Mercedes Benz 560 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
97,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 1994 model years. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 32 complaints (28.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Visibility | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Visibility: 2; Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
1995: 8; 1996: 4; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10117787 · 2005-04-12 (April 12, 2005)
CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, PLACED IT INTO DRIVE AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD. CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, AND IT CRASHED INTO A POLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899851 · 2001-12-04 (December 4, 2001)
BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING AND FRONT END VIBRATED. ALL OF THE FLEX DISCS WERE CRACKED, AND BRAKES WERE WARPED. ALSO, BACK UP LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE, AND BALL JOINTS TORE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193868 · 2007-06-20 (June 20, 2007)
MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ARE ABOUT EARLY 1990 W124, W126,W140,W201 AND W202 MODELS. MY COMPLAINT WAS REGARDING AN ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN THAT OCCURRED ON THE 1989 560 SEL W126 LAST FRIDAY. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A SECOND CAR AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A LUMP OR A SURGE AT IDLE AND AT OPERATING SPEED. I THOUGHT SINCE THE CAR SAT FOR A WHILE BEFORE I BOUGHT IT THE PROBLEM WAS FUEL RELATED. I TOOK THE CAR TO REPAIR SHOP FOR A NEW FUEL FILTER. TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL I STARTED GETTIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 178,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446921 · 2012-02-06 (February 6, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET WHEN SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD AND INTO THE VEHICLE. THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPED SEVERE SHORTS, STALLED THE ENGINE, DISABLED THE ABS AND THE OTHER ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, THE CAR NO LONGER STARTED. UPON INSPECTION, MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HAD MELTED, WHILE THE SHORT HAS IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED THE CAR'S COMPUTER, WHICH DOE…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168658 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY INTO THE STREET WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A HOUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE AT 25 MPH. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TEAM RESPONDED. A POLICE REPORT AND PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE CONTACT AVOIDED SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG, ALTHOUGH TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED FOR MINOR ABRASIONS AND BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO RUST AND POOR MAINTENANCE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT CLAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160080 · 2006-06-17 (June 17, 2006)
1991 560 SEC HAS INTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE DURING ALL OPERATING TEMPERATURES. AFTER BEING DRIVEN WITH A/C ON FOR ABOUT 8 MILES IN TRAFFIC AND PARKED FOR UNDER TWO HOURS IN HOT WEATHER, CAR FIRST REFUSES TO START - A/C SWITCHED OFF. THE CAR STARTS AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AND HAS EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE. START TO DRIVE AND CAR SOON STALLS REFUSING TO START. A FEW MORE ATTEMPTS, CAR STARTS AND GOES TO EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE CONDITION. CAR DRIVES A SHORT DISTANCE AND DIES. AFTER MANY MORE RESTART ATTEMPTS, CAR STARTS GOES TO EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE. REVVING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10160080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467188 · 2012-07-24 (July 24, 2012)
2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 - OIL LEAK AND CAR FIRE - THAT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A DEATH OR INJURY BEFORE MERCEDES IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT AS MANY OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD, IS THAT THE REASON THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL? I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR WHILE PARKED, WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, PICKING UP MY GRANDSON FROM SCHOOL. WITHIN MINUTES I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE AROUND THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS EXHAUST FROM THE CAR EITHER IN FRONT OR IN BACK OF ME, AS THEY WERE BOTH WAITING FOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467188 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 2 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
1985: 0; 1986: 0; 1987: 2; 1988: 2; 1989: 0; 1990: 1; 1991: 0; 1994: 0