NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Mercedes Benz S600 Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 Mercedes Benz S600 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 38 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 2001 Mercedes Benz S600. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2001 Mercedes Benz S600 owner complaints

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Mercedes Benz S600, describing incidents dated September 9, 2005 to April 11, 2016.

Most-cited components

Engine 23 complaints
Suspension 10 complaints
Electrical System 5 complaints
Interior Lighting 3 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #11156004 · Filed December 4, 2018
ENGINE OIL COOLER UNDER INTAKE LEAKING OIL DEALERS WANT ALMOST 6000.00 TO REPAIR.
ODI #10884660 · Filed July 13, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING OIL LEAK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
ODI #10884648 · Filed July 13, 2016
TAKATA INFLATORS MY CAR SEEMS TO BE LEAKING OIL. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY OIL COOLER, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ S 600 IN THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER...WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED OIL LEAKS IN MY GARAGE SO AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE…

Read all 38 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Mercedes Benz S600 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

MERCEDES-BENZ/ABC HYDRAULIC HOSES

NHTSA #04V228000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported May 13, 2004 · MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.

Potentially affected: 6,238 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 2004070012 · Owners notified August 31, 2004 · Vehicles built April 1, 2000 – March 31, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NO. 2004070012.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S600. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

38 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S600.

Engine

ODI #11156004

Incident: January 1, 2009 · Filed: December 4, 2018

ENGINE OIL COOLER UNDER INTAKE LEAKING OIL DEALERS WANT ALMOST 6000.00 TO REPAIR.

Engine

ODI #10884660

Incident: April 11, 2016 · Filed: July 13, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING OIL LEAK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED OIL LEAKED OUT ON TO THE MANIFOLD CAUSING HEAVY SMOKE. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SAG OR LEAN IN THE FRONT END AND REAR. *JS

Engine

ODI #10884648

Incident: March 12, 2015 · Filed: July 13, 2016

TAKATA INFLATORS MY CAR SEEMS TO BE LEAKING OIL. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY OIL COOLER, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ S 600 IN THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER...WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED OIL LEAKS IN MY GARAGE SO AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR I PULLED THE CAR OVER SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED THE TOW TRUCK...

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10838369

Incident: August 1, 2015 · Filed: February 4, 2016

THESE S600 WITH V12 ENGINES FROM 2000-2005 HAVE SEVERE ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKS. SOME WITH AS LITTLE AS 30,000 MILES. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO NOW MERCEDES WANTS TO CHARGE FROM 5,OOO TO 6,000 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND DONT WANT TO WARRANT AFTER FIX BECAUSE ITS A RECURRING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF POOR ENGINEERING. THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

Engine

ODI #10824354

Incident: January 15, 2016 · Filed: February 4, 2016

OIL COOLER SEALS FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 50 TO 60,000 MILES & IN ORDER TO CHANGE THEM YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE HEADS OFF THE ENGINE.THIS JOB COST ANYWHERE FROM $3,400 TO $6,000 DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO. FIRST & FOREMOST THE OIL LEAK BECOMES BAD VERY QUICKLY & SPILLS DOWN THE MANIFOLD, WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE A FIRE & EVEN WORST DEATH.

Engine

ODI #10824310

Incident: October 1, 2015 · Filed: February 4, 2016

ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKS. THIS LOOKS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL WITH V12 ENGINE.THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.

Engine

ODI #10824246

Incident: October 1, 2015 · Filed: February 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10679459

Incident: January 26, 2015 · Filed: January 28, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,600.

Electrical System

ODI #10470427

Incident: August 4, 2012 · Filed: August 13, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHT SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

Suspension

ODI #10454826

Incident: March 28, 2012 · Filed: April 11, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL LOWERED THE SUSPENSION ON TO THE TIRES, MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT DID NOT INFORM THE CONTACT OF THE TEST RESULTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 04V228000 (SUSPENSION) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UDPATED EVOQ 04/19/12

Other Mercedes Benz S600 model years

Check your 2001 Mercedes Benz S600 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mercedes Benz S600 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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