2010 Mercedes-Benz S550

Routine

Owners filed 16 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension4
000
Steering4
000
Fuel/Propulsion System3
100
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires1
000
Air Bags1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 2, 2026TX

Fuel smell in vehicle. Upon investigation found fuel pump flange cracked and leaking fuel. Leaking fuel is a fire hazard. No warning lamps illuminated.

Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 2025CT

FUALTY DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 5, 2022110,000 milesGA

The contact owns a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that after refueling, there was abnormal fuel odor present inside and outside the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 110,000. The contact stated that the gas leak was caused by a cracked fuel filter housing. The fuel filter and the fuel pump was replaced. The contact is requesting a full reimbursement of the cost of repairs.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Nov 10, 2022AZ

Vehicle garaged in storage for summer. Upon returning strong odor of gasoline was detected. Reluctantly drove to dealership and prognoses was determined that (fuel pump strainer) had malfunction thus soaking the entire rear passenger compartment and seat cushion. Upon investigation Mercedes has had a problem in other C -models and has extended warranties for 15 additional years for this same problem. This vehicle is a S- 550 model. Dealership has denied any responsibility. I think the vehicle is unsafe at ANY SPEED. Never should fuel enter the passenger compartment of any vehicle. Video on file at dealership.

Fuel/Propulsion SystemCrash
Filed Jul 21, 2021CA

UPON REFULING MY AUTOMOBILE FULL I COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GAS FUMES. EARLIER THAT DAY I HAD AN IMPACT OF MY TIRE OVER A CURB. GAS FUMES COULD BE SMELLED NOT SO MUCH ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE AUTO BUT INSIDE WITHOUT ABATEMENT. UPON INSPECTION BY MERCEDES BENZ OF STOCKTON CA IT WAS DETERMINED A FUEL LEAK WAS PRESENT WITH THE CUSHION THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS SOILED/STURATED UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR. PICTURES TAKEN SUGGEST IT HAD BEEN WAS ONGOING POSSIBLELY FOR YEARS. THEY SUGGESTED HEAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE UNIT-SEAL CORROSION AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. IT IS NOT CLEAR WHY MY RIGHT REAR IMPACT WITH A CURB BROUGHT THIS ALL TO MY ATTENTION. HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE SITUATION THAT WAS CLEARLY NOT DETECTED WITCH IS NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD THE SAME DAY I HAVE AN IMPACT TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE JUMPING A CURB THEN GOING BACK OVER IT TO UNLODGE THE TIRE & ROCKER MOLDING FROM THE CURB & REFUEL I SMELL GAS FUMES. HIGHLY DANGEROUS USING PLASTIC SECURE GAS EXCHANGES ON SOMETHING PEOPLE SIT ON? HAS SIMULARITIES IN OTHER DRIVERS. NOT SURE WHY THAT DAY THE SEAL (PLASTIC) RUPTURED (AT PLASTIC LID)

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 30, 2020110,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GEORGETOWN (7401 S IH-35, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626, 512-930-6150) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FUEL LEAK FROM THE FILTER ASSEMBLY UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS DAMAGED WHICH LEAD TO THE FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.*DT*JB*DT*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE.

Tires
Filed Sep 15, 201895,000 milesTX

LIONHART LH5 285/25/22 H95 LOAD RATING TIRE DOT NO. PT25MBT5C AFTER SHIPMENT ARRIVED AND EQUIPMENT INSTALLED I NOTICED THAT THE LOAD RATING WAS NOT CORRECT FOR THE SAID VEHICLE. TIRE WILL FAIL, LOAD RATING IS NOT SUFFICIENT . IT ONLY PROVIDES 95 WHEN 102 IS NEEDED. AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, COMPANY (SELLER) STATED THAT ALTHOUGH ITS NOT CORRECT, BUT IT FITS. 2010 MERCEDES BENZ S550 TIRE RATING VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags
Filed May 16, 2018IL

THE DASHBORD MESSAGE READS THAT THE FRONT SRS MALFUNCTION. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

Suspension
Filed Apr 27, 201882,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF THE WOODLANDS, 16917 INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH, WOODLAND TEXAS 77385) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION HAD TO BE RE-CALIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Suspension
Filed Aug 31, 201690,000 milesFL

WIFE DRIVING 45 MPH ON 4 LANE HWWY RIGHT FRONT OF CAR FALLS DOWN ON TIRE PULLED OFF ROAD SOON AS POSSIBILE RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT FAILED RUINED TIRE DAMAGED FENDER LUCKLY ONLY 45 MPH NOT 80 MPH ON I-75 INTERSTATE OR 130 MPH ON AUTOBON IN GERMANY OR SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD

Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 2016139,000 milesSC

MY S550 WHEN DRIVING WOULD SUDDENLY GIVE A MALFUNCTION SIGNAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SERVICE REPLACED THE 2 FRONT STRUTS. NOW THE CALL WILL GIVE A SIGNAL, RED LETTERS, "DO NOT MOVE CAR" AND THE ENTIRE STRUT SYSTEM WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR BODY IS VIRTUALLY SITTING ATOP THE TIRES. THIS AFTER REPLACING THE 2 FRONT STRUTS! THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE AT A LOSS AND I CAN'T EVEN GET THEM TO RETURN MY CALLS. I DON'T THINK IT IS A STRUT PROBLEM BUT A COMPUTER GLITCH. I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO PAY FOR THE STRUT REPLACEMENT. I WOULD LIKE MY CAR FIXED OR A REFUND.

Steering
Filed Oct 9, 201561,599 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT ON THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,599. UPDATED 01/12/16*LJ UPDATED 04/18/18*JB *TR

Steering
Filed Oct 2, 201457,800 milesCA

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND ALMOST CAUSED HER TO CRASH. WE THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HOUSE OF IMPORTS MERCEDES IN BUENA PARK TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPARENTLY THE STEERING COLUMN WAS BROKEN AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPEN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE FILE A COMPLAINT AND MERCEDES DENIES THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND I RECOMMEND A RECALL ON THERE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE IT HAPPENED ON A BACK ROAD AND NOT ON FREEWAY...UPDATED 11/06/14*BF UPDATED 7/15/2015*JS

Steering
Filed Jul 23, 201424,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. ..UPDATED 11/11/14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS, ON THE DASH WHEN THE STEERING WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 12/11/14

Steering
Filed Dec 3, 201352,000 milesMD

PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED MERCEDES BENZ S5550 4 MATIC. COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED AN HOUR AFTER PURCHASE (AFTER 20 MILES OF DRIVING). THE CAR'S STEERING WHEEL WAS SPINNING FREELY, AND NO CONTROL OVER THE FRONT WHEELS WAS POSSIBLE WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE RECOVERED BY THE DEALER. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 7, 2011332 milesCA

WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED EVEN FOR A FEW SECONDS, VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AND WILL PUT YOU IN THE DITCH IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE SHOULD TRACK STRAIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED.

16 of 16 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2017161000Routine
201615500Routine
201541530Routine
201424500Routine
20137000Routine
20125210Routine
20119210Routine
2010 — this page16000Routine
200819000Routine
200754020Routine

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.