2004 Mercedes Benz S500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
98,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 12 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
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 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 3; Suspension: 3; Air Bags: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Steering: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10564568 · 2014-02-16 (February 16, 2014)
ISSUES WITH AIRMATIC SYSTEM. WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CAR IS SITTING TOO LOW TO THE GROUND TO DRIVE SAFELY. ISSUES WITH PUMP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 121,431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10566246 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)
I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AND THE SEAT BELT LOOK NEW BUT WILL NOT RETRACT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR. I CALLED THE COMPANY IN USA AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE CAR. MY BELIEF THAT THE SEAT BELT IS A SAFETY COMPONENTS AND THE COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE SINCE IT IS THE LAW IN MASSACHUSEETS TO WEAR A SEAT BELT. BUT I COULD NOT WEAR BECAUSE THE BELT IS STUCK. I SPENT $1141.62 TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ON NOVEMBER 07 2013. PLEASE LET ME KNOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641084 · 2014-10-03 (October 3, 2014)
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE THE LUG WRENCH ITSELF FAILED. THE LUG WRENCH CAME APART LEAVING THE HEAD STILL ATTACHED TO THE LUG NUT WITHOUT THE HANDLE CAUSING FORWARD MOMENTUM INJURY TO HEAD AND SHOULDER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10643349 · 2014-10-08 (October 8, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. UPDATED 12/2/14*CN UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT
Owner-reported narrative. 158,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643349 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692762 · 2015-03-07 (March 7, 2015)
ON MAY 16, 2014, I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500 WITH 61,649 MILES FROM CAR CREDIT NATION.AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND VISITING WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, WE FOUND FURTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, THAT WE FELT WERE LIFE THREATENING AND HAZARDOUS TO THE ROAD, OTHER DRIVERS, AND OUR SAFETY. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY BAD ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH THEY NOTICE AT THE TIME OF THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10712150 · 2015-04-22 (April 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR REGULATOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733487 · 2015-07-12 (July 12, 2015)
DURING RAIN STORM, WATER SEEPEED INO AIR COWL INTO CABIN-PASSENGER SIDE- FLOODED FLOOR EVENTUALLY SAM ELECTRONIC MODULE UNDER FLOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SHUT OFF ELECTRONICS IN AUTOMOBILE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY- WITH OUT POWER CONTROLS OPERATING IT MADE DRIVING AND STOPPING THE CAR A VERY DANGEROUS FEAT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF ROAD INTO GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN AWARE (A LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CA) OF DESIGN DEFECT OF AIR COWL DRAIN CLOGGING AND FLOODING CABIN BUT HAS KEPT THIS DANGEROUS FLAW FROM OWNERS EVEN THOUGH WE …
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10733487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10779591 · 2015-10-04 (October 4, 2015)
LICENSE PLAYE LIGHT OUT SHORT CAUSES SRS LIGHT TO COME ON AND HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE IS NOW AN SIS DEFECTIVE LIGHT DUE TO THE WIRING. MY TRUCK DOES NOT POWER CLOSE. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. AND WHILE TURNING IT CAUSED AN ERROR FOR TURN LIGHTS
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779591 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.