONLY COVERED FOR 1 YR/12,000 MI. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 13, 202010,100 milesFL

PANORAMIC SUNROOF CRACKED WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 13, 2020NE

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ S550 4MATIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V01000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 201650 milesME

FROM 2014 THROUGH 2016 THE INTELLIGENT DRIVE AND THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE DOES NOT WORK. I KEEP SAYING THE S550 THINKS 200 FEET IS 90 FEET AND 100 FEET IS 30 FEET. WHAT I MEAN TO SAY IS THE SYSTEMS THINK 90 FEET DISTANCE IS 200 FEET AWAY AND 30 FEET IS 100 FEET AWAY. IT DOES NOT MEASURE THE DISTANCE PROPERLY. IT COULD BE, AND MOST LIKELY, A PROGRAMING ISSUE. IT IS THE SAME ON ALL THE 2014 THROUGH 2016 S550'S I HAVE TRIED. THE OTHER THING IT DOES WITH THE DISTRONIC CRUISE CONTROL IS WHEN IT STARTS TO BRAKE, THE DISTANCE SET DECREASES AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND AGAIN THE DISTANCE SET DECREASES AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND SO ON. IT CHANGES THE DISTANCE ( YOU CAN SEE IT HAPPEN IN THE IN THE MENU SETTING ON THE SPEED AND TACHOMETER SCREEN) AS SOON AS THE CAR AUTONOMOUSLY BRAKES. SET IT AT 200 FEET AND IN REALITY IT IS 90 FEET AND AS SOON AS IT BRAKES THE DISTANCE TO KEEP INSTANTLY DROPS TO JUST UNDER WHAT IT IS SET AT SO THE CAR THINKS THE DANGER IS OVER AND SPEEDS UP AGAIN AND THEN BRAKES AGAIN. AND YOU KEEP GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE CAR IN FRONT BECAUSE THE SET DISTANCED KEEPS CHANGING AND YOU HAVE TO BRAKE SO YOU DO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT BECAUSE THE S550 WON'T. I HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE. IT IS EASIER TO SHOW WITH THE DISTANCE GRAPHIC UP ON THE SCREEN. THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY SCREWED UP. AS IS THE LED LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN AND SLUSH. CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT IN A WINTER STORM. IT ALL HAPPENS AROUND TOWN TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS ACTUALLY T

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 14, 2016100 milesME

ALL THE SAFETY COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST TWO FORMS HAPPEN IN ALL THE 2014,2015. AND 2016 MERCEDES S550. THE CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO PRACTICALLY DRIVE THEMSELVES. IT EVEN HAS STEERING ASSIST THAT KEEPS THE CAR CENTERED IN THE LANE AND WILL EVEN STEER AROUND CURVES. IT IS SUPPOSE TO KEEP PRE SET DISTANCES FROM THE CAR IN FRONT THAT YOU CAN SET BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET. IT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING AN OBJECT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. NONE WORK. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN IN 2020 WHEN THE CAR MERCEDES BUILD WILL ACTUALLY DRIVE ITSELF. IF THEY CANNOT GET THIS SIMPLE SAFETY FEATURES TO WORK CORRECTLY IN MY CAR, HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK WHEN IT MASS PRODUCES CARS THAT TOTALLY DRIVE THEMSELVES.. THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PKG. WORKS LIKE IT WAS NEVER INSTALLED IN MY CAR, HOW WILL HAVING THE CAR TAKE OVER MORE CONTROL WORK. IF I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR NOW GOD HELP US ALL. WHEN ALL THE CARS DRIVE THEMSELVEWS. SURE THE ONES THEY ARE DRIVING AS TEST CARS WORK. THEY WERE HAND BUILT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE MASS PRODUCED WHITH OTHER COUNTRIES MAKING THE PARTS. IT SOUNDS AS IF MERCEDES IS GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE RECALL CAMPAIGN WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT DO NOT WORK NOW.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 14, 201645 milesME

COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS DOES NOT WORK. IT'S SUPPOSE TO WORK FROM 4 MPH TO 65 MPH.IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE STOPPED CARS OR OBJECTS IN IT'S PATH.IT'S SUPPOSE TO AUTONOMOUSLY APPLY THE BRAKES TO HELP PREVENT COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. IT NEVER INTERVENES.WHEN A CAR CUTS ME OFF OR PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF ME OR STOPS IN FRONT OF ME,THE SAFETY FEATURES DO NOT INTERVENE.I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION EVERY TIME. A WARNING TONE,THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD PRE-TENSION,PLACE THE SEATS IN A MORE FAVORITE POSITION CONCLUSIVE TO AN ACCIDENT, CLOSE THE WINDOWS & SUNROOF.BRAKES BEFORE YOU HAVE TIME TO PUT THE BRAKES ON. IT DOES NON OF THOSE THINGS.I HAVE HAD A 2007 S550 WITH ALL THE SAFETY OPTIONS & THEY WORKED PERFECTLY EVERY TIME.IT WOULD PUT THE BRAKES ON HARD BEFORE MY FEET HAD TIME TO HIT THE BRAKES IT WOULD CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF AND PUT THE SEATS IN A MORE FAVORITE POSITION FOR AN ACCIDENT IT WOULD BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING IN FRONT.I AM A SAFE DRIVER AND KEEP A PROPER DISTANCE TO CARS IN FRONT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. BUT OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT DRIVE LIKE THAT. I HAVE CAMERAS IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND REAR WINDOW THAT CONSTANTLY RECORD. IT WILL SHOW CARS PASSING ME AND PULLING IN FRONT WITH LESS THAN A CAR LENGTH AWAY AND MY CAR NEVER RESPONDS WITH ANY OF THE SAFETY FEATURES.( AUTONOMOUSLY BRAKING, SEAT BELTS PRE TIGHTENING ETC.) IT SHOULD DO THOSE THINGS FASTER THAN HUMANLY POSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYST

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 10, 201630 milesME

IN 2015 MERCEDES BOUGHT BACK MY 2014 S550 DUE TO THE REASONS STATED HERE.THEY ALSO HELPED ME BUY A 2016 S,WHICH CAME IN AROUND 12/18/2015 FIGURED THE PROBLEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THEN.MERCEDES HAD ENOUGH TIME TO FIX THEM IF THEY WANTED TO SINCE I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE I FIRST GOT MY 2014.I IMMEDIATELY COMPLAINED, WHEN MY 2016 CAME IN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES AS MY 2014 HEAD.THE DISTRONIC PLUS.YOU CHOOSE THE DISTANCE YOU WANT TO KEEP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. ONCE THAT DISTANCE IS SET, IT DOES NOT KEEP THAT DISTANCE.THE CAR THINKS 200 FEET IS 90 FEET &100 FEET IS 40.IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A CAR THAT PULLS IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS A CAR LENGTH AWAY & DOES NOT SLOW DOWN.IF A CAR MOVES OUT FROM IN FRONT OF YOU,THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF THE OTHER CAR THAT LEFT YOUR LANE, YOUR CAR SPEEDS UP AND DOES NOT SLOW DOWN FOR THAT CAR IN FRONT AND YOU HAVE TO SHARPLY BRAKE.MY CAR SLOWS DOWN TOO LATE ALL THE TIME AND I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED AUTONOMOUSLY & BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT MAINTAINING THE PRE SET DISTANCE.THIS HAPPENS USING IT ON SIDE ROADS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKING SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AT ALL SPEEDS.MY CAR HAS THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PKG.NONE IN THAT PKG WORK WELL, IF AT ALL. I HAD AN AUDI Q7 WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CRUISE CONTROL,I NOW HAVE A 2015 AUDI Q7 WITH IT.I HAVE HAD 2 FORD EDGE'S , 2 LEXUS LS450'S AFTER THE LEXUS I PURCHASED A 2007 MERCEDES S-550 WITH IT .IN ALL THOSE C

11 of 11 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2016
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20172200Routine
2016 — this page11100Routine
20156200Routine

Compare every S550 4Matic year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 1, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.