2001 Mercedes Benz S600: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 38 complaints (23.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 9 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Suspension: 6; Electrical System: 3; Interior Lighting: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 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 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10136098 · 2005-09-10 (September 10, 2005)
SOMETHING IN THE FRONT PART OF THE AUTO MAKES A THROBBING NOISE. IT CAUSES EITHER THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO LOSE ITS BALANCE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IN A ONE HOUR TRIP, IT WILL HAPPEN AT LEAST ONCE AND FOR A PERIOD OF FROM 5 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES. I AM TOLD THAT S600 HAS A COMPUTER THAT BALANCES THE CAR. IT APPEARS THAT THIS COMPUTER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AS I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED BOTH FRONT RIMS, LEFT AND RIGHT, AS WELL AS REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. THE PROBLEM CAUSES THE FRONT TIRES TO BE EATEN UP FROM J…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165246 · 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167216 · 2006-09-01 (September 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND FAILED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW CLUSTER FOR THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V028000 PERTAINING TO THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK UPDATED 10/4/2006 - THE TURNS SIGNAL VISUAL AND AUDIBLE INDICATORS FAILED WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONSUMER TO KNOW IF/WHEN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,015 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172749 · 2006-11-06 (November 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE ILLUMINATION ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172910 · 2006-11-08 (November 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE DASH LIGHTS BLINKED AND WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176894 · 2006-12-25 (December 25, 2006)
MERCEDES 2001 S 600. ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM HAS A HYDRAULIC LEAK. DEALER (BARRIER MERCEDES OF BELLEVUE, WA) CLAIMS LEAK ORIGINATES FROM HYDRAULIC LINE BEHIND THE ENGINE. ABC HAS LOST ENOUGH FLUID TWICE AND HAS FAILED TWICE. LEAKING FLUID IS COVERING HOT ENGINE PARTS SUCH AS CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. DEAL QUOTED A PRICE OF $5,800.00 TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC LINE. CLAIMING IT WAS ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY "PULLING THE ENGINE." THIS CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO A NHTSA RECALL FOR A ABC HYDRAULIC LEAK PROBLEM. I HAVE A PER…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189989 · 2007-05-07 (May 7, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAULTY SEAL WAS ALLOWING OIL TO ENTER THE WIRING OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE DEALER ALSO FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON TOP OF THE ENGINE CAUSED BY THE OIL COOLER. THIS FAILURE CAUSED OIL TO LEAK INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214790 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR TWO WEEKS, THE SUSPENSION SHIFTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V228000 (SUSPENSION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,420 AND FAILURE M…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214790 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V228000 · Suspension
Reported: 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HEAT AND HUMIDITY. OVER TIME, CORROSION MAY DETERIORATE THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOSE.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE. UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗