Mercedes Benz S550 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
73 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 56 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 73 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 21.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 15.1% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 13.7% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 11.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.4% |
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 |
| Suspension | 14 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Electrical System: 14; Suspension: 14; Engine: 10; Power Train: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Unknown Or Other: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 7; 2014: 8; 2015: 8; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 6; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 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 10212406 · 2007-12-20 (December 20, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS AND THEN STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION EXPERT THERE WAS MASSIVE INTERNAL FAILURE, AND CAN NOT DETERMINED WHETHER THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE PART OR COMPUTER FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233932 · 2008-07-09 (July 9, 2008)
2007 MERCEDES-BENZ S550V SEAT BELTS KEEP LOCKING AND CAN NOT BE USED. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND RADIO. *NJ THE PASSENGER SEATBELT WOULD LOCK AND COULD NOT BE USED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN PARK, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD MOVE ALL THE TIME NO MATTER IF IT WAS SUNNY OR RAINING. THE DOORS WOULD NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. AFTER THE RADIO WAS TURNED OFF, STATIC NOISE WAS HEARD. THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10233932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347258 · 2010-08-04 (August 4, 2010)
MY NAME IS [XXX], AND I AM A RESIDENT OF QUEENS, NY. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 07 MERCEDES BENZ S550 IN JULY OF 2009 FROM THE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED DEALERSHIP WITH CPO WARRANTY. I HAD IT FINANCED WITH MERCEDES BENZ FINANCIAL. THE CAR HAD 34,000 MILES ON IT INITIALLY. OVER THE TIME SPAN IN WHICH I USED THE CAR, I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR MANY X'S TO THE SHOP. IN APRIL 10 THE TRANS. FAILED, AND IN MAY 2010 THE SUSP (ACTIVE BODY CONTROL/ ABC) SYSTEM FAILED. THESE WERE THE MAJOR ITEMS THAT REQ.'D WORK, BESIDES THAT THERE WERE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT OCCURRED P…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10388348 · 2011-03-04 (March 4, 2011)
THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF FOR A SECOND THE ESP AND ABS LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD GET STIFF, THE BRAKES GET STIFF THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF, AND THE COMMAND CENTER WOULD REBOOT. IT SEEMS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A BRIEF ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED PREOWNED VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE REPLACED THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. I NOTIFIED THEM OF THE REO…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10388348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398101 · 2011-04-28 (April 28, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES S550. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHILE IDLE IN TRAFFIC IF HE REMOVED HIS FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT WOULD SURGE FORWARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME HE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND WAS IDLE IN TRAFFIC. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE IN SECOND GEAR RATHER THAN FIRST. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,366 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,895. …
Owner-reported narrative. 22,895 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266259 · 2009-04-21 (April 21, 2009)
WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON THE ENGINE STALLED, TRANSMISSION APPEAR NOT TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. CAR RETURN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 2 OR 3 HOURS. TODAY 4/20/2009 CAR APPEAR TO BE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE NOTICE THAT DASHBOARD INDICATOR IS ALERTING OF ANY MALFUNCTIONING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449086 · 2012-02-23 (February 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MOMENTARILY BEFORE RESTARTING INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH, ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE SYSTEM WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956010 · 2017-02-21 (February 21, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 12V557000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956010 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
2007: 0; 2008: 0