Mercedes Benz S600 problems and owner complaints

AS I WAS LEAVING WORK I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY TO GET HOME AND 20 MINUTES LATER I PULLED INTO MY DEVELOPMENT WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL OF ITS POWER AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. FIRST I PANICKED THEN I EXITED THE CAR AND POPPED OPEN THE HOOD. ALL THE WIRING CONNECTING TO THE INJECTION HARNESS WERE SMOKING AND THE WIRES COMING OUT OF THE COMPUTER BOX HAD DISINTEGRATED SHOWING BARE COPPER WIRE. I FURTHER INSPECTED AND THE COATING HAD COME OFF THE WIRING INTO THE COMPUTER BOX. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME ABOUT THE WIRING THAT MERCEDES BEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660404 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAD SOME TYPE OF SHORT EFFECTING ITS RUNNING SMOOTHLY, WHEN TAKEN FOR REPAIR, (MERCEDES/EXOCTIC CAR REPAIR SHOP), I WAS TOLD AND SHOWN THE CRACKED WIRING HARNESS, IT DIDN'T SEEM AS IF THERE WAS ANY WIRE OR PART OF THE WIRING THAT RAN LONGER THEN A INCH BEOFRE RUNNING INTO A MAJOR CRACK TO AND EXPOSING THE WIRE, (BROKEN PLASTIC COVER WHICH SURROUNDS AND PROTECTS THE WIRE). IT WAS REPLACED (A DISCONTINUE ITEM), AND OTHER ELECTRICAL UNITS DAMAGED BY THIS DEFFECTIVE PART. I WAS INFORMED BY THE OWNER OF THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS …

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670442 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHEN DRIVING THROTTLE WAS SOMEWHAT ERRATIC WHILE DRIVING (DEALER I PURCHASED FROM SAID THIS WOULD BE RECTIFIED WHEN I WAS READY TO PURCHASE) WHEN IDLING , SMOKE EMANATED FROM THE HOOD OPENINGS OF CAR AND ASR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. ELECTRICAL BURNING OF WIRES/ OCCURRED UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER CAR WAS POWERED DOWN. BURNT PIECES OF WIRING HARNESS INSULATION WERE STREWN UNDERNEATH THE CAR, UPON THE SMELL OF THE REMNANTS CONFIRMED THE BURNING OF THE INSULATION AND WIRES. NEXT TIME I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR (138620 MI) ASR LIGHT CAME ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 138,604 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671525 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

I WAS DRIVING ON SHAW IN FRESNO AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN JUST LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK OR STEER THE VEHICLE. I MANAGED TO PULL TO A PARKING WITH A FLAT TIRE (REAR PASSENGER) AND CALLED AAA WHICH SENT A SERVICE PERSON TO COME TAKE A LOOK. AAA SERVICE PERSONNEL COULD NOT UNLOCK THE STEERING, SO THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE OFFICE AND SPOKE TO MARY. SHE CLAIMED THE REASON WAS BECAUSE THE CAR IS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. I SUGGESTED TO HER THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE S…

Owner-reported narrative. 165,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423911 at NHTSA ↗