2011 Mercedes-Benz S550: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
67,440 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10715467 · 2015-05-09 (May 9, 2015)
I HAVE 20 INCH WHEELS ON THE CAR AND IN THREE YEARS I HAVE HAD THREE WHEELS CRACK. TO DATE NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED BUT I AM AFRAID OF A CATASTROPHIC WHEEL FAILURE AT 75 MILES PER HOUR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10715467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914797 · 2016-10-07 (October 7, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 110 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RATTLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GPS PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10914797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002352 · 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)
SHIFTING LEVER IS UP FOR REVERSE, CENTER FOR PARK, DOWN FOR FORWARD. ALL OTHER TRANSMISSIONS YOU PUSH UP FOR PARK. AFTER DRIVING ALL OTHER CARS, EVEN PRIOR MERCEDES IF YOU EXIT THE CAR YOU PUSH THE TRANSMISSION LEVER TO UP FOR PARK EVEN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING YOU PUSH THE LEVER UP FOR PARK. THIS BECOMES A HABIT, A REFLEXIVE ACTION BUT IF YOU DO THIS IN THIS MERCEDES YOU GO INTO REVERSE. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IS I STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE AND FORGOT SOMETHING SO I HOPPED OUT WHILE REACHING FOR THE SHIFT LEVER AND PUSHED UP FOR PARK, BUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121753 · 2018-08-22 (August 22, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHICH STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS LEADING TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOUSE OF IMPORTS (6862 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, [phone removed]) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OVER A MONTH AGO WHERE IT WAS STILL AWAITING A DIA…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360693 · 2020-09-23 (September 23, 2020)
IABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. IT HAD A WARNING MESSAGE 'SERVICES REQUIRED. DO NOT SHIFT THE GEAR'. WE TOWED OUR CAR TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE BACKSEAT FLOOD HAD STANDING WATER! THIS CAUSED THE ELECTRONIC SHORTAGE. WE PAID OVER $2000 TO MAKE THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN. IT LOOKS THAT THE RAIN GOT IN THROUGH DRIVER SIDE BACK WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE SEALING PROBLEMS. IT RAINED LAST NIGHT. I JUST LOOKED AT MY CAR. THE BACK FLOOR LIKES RIVER AGAIN. I AM UNABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. NOW WE FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11360693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11457260 · 2022-03-18 (March 18, 2022)
I am filing a complaint with your agency regarding a fuel pump malfunction with my 2011 Mercedes S550 (VIN# [XXX]), because I feel that the incident below is a major safety concern and is similarly situated to the following NHTSA Campaign #12V557000. On March 15, 2022, I was pumping gas into my vehicle at Costco in Brookhaven, Georgia. The gas attendant and I were chatting about gas prices and so forth. In 10-to-15 minutes Costco's members that were getting gas, were attempting to alert us that an ocean ($88.00) of fuel was rapidly spewing …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11457260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11587642 · 2024-05-08 (May 8, 2024)
My driver side Rear seat underneath is leaking gasoline. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V557000
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11587642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11657449 · 2025-04-29 (April 29, 2025)
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact noticed that the air suspension had collapsed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,879.
Owner-reported narrative. 67,879 miles reported. Look up ODI 11657449 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V493000 · Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Reported: 2011-10-03 (October 3, 2011)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes Benz) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S550, S550 CGI, S63, S600 Bi-Turbo, S65 AMG, S550 4-Matic, and S550 CGI 4-Matic and S400 Hybrid vehicles manufactured from March 3, 2011, through July 30, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)." The tire pressure monitoring system indicators may only illuminate for a portion of the time required by the standard and under certain conditions may not re-illuminate immediately after the vehicle is restarted as required.
Consequence: If all four wheel sensors in the subject vehicles are simultaneously malfunctioning or missing, the TPMS will provide an initial warning, but this warning will not automatically repeat on subsequent ignition cycles, failing to remind the driver that the system is offline. Driving unknowingly with incorrectly inflated tires may result in sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mercedes Benz will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the tire pressure monitoring unit, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗12V557000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2012-12-03 (December 3, 2012)
Mercedes-Benz is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 S400, S550, S550 4Matic, S63 AMG, C300, C300 4Matic, E350, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, CL550 4Matic, and CL63 AMG vehicles manufactured from April 18, 2011, through July 12, 2011. Due to an irregularity stemming from the molding process of the fuel filter flange, the fuel filter flange may crack when operated in high temperatures.
Consequence: If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present.
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel filter, free of charge. The recall campaign is expected to begin in February 2013. Owners may contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗