2007 Mercedes-Benz S550

Routine

Owners filed 54 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

41 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 70,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System9
020
Suspension7
000
Power Train6
000
Engine6
000
Vehicle Speed Control5
000
Unknown or Other5
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
000
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Air Bags2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Sep 24, 2024GA

I went to replace my low beam and high beam bulbs on the passenger side and found that the wiring for the low beam had 0 insulation on it and I installed the new high beam bulb and the wires starting arcing causing the car to turn off the high beams and start smoking from the headlight assembly.

Suspension
Filed Jun 2, 2024NV

Vehicle's body movement or damping motion while traveling on highway responds awkwardly. The vehicle has a waddle or a side to side motion instead of an up/down motion while traveling over the highway at 60 mph. My initial thoughts were to replace the vehicle's (air ride) struts. I chose to have Mercedes-Benz of Tyler analyze the vehicle ride problems which at that time involved the self -leveling adjustment (up/down) of the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz of Tyler determined and replaced the air compressor and valve block at 61,000 miles on March 16, 2023 to resolve the problem. Although no recalls were found for this vehicle, I've spoken with other owners who own S-Class vehicles and discovered NHTSA Campaign I.D. 08V405000 with a report date August 01, 2008 was issued. I believe this vehicle should have been included in that campaign. This vehicle has not been in an accident nor do I want to be. I'm seeking resolution to this problem prior to an accident or injury occurs.

Parking Brake
Filed May 22, 2023205,000 milesTX

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes Benz S550. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side and front driver’s side air suspension had failed, and the vehicle was leaning and was unstable. Additionally, the message "Parking Brake - Check Manual" was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 205,000.

Suspension
Filed Feb 8, 2023131,989 milesNC

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was bouncing and pulling to the left and the right. The contact stated that the steering wheel was vibrating. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front strut and radial knuckles needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V608000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was 131,989.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 2, 2022170,000 milesNJ

The contact owns a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while driving 30-40 MPH, the vehicle started to decelerate independently. The contact also stated that he smelled an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after 10 minutes. Additionally, the vehicle had failed to start on several occasions even though there was fuel in the tank. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where an unknown diagnostic test was completed. Additionally, the contact stated that the front suspension was previously replaced but had failed again along with the rear suspension. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 29, 2022CA

Struts and braking system have been unstable since I purchased the car. Wiring harness leaks oil and caused ecu to intermintinli turn off and on. Also the heat control timing caused car to over heat . Eventually I replaced the ecu 2 years ago at dealer . Mercedes has parts that are not safe to be in these operating conditions with such heat causeing wiring harness to short out and dealer said that and still put new ecu saying it was oil that damaged ecu. Mechanicly didn’t make sense but now due to recall it all makes sense. Ecu was never programmed correctly causeing unsafe driving hazards .

Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2021PA

I brought a car from a car dealer in tampa Florida and when i got the car i noticed that the car would not pickup speed after pressing the gas pedal and it was asking me to turn off the engine or it will fail . also when i tried to put in coolant. I seen a milky substance that was coming out of the hoses and in the overflow tank of the coolant reservoir which indicates issues with the heads or head gasket . also the title i got says salvaged which i asked if there was anything wrong with the car and the car dealer told me no . never disclosing that the car has been salvaged . there are other issues with the car that i forget because of so many issues with the car that i cant keep up with and i want to return the car to the car dealer and get my money back and have tried but they refuse to make good on the sale

Engine
Filed Apr 29, 2021FL

ADVISED BY SERVICE ADVISOR NEED TO REPLACE ME CONTROL UNIT(ECM), COSTING $2,000.82. LESS THAN 5 YEARS AGO SUSPENSION COSTING 2,000. ALL WORK DONE AT MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 26, 2020157,320 milesNJ

MY PANORAMA ROOF

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 22, 202074,800 milesAL

THE CONTACT STATED THAT I PURCHASED A USED MERCEDES FROM BMW OF MOBILE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT LOSES POWER. I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT LOSS POWER. I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON. I HAD TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE RIGHT LANE TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THE CARS WERE DRIVING 70 AND 80 MPH. THEY COULD HAVE RAMMED INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR NOT KNOWING MY CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE!!! I INFORMED BMW AND THEIR TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY AND A STARTER. I PAID $600 FOR THE REPAIR. THEY WERE WRONG THE CAR STILL LOSES POWER. I HAD TO BEG AND PLEAD WITH THEM TO HAVE MERCEDES OF MOBILE DIAGNOSE THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS BUT NOT THE REPAIRS. IF I TRADED THE CAR BACK TO THEM THEY WOULD DEDUCT THE REPAIRS FROM THE CAR. THE OTHER OPTIONS WERE TO LET IT GO BACK TO THE FINANCE COMPANY OR TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND NOT TELL THEM WHAT GOING ON WITH THE CAR. THEY PAID MERCEDES OF MOBILE TO DIAGNOSIS IT AND THEY IMMEDIATELY STATED THE ISSUE. I WENT TO BMW TO ASK FOR A REFUND AND REPAIR BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANY ABOUT THE CAR LOSING POWER. CONTACTS ALSO STATES THAT THE MERCEDES WOULD PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NOT TO REPAIR. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS DEALERSHIP TO ANYONE. THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS CAR CHECKED OUT THOROUGHLY AT MERCEDES IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAR. *LN *TP

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Oct 3, 2019144,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ODOR OF FUMES EMITTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE CONTACT NAUSEOUS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT CALLED OLYMPIA PRE OWNED AUTO (1806 WAKE FOREST RD, RALEIGH, NC 27608, (919) 301-8551) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Power Train
Filed Apr 27, 2019100,000 milesMO

MY 2007 MB S550 BASE MODEL STALLED AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AFTER SITTING ON SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 20MINS, I STARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE AND WHEN I ACCELERATE THE NOISE GETS LOUDER. I DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED WITH MERCEDES AND ONLY HAS 100K MILES. THIS WILL COST $7,800.00 THE SERVICE GUY STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS CAR BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE STATED THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 26, 201851,500 milesTN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT KNOXVILLE MERCEDES-BENZ (10131 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (865) 777-2222) AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,500.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 30, 2018109,234 milesMD

ERROR CODE P0019 CAM SENSOR BANK B, MANUFACTURERS USED DEFECTIVE PART THAT TIMING SPROCKET TEETH HAVE ERODED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS USED WHICH HAVE AND WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO STAHL WHILE RUNNING. BOTH FRONT STRUTS WEAR ON ALL MODELS THAT CAUSE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE DEATH WHILE DRIVER EXCELRATION OR STOPPING CAUSE

Engine
Filed Aug 7, 201855,000 milesGA

BALANCE SHAFT/IDLE GEAR MATERIAL WORE OUT CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO BECOME LOOSE AND ENGINE TO JUMP TIMING WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE LOCKED UP AND DIED WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY! EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT MERCEDES BENZ KNOWS ABOUT!! THEY HAVE AN INTERNAL MEMO WITH A LIST OF VIN NUMBERS THAT HAVE THE FAULTY IDLER GEAR THAT WEARS OUT PREMATURELY BUT WON'T RECALL THE PRODUCT BECAUSE IT USUALLY WEARS OUT JUST AFTER WARRANTEE PERIOD! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!

Engine
Filed May 29, 2018VA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ALEXANDRIA MERCEDES-BENZ (200 S PICKETT, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22304, (703) 341-2100) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

Air Bags
Filed Apr 1, 2018CA

TAKATA INFLATORS RECALL ALERTED ME TO HAVE MY CAR EXSAMED.AS I USE MY CAR EVERY DAY.

Suspension
Filed May 30, 201741,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. AFTER PRESSING THE BUTTON TO LIFT THE VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION, A MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH ORLANDO LOCATED IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 08/09/17*LJ *CN

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 10, 2017128,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

Engine
Filed Jan 25, 201770,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR FURTHER OBSERVATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

20 of 54 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2017161000Routine
201615500Routine
201541530Routine
201424500Routine
20137000Routine
20125210Routine
20119210Routine
201016000Routine
200819000Routine
2007 — this page54020Routine

Compare every S550 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.