2001 Mercedes Benz S500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
112,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 34 complaints (44.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 20.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.9% |
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 | 15 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 6 |
| Interior Lighting | 6 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Electrical System: 15; Exterior Lighting: 8; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 6; Interior Lighting: 6; Suspension: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2001: 1; 2003: 1; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10044261 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
WHENEVER THE TURN SIGNALS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD MALFUNCTION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC REPAIR THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161975 · 2006-07-10 (July 10, 2006)
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS DEAD MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ALL THE GAUGES INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A RECALL BUT MERCEDES SAID THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BUT IT IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167680 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING BEGAN FLICKERING, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES WENT COMPLETELY DARK. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS FAILURE IS HAZARDOUS, THE DRIVER HAS NO INFORMATION AS TO THE STATUS OF ANY OF THE CAR'S SYSTEMS. ALL OF THE FOLLOWING GAUGES AND DISPLAYS ARE DISABLED AND NONFUNCTIONAL AS A RESULT: FUEL GAUGE, VEHICLE TEMPERATURE, MPH, RPM'S, THE GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN, TURN SIGNAL OPERATION, AS WELL AS, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS AND DISPLAYS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WHICH PROVIDE THE DRIVER…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167698 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST MERCEDES BENZ USA. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED IN AN EMAIL TO MR. GARY BOWNE, MANAGER OF PRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND SAFETY ENGINEERING, MBUSA. HE HAS IGNORED MY CORRESPONDENCE. I HAVE A 2001 S500 MERCEDES CAR THAT HAS THE EXACT DEFECT REFERRED TO IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 MY CAR IS THE 220 TYPE MANUFACTURED IN THE 2000 TIME PERIOD IDENTIFIED IN THE CAMPAIGN. MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS LAST SPRING, JUST LIKE THOSE DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN, AND TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168280 · 2006-09-14 (September 14, 2006)
2001 BENZ S-500. SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. CLUSTER FLICKERS ON AND OFF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 71,332 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170405 · 2006-10-10 (October 10, 2006)
I HAVE A 2001 S500 THAT HAD INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER FAILURE. MY DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAS AN INSTRUMENTAL FAILURE RECALL. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ AND WAS TOLD IT IS A LIMITED RECALL. MY CLUSTER HAD THE EXACT FAILURE THAT THE LIMITED RECALL HAS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 880,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195008 · 2007-06-29 (June 29, 2007)
2001 S500 DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER FAILED, PAID $2364.83 FOR REPLACEMENT. WAS NOT EVEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS. I FOUND OUT VIA FRIEND THAT THEY HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEIR S500 AND WERE REIMBURSED THE REPAIR COSTS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10195008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231954 · 2008-06-22 (June 22, 2008)
RECALL ID#06V02800 - I REPLACED MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AFTER THE RECALL DATE BUT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE NUMBER DOES NOT FALL WITHIN A RANGE, MERCEDES WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE A 2001 S500. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10231954 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.