Mercedes-Benz S 580 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
20 distinct recall campaigns
4,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 63 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 17.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 12.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Wheels | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 5 |
Electrical System: 14; Service Brakes: 10; Engine: 9; Wheels: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 6; Tires: 6; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 46 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2021: 6; 2022: 12; 2023: 13; 2024: 10; 2025: 15; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 11444036 · 2021-12-16 (December 16, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the brakes failed to function as needed while the brake pedal was being depressed. The failure resulted in a crash. There were no injuries sustained. The contact stated that the accident occurred due to the failure in the braking system as well as the intelligent driving feature. The contact stated that the vehicle inadvertently shutoff and restarted without driving input. The brake assist feature did not engage because the driver was already activ…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,194 miles reported. Look up ODI 11444036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11501439 · 2023-01-12 (January 12, 2023)
Driving on highway at about 50 mph when the brakes suddenly slammed on and brought car to a sudden, near stop. The stop was so sudden our seatbelts engaged and we thought we were struck in the rear by another car. Electrical module issues that cause battery to drain while vehicle is turned off have been ongoing since I purchased the car in October, 2021. Car has been in for service related to this problem 6 times and for over 60 days.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11501439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11449057 · 2022-01-27 (January 27, 2022)
Background: This is a V-8, gas vehicle.The 12-volt battery gives CRITICAL CHARGE notifications constantly. Incident: Dry pavement, 400-mile, January winter night, highway driving in Wisconsin Northwoods at posted 70 mph; some with cruise control, some without cruise control. Seat belt was in use. On four occasions, car independently, without any warning, dropped from 70 mph to 35 mph, projecting me forward. No reduction in speed signage No small town drive through. With car and semi-truck traffic behind me, luckily no rear end collisions, …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11449211 · 2022-01-28 (January 28, 2022)
Issue: STARTER BATTERY Repetitive online and dashboard screen message notices stating, "BATTERY CHARGE Status Critical," at all hours of day and night requesting immediate 30-60-min. of driving or car will not start. Have had to wake up from nightime sleep to drive car in middle of night so it would start the next morning to drive to work. Also, multiple electrical problems related to this issue ensue. Unreliable vehicle start up; too great a demand on electrical system. Vehicle taken in to dealer for service five times in six months since…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11527740 · 2023-06-19 (June 19, 2023)
Similar to recall campagn #2017020018 or 17V-078. My car may have a damaged steering column-mounted shift lever module. If the internal circuit board is damaged, moving the shift lever will not select a transmission gear. Both the auto-P function and automatic parking brake will continue to operate as intended and prevent the vehicle from moving forward or rearward. The problem could also be the Mercedes Benz Intelligent Servo Module(ISM) module installed on the transmission side. Brought my car to dealer to fix, the 1st time on 4/14/2023 the…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11527740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11631897 · 2024-12-20 (December 20, 2024)
Check engine light came on few occasions. Took to the dealer and told it’s just a false alarm no problems. On the night of sept 12th 2024, I’m my way home I lost the ac cooling all of a sudden. I was only 5 mts from home. Once inside my garage I saw to my horror some smoke coming from under yhe hood. Upon opening saw some charred wires and some wire smoldering and smoke was coming out of it. Scared for my family I parked my car outside overnite and called the dealer. They had the car towed away the next day. Got my car back on 6 th of November …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11631897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11533509 · 2023-07-20 (July 20, 2023)
The contact owns a 2022 Mercedes-Benz S580. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V445000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and inadvertently lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed; ho…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11533509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11686347 · 2025-09-10 (September 10, 2025)
Over ~3 years of ownership, the vehicle has experienced recurrent electrical and engine-management issues, resulting in 15+ service visits and ~100 cumulative days out of service at an authorized dealer. Patterns include: (1) electrical, keyless entry intermittently unresponsive, instrument cluster flickering/rebooting, multiple warning messages including a battery/electrical icon, HVAC/A/C becoming inoperative without cooling; and (2) powertrain/engine, check-engine light (MIL) illuminated, hesitation/limited power on initial acceleration, and r…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11686347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442018 · 2021-11-29 (November 29, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the contact pressed a button on the steering wheel to engage the cruise control function on the vehicle. The contact stated when driving past a mileage sign stating 40 MPH, the vehicle suddenly reduce in speed to 40 MPH, while the contact was on the highway in the fast lane. The contact was able to move the vehicle over to the side of the road waited a few minutes took off the cruise control function and reapplied it back on and continued to drive the vehicl…
Owner-reported narrative. 976 miles reported. Look up ODI 11442018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543229 · 2023-09-07 (September 7, 2023)
When in eco mode the vehicle will occasionally shut off at a stop light. The vehicle "jumps" and then all of the warning signals come on followed by the vehicle shutting down. It takes about 20-30 seconds for vehicle to be able to restart again. The dealership had the vehicle for nearly a month and the only solution they came up with was to turn eco mode off every time I start the vehicle. They said their will be a future recall to fix this issue. Also, the vehicle will occasionally move forward on its own and then quickly break. This phantom…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543229 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
2021: 16; 2022: 7; 2023: 5