What breaks most · 2007 to 2017 model years
Mercedes-Benz S550 problems by year
Owners have filed 103 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mercedes-Benz S550 across model years 2007 to 2017. Three years stand out: 2007 for powertrain and transmission complaints, 2014 for wipers and visibility complaints and 2008 for tires complaints. The quietest years are 2012, 2011 and 2013.
- Years to check closely: 2007, 2014, 2008
- Fewest complaints: 2012, 2011, 2013
- Complaints on file
- 1032007 to 2017, all trims
- Worst year
- 200743 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 73 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 59kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 29Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 0 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (13) | |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | Tires (3) | |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | Steering (5) | |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | Unknown or other (2) | |
| 1 | 0 | 2 | Engine (1) | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | Wheels (2) | |
| 13 | 3 | 5 | Wipers and visibility (2) | |
| 11 | 3 | 5 | Wheels (3) | |
| 1 | 0 | 5 | Wipers and visibility (1) | |
| 3 | 0 | 10 | Electrical system (1) |
What fails on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 30% |
13 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 21% |
9 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 19% |
8 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 14% |
6 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 14% |
6 | 0 | Shop suspension parts for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 |
| Unknown or other | 12% |
5 | 0 | — |
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 7% |
3 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 |
| Air bags | 5% |
2 | 0 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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The car stopped accelerating and then quit running. The conductor plate in the transmission failed. This is a known safety defect that mercedes-benz has ignored.
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When making turns both left and right, there is a moaning noise heard. Cause: lower engine compartment center and rear, steeering coupling, rubber bellows on steering.
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I had to replace both front air shocks around 90,000 miles. No off road driving. Both air struts leaked within 4 months . Suspension warning light cane on first. Then a message to stop the car and not operate.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mercedes-Benz S550 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2007, 2014, 2008 carry the most filings on the Mercedes-Benz S550. The 2007 alone has 43 complaints, led by powertrain and transmission.
What is the most common Mercedes-Benz S550 problem?
On the 2007 model year, the most-reported component is powertrain and transmission with 13 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz S550 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mercedes-Benz S550 complaints that include mileage is about 59,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.