2001 Mercedes Benz S CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 36 complaints (30.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
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 | 11 |
| Interior Lighting | 7 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Suspension:Front | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Child Seat | 1 |
Electrical System: 11; Interior Lighting: 7; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 4; Suspension: 2; Suspension:Front: 2; Air Bags: 1; Child Seat: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 11; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10133955 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
VEHICLE IS A 2001 S-500. ALMOST WORD FOR WORD THE SAME ISSUE(S) AS ODI ID NUMBER : 10100807. SAME CAR, SAME PROBLEMS, SAME SENTIMENT. REPLACING FUSES ONLY RESULTS IN FLICKERING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING, AND EVEN THEN THE BACKLIGHT IS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. GAUGE NEEDLES FLICKER AS WELL, UNTIL THEY TOO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FUSES LAST ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WHEREUPON THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMAINS ENTIRELY BLACK. PROBLEM COULD BE REMEDIED SIMPLY BY REPLACING FAULTY TRANSISTORS, OR REDESIGNING AN IMPROPERLY LAID-OUT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, …
Owner-reported narrative. 49,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285343 · 2009-09-26 (September 26, 2009)
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY CAR HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK IN PARK. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THE LAST TIME THE SHIFTER GOT STUCK IN PARK, THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET IT OUT OF PARK WAS TO HIT THE TOP OF SHIFTER WITH A RUBBER MALLET (THIS IS THE METHOD USED BY MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE SERVICE). THIS IS AN UNSAFE, POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. I RECENTLY RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS I COASTED ONTO AN OFF RAMP, MY CAR CAME TO A STOP ON A NARROW SECTION OF ROAD WHERE THE CARS DRIVE BY VERY FAST. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO TRY TO RESTART THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163101 · 2006-07-21 (July 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DARKENED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED; FUSES BECAME BLOWN, THE HIGH BEAMS, RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER DECLARED THERE IS A RECALL FOR S MODELS AND PROVIDED THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V08000. THE VEHICLE'S VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 8/17/2006 - THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE FUSES TO BLOW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 103,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178846 · 2007-01-16 (January 16, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NUMBER 04V227000 FOR HIS 2001 MERCEDES S CLASS' ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FUSES. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED HE BELIEVES THAT DUE TO THIS FAILURE, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. THEREFORE, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THE SOS SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE CONTACT. THE DEALER HAS STATED TO THE CONSUMER THEY WILL INVESTIGATE, BUT AT THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM UNDER THE RECALL. *NM UPDATED 02/22/07.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157585 · 2006-05-15 (May 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE FRONT END MADE A CREAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUPPORT LINK, REAR ENGINE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170717 · 2006-10-13 (October 13, 2006)
LIGHTING (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500[XXX] FLICKERED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY. IT AFFECTED MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND SIDE MIRROR SIGNAL INDICATORS. I CANNOT VIEW THE GAUGES/SPEEDOMETER AND USE THE PRESET BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012*JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner-reported narrative. 60,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170717 at NHTSA ↗