Mercedes-Benz S550 years to avoid (and the best years)

Which Mercedes-Benz S550 years should you avoid?

No Mercedes-Benz S550 model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Mercedes-Benz S550 year has 16 complaints on file.

What are the best Mercedes-Benz S550 years?

The Mercedes-Benz S550 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2016 (15), 2017 (16) and 2010 (16). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 17 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

• Steering, suspension & tires8 (47%)
• Engine & powertrain7 (41%)
• Airbags & seat belts1 (6%)
• Other systems1 (6%)

Recalls (13)

• Structure · 23V854000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

  A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

• Structure · 21V197000 · Mar 2021 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

  The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

• Safety · 21V072000 · Feb 2021 · model year 2017

  A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

• Electrical system · 21V058000 · Feb 2021 · model year 2017

  Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location, increasing the risk of injury following a crash.

• Safety · 19V787000 · Nov 2019 · model years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

  An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.

• Safety · 17V816000 · Dec 2017 · model year 2017

  If the door appears to be locked, the door may be unintentionally opened, increasing the risk of injury.

• Steering · 17V714000 · Nov 2017 · model year 2017

  If the power steering assist is unexpectedly disabled, it may increase the risk of a crash.

• Seat belts · 17V251000 · Apr 2017 · model year 2017

  If the front seat seatbelt pretensioners do not function properly, the seat occupants may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

• Electrical system · 17V177000 · Mar 2017 · model year 2015

  If the air bags do not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, there would be an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

• Steering · 16V899000 · Dec 2016 · model years 2014, 2015

  If the control unit pins lose connection, there would be a loss of electric power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The increase in pin contact resistance can also increase the risk of a fire, even while the vehicle is parked and ignition is off.

• Seat belts · 16V829000 · Nov 2016 · model years 2016, 2017

  In the event of a crash, if the seat belt extender does not retract and/or the extender breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

• Exterior lighting · 16V760000 · Oct 2016 · model years 2016, 2017

  If the low-beam headlights are out of adjustment, the driver's visibility may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

• Seat belts · 13V576000 · Nov 2013 · model year 2014

  If the seat belt anchor comes loose, in the event of a crash, the occupant may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury.