NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Mercedes Benz S Class Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Mercedes Benz S Class has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Mercedes Benz S Class. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1997 Mercedes Benz S Class owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Mercedes Benz S Class, describing incidents dated May 17, 2007 to August 8, 2009.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #10316157 · Filed March 3, 2010
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE OF A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MERCEDES MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND…
ODI #10220071 · Filed March 4, 2008
MULTIPLE FAILURES, WITH DEGRADATION OF INSULATION ON WIRING IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Read all 2 complaints

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Mercedes Benz S Class. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Mercedes Benz S Class.

Electrical System

ODI #10316157

Incident: August 8, 2009 · Filed: March 3, 2010

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE OF A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MERCEDES MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION SUCH AS FIRE IN ENGINE AND ETC. THE MERCEDES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10220071

Incident: May 17, 2007 · Filed: March 4, 2008

MULTIPLE FAILURES, WITH DEGRADATION OF INSULATION ON WIRING IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Other Mercedes Benz S Class model years

Check your 1997 Mercedes Benz S Class VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz S Class at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN