Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 19 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 26.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 7; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Wheels: 3; Air Bags: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 10; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10895046 · 2016-08-11 (August 11, 2016)
STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED FIRMLY, WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME WOULD RELEASE THE PEDAL SLIGHTLY TO ALLOW THE CAR TO DRIFT FORWARD. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES THERE WERE NO BREAKS AND THE CAR DRIFTED INTO THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF US. HAD CAR BACK TO DEALER 2 TIMES THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10895046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819210 · 2016-01-10 (January 10, 2016)
IN 2015 MERCEDES BOUGHT BACK MY 2014 S550 DUE TO THE REASONS STATED HERE.THEY ALSO HELPED ME BUY A 2016 S,WHICH CAME IN AROUND 12/18/2015 FIGURED THE PROBLEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THEN.MERCEDES HAD ENOUGH TIME TO FIX THEM IF THEY WANTED TO SINCE I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE I FIRST GOT MY 2014.I IMMEDIATELY COMPLAINED, WHEN MY 2016 CAME IN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES AS MY 2014 HEAD.THE DISTRONIC PLUS.YOU CHOOSE THE DISTANCE YOU WANT TO KEEP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. ONCE THAT DISTANCE IS SET, IT DOES NOT KEEP THAT DISTANCE.THE CAR THINKS 200 FEET …
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291390 · 2019-12-26 (December 26, 2019)
WHEN PARKING THE CAR. TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND FOOT ON BRAKE. WHEN THE IGNITION BUTTON IS PUSHED TO TURN CAR OFF, THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL NOT PARK. THE CAR WILL GO INTO PARK WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. THE CAR HAS ROLLED AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF NOT CAREFUL. WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION WITH THIS MODEL. THINK IT IS UNSAFE. EVERY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN INCLUDING MERCEDES GO INTO PARK WHEN IGNITION IS PUSHED WITH CAR STOPPED AND FOOT ON BRAKE.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10820208 · 2016-01-14 (January 14, 2016)
ALL THE SAFETY COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST TWO FORMS HAPPEN IN ALL THE 2014,2015. AND 2016 MERCEDES S550. THE CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO PRACTICALLY DRIVE THEMSELVES. IT EVEN HAS STEERING ASSIST THAT KEEPS THE CAR CENTERED IN THE LANE AND WILL EVEN STEER AROUND CURVES. IT IS SUPPOSE TO KEEP PRE SET DISTANCES FROM THE CAR IN FRONT THAT YOU CAN SET BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET. IT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING AN OBJECT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. NONE WORK. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN IN 2020 WHEN THE CAR MERCEDES BUILD WILL ACTUALLY DRIVE ITSELF. IF THEY CANNOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10820208 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2