2010 Mercedes-Benz S400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 16 complaints (62.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Electrical System: 10; Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Power Train: 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 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10553236 · 2013-11-21 (November 21, 2013)
PURCHASED A MERCEDES BENZ S400 HYBRID LAST YEAR WITH 20,000 MILES DRIVEN. THIS CAR RETAILS NEW FOR $119,000. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP AT EWING MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO SINCE MAY 2013 OVER 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME ENGINE LIGHT AND CODE. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SERVICE OVERSIGHT. SINCE THESE REPAIRS MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE IN GERMANY TOOK THE CAR OFF THE MARKET AND NO LONGER MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN THE UNITED STATES. EWING GAVE ME AN APPRAISAL THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE VEHICLE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,597 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10567353 · 2014-03-04 (March 4, 2014)
FIRST TROUBLE: ENGINE DID NOT START ON 11/13/2010. THE TROUBLE HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH AFTER DELIVERY. TWO REPAIRMEN ON THE ROAD SERVICE SHOWED AND COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIRD REPAIRMAN WHO SAID AS THE NUMBER-ONE REPAIRMAN ON THE ROAD SERVICE FINALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM, TAKING ABOUT 3 HOURS. SECOND TROUBLE: ENGINE DID NOT START ON 9/10/2011. A REPAIRMAN ON THE ROAD SERVICE COULD NOT FIX. SO THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP OF THE DEALER. IT TOOK SEVERAL DAYS TO FIX THERE. THIRD TROUBLE: ENGINE DID NOT START ON 5/29/2013. A REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 413 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585468 · 2014-04-29 (April 29, 2014)
S400 IS A HYBRID FROM MERCEDES BENZ AND WHEN DRIVEN OVER 40 MILES IN DISTANCE THEN THE AC WILL TURN ON NO MATTER WHAT. WE TRIED TO TURN IT OFF BUT CAN NOT. MB DEALER TOLD US IT IS NORMAL OPERATIONS BUT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AS IN THE WINTER THE AC ALSO TURNS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND MB DEALER HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10749166 · 2015-08-17 (August 17, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING, TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, I TOOK EXIT WHICH IS A 270 DEGREE CIRCLE WITH SHARP TURNS, I AM NOT DRIVING FAST AT ALL BUT THE CAR JUST STALLED WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I ALMOST FALL DOWN THE HILL, I ALMOST DIED, THIS PRODUCT HAS SERIOUS QUALITY ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING IN DOWN TOWN MANHATTAN WITH TWO OF MY MOST IMPORTANT CLIENTS, WE WERE GOING TO AN ART AUCTION, THE CAR JUST STALLED WHEN I STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND WILL NOT RESTART, ME AND MY CLIENTS WERE WEARING 3 PIECE SUITS AND ITS MORE THAN 90 DEGREES OUT, WE …
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10785492 · 2015-10-23 (October 23, 2015)
VEHICLE BEGAN TO CUT COMPLETELY OFF WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IT BEGAN TO TAKE LONGER AND LONGER TO RESTART WHEN TURNED OFF AND ON. EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE WAS BAD AND THE COST TO REPLACE WAS UPWARD OF $11,000. AFTER SPEAKING TO MANY MANAGERS AND MY CAR SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR NEARLY 30 DAYS, I WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT FOUND IN THE POWER CONTROL MODULES WHICH WAS JUST EXTENDED TO COVER TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10785492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872438 · 2016-06-03 (June 3, 2016)
CAR STALLS CONSTANTLY, LOOSE FUEL CAP WARNING COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL CAP, CHECKED VEHICLE CODES, BUT CANNOT GET THE ISSUE IDENTIFIED. A VEHICLE STALLING LIKE THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AND IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM IN THIS YEAR MODEL, JUST AS THERE WAS WITH THE 2011-2012 MODELS WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10891643 · 2016-07-29 (July 29, 2016)
THE S400 HYBRID HAS A HABIT OF STALLING WHEN IN A STOP POSITION. THIS REQUIRES A COMPLETE RE-START AT A STOP LIGHT OR AFTER HAVING COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUTS OFF AND DOES NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL YOU STOP FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RE-START THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STALLING IS VERY UN-SAFE. THE CAR STALLS AT A STOP POSITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10891643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11165054 · 2019-01-08 (January 8, 2019)
I HAVE A 2010 MERCEDES S400 THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN NYC AND I WAS PROMISED A 10YR/150K MILE WARRANTY BECAUSE OF A CARB ADOPTION NY AND 10 OTHER STATES WERE INVOLVED IN. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 37K MILES AND IS NEVER BEEN CRASHED OR PAINTED. I WENT TO MERCEDES OF MANHATTAN LOCATED ON 770 11TH AVE NYC, NY 10019. MY VEHICLE WAS DENIED THIS WARRANTY COVERAGE THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED BECAUSE IT'S AT HIS DISCRETION TO GRANT THIS OR NOT. I THEN PLEADED WITH HIM AND HE BEGAN TO INSULT ME SAYING MY VEHICLE IS FAR FROM PERFECT AND HE CAN'T GRANT AN ASSIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165054 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.