2005 Mercedes Benz S500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
98,307 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 11 complaints (54.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
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 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Exterior Lighting: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 1; Interior Lighting: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10205241 · 2007-10-09 (October 9, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT. IN ADDITION, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUSE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 06V028000) HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228778 · 2008-05-23 (May 23, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S-500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 16 TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD NOT PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,591 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATE 06/10/08 *BF THE SHIFTER WOULD GET STUCK IN PARK, THE BRAKE WEAR LIGHT ILLUMININATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR PADS AND ROTORS, THE LEFT RERAR MARKED LIGHT WAS REPLACED, …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,592 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435164 · 2011-11-10 (November 10, 2011)
POLYCARBONATE HEADLIGHT LENSES, RECENTLY SUBSTITUTED FOR GLASS BY MANUFACTURER, BECOME BLACKENED AND OCCLUDED OVER TIME, RENDERING HEADLAMPS INCREASINGLY INEFFECTUAL AND MAKING NIGHT TIME DRIVING DANGEROUS. THIS MATERIAL IS UNSUITED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHIELDING THE HEADLAMPS AND SHOULD BE REPLACED IN ALL INSTANCES BY MATERIALS THAT DO NOT DEGRADE DURING THEIR INTENDED USE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,307 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455200 · 2012-04-12 (April 12, 2012)
TOOK MY CAR TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PEMBROKE, PINES FLORIDA I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER LAST MO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PEMBROKE PINES FLORIDA FOR THEM TO CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER IN TRANSMISSION. SO, MONDAY I TOOK IT BACK IN AND TOLD THEM TO CHECK MY KEY DOOR LOCKS, BECAUSE THE DOOR WOULD OPEN. "NO KEY" BUT WOULD NOT LOCK BY HOLDING THE HANDLE. ALSO, TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS HARSH WHEN DOWN SHIFTING WHEN IT WAS COLD. I GOT A CALL THE NEXT DAY TELLING ME I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I SAID I ONLY HAVE 52,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I DON'T U…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679088 · 2015-01-27 (January 27, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID FAILED TO REMAINED OPEN AND ALMOST FELL ON THE PASSENGER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRUNK STRUTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10725540 · 2015-06-16 (June 16, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND CAUSED ALL THE GAUGES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,995.
Owner-reported narrative. 139,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10725782 · 2015-06-17 (June 17, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10767372 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING AND REMAINED INTERMITTENT THROUGH JULY 2015. MERCEDEZ BENZ OF ST. LOUIS REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR AND REGULATOR/CONTROLLER. WITHIN DAYS OF GETTING CAR BACK THE BLOWER CONTINUED TO BE INTERMITTENT. IT WOULD WORK FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AND THEN STOP FOR 1-3 DAYS. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS NOT WORKING AND THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE SWITCHES IN THE DASH. STILL UNRESOLVED. IN ADDITION THE WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING, THE RADIO WOULD STOP WORKING AND THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WAS INTERMITTENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767372 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.