NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Mercedes Benz S500 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 34 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500.

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2001 Mercedes Benz S500 owner complaints

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500, describing incidents dated May 25, 2001 to October 19, 2020.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 21 complaints
Exterior Lighting 9 complaints
Interior Lighting 6 complaints
Suspension 6 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints

Of the 34 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11365685 · Filed October 22, 2020
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR MAKES NOISES LIKE I'M PULLING A TRAILER AND I'M NOT.. IN JULY MY RIGHT SHOCK WENT OUT SO I REPAIRED IT.. THEN PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DETECTED SO I REPAIRED THAT AND JUST LAST WEEK MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT OUT. MY SUSPENSION IS REALLY MESSED UP AND I CAN'T SHIFT AT ALL
ODI #11323603 · Filed May 7, 2020
WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 MERCEDES S-500 USED. EVERYTHING RAN FINE. AFTER RUNNING IT THROUGH AN AUTO CARWASH WITH A UNDER BODY SPRAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS SOAKED. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDED NON FUNCTIONING LOCKS, WINDOWS, AIR, ALL LIGHTS…
ODI #11228415 · Filed June 29, 2019
INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER LIGHT NOT WORKING

Read all 34 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE05-062: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE
Closed February 8, 2006
- Recall 06V-028

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

34 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S500.

Electrical System; Vehicle Speed Control; Unknown or Other

ODI #11365685

Incident: October 19, 2020 · Filed: October 22, 2020

WHEN DRIVING MY CAR MAKES NOISES LIKE I'M PULLING A TRAILER AND I'M NOT.. IN JULY MY RIGHT SHOCK WENT OUT SO I REPAIRED IT.. THEN PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DETECTED SO I REPAIRED THAT AND JUST LAST WEEK MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT OUT. MY SUSPENSION IS REALLY MESSED UP AND I CAN'T SHIFT AT ALL

Electrical System

ODI #11323603

Incident: May 6, 2020 · Filed: May 7, 2020

WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 MERCEDES S-500 USED. EVERYTHING RAN FINE. AFTER RUNNING IT THROUGH AN AUTO CARWASH WITH A UNDER BODY SPRAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS SOAKED. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDED NON FUNCTIONING LOCKS, WINDOWS, AIR, ALL LIGHTS FLICKERING, SEAT CONTROLS, HORN, HAZARD LIGHTS, SUNROOF, DASH CONTROL, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL. THESE MALFUNCTIONS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WHILE PARKED. WHEN WE TURNED THE KEY OFF AND REMOVED THEM, THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN STILL FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, WE HAVE DISCOVERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME SITUATIONS INCLUDING PASSENGER FLOOR BEING SOAKED RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FAULTING. (SEE ATTACHED PICTURE) COMPLAINT BELOW MENTIONS A STUPID REPAIR KIT AT OWNERS COST MEANING MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS POSSIBLY DEADLY FAULT IN THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11228415

Incident: June 28, 2019 · Filed: June 29, 2019

INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER LIGHT NOT WORKING

Electrical System

ODI #11124600

Incident: September 4, 2018 · Filed: September 5, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS RIDING MY VEHICLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT HAYWIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY BUT IT WASN'T THE CAUSE IT DRAINED 4 BATTERIES I HAD ON WARRANTY AND 1 I HAD TO PURCHASE. I FOUND OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DRAINS THE BATTERY AND LOSS OF POWER. I REACHED TO A MECHANIC AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS CAUSING THE POWER LOSS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THIS DEFECT. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE A SERIOUS INCIDENT IF WASN'T PROPERLY AWARE. I WOULD TO HAVE A RECALL IF POSSIBLE.

Structure

ODI #11103463

Incident: June 20, 2018 · Filed: June 22, 2018

MBUSA PARTIALLY COVERED ($2400) COST FOR $5800 TOTAL REPAIR TO REMOVE RUST IN 2011 BUT RUST HAS RETURNED TO BOTH REAR QUARTER PANELS AND DOORS. DOCUMENTATION THAT PAINT WAS NOT PREPPED PROPERLY FOR ALL 2001 S500 MODELS, HOWEVER, NOT COVERED FOR COST TO REPAIR, REIMBURSE FOR COSTS INCURRED OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE FINISH. CURRENT QUOTE FOR REPAIRS ESTIMATED OVER $7500.00

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10940293

Incident: December 26, 2016 · Filed: January 7, 2017

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON 225 AND CHAMBERS AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AS SOON AS A HIT THE GAS MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK. I NO LONGER HAD LIGHT AND MY GAUGES WERE NOT RESPONDING EITHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEEN SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE RECALL SO I CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SAFETY CONCERN THE RECALL WAS CLOSED JUNE 2011. I PURCHASED THE CAR JUNE 2010 AND NO ONE REACHED OUT. I HAVE ONLY ONE CAR AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I CANT SEE THE SPEED OR IF I EVEN HAVE GAS. I HAVE KIDS AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I WORK BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY $1800.00 TO FIX THIS AND I SHOULDNT HAVE TO. I CANT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY RECALL CAN EXPIRE. SEEMS AS IF THERE IS NO TRUE REGARD TO SAFETY.

Suspension; Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10939271

Incident: December 26, 2016 · Filed: January 3, 2017

I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2010 IN JUNE AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL BEARING AND JOINTS AND THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ONCE AGAIN I WAS DRIVING LAST WEEK IN TRAFFIC AT AROUND 5 PM WHEN MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT OUT NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING I COULDNT SEE ANYTHING. *TR

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #10872037

Incident: May 15, 2014 · Filed: June 2, 2016

FOR THE SECOND TIME THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING HAD TO BE REPLACE BY THE DEALER. IT DID THE SAME THING IT DID UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NO LIGHTING IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

Electrical System

ODI #10712187

Incident: August 1, 2014 · Filed: April 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING BECAME VERY DIM AND SHUT OFF. THE ELECTRICAL FUSE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED, BUT EVENTUALLY RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. ...UPDATED 06/03/15 *BF UPDATED 06/17/15.*JB

Power Train; Electrical System; Engine

ODI #10706624

Incident: March 2, 2015 · Filed: April 20, 2015

WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE THE CAR BEGINS TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. ONCE IN DRIVE IT BEGINS TO SHAKE AND MOVES SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC THEN SLOWLY PICKS UP SPEED AFTER AN UNUSUALLY LONG DURATION. DASHBOARD IS ALMOST TOTALLY BLACKED OUT CANNOT READ GAUGES (GAS LEVEL,SPEED ODOMETER, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, MILEAGE). FINALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOWING. *TR

Check your 2001 Mercedes Benz S500 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz S500 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mercedes Benz VIN