2001 Mercedes Benz S600 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 38 complaints (23.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Suspension: 6; Electrical System: 3; Interior Lighting: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 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 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10218986 · 2008-02-24 (February 24, 2008)
2001 S600 ABC HOSE LEAK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SO MY ABC HOSE IS LEAKING AND THE SHOP SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE IT - ABOUT $3200 IN LABOR AND $1000 FOR THE PART, AND THAT IT MUST BE REPAIRED RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE IT MIGHT LEAK ON THE CAT AND START A FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL. I DON'T THINK MY INSURANCE CO. IS GOING TO APPRECIATE IT IF THEY HAVE TO COVER AN S600 BARBECUE. THE RECALL READS AS FOLLOWS: MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: MERCED…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284537 · 2009-09-18 (September 18, 2009)
2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER LEAKING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. THE CAR IS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK AND VACATION TRIPS. NOTHING SPECIAL LEADING UP TO THE OCCURRENCE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. I AM AFRAID THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF OIL THAT LEAKS AND HOW IT RUNS DOWN THE BELL HOUSING AND HITS THE EXHAUST, THAT A FIRE IS POSSIBLE. WITH THE WINDAGE TRAY THAT IS MOUNTED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION, IT CAUSES IT TO POOL THE OIL AND LEAKS ON THE EXHAUST WHEN IT IS DRIVEN. THE OIL COOLER IS MOUNTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REQ…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214790 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR TWO WEEKS, THE SUSPENSION SHIFTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V228000 (SUSPENSION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,420 AND FAILURE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243554 · 2008-09-26 (September 26, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,746.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,746 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679459 · 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 87,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679459 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189989 · 2007-05-07 (May 7, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAULTY SEAL WAS ALLOWING OIL TO ENTER THE WIRING OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE DEALER ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CAUSED BY THE OIL COOLER. THIS FAILURE CAUSED OIL TO LEAK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189989 at NHTSA ↗