2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1043.5%
- Engine417.4%
- Fuel system313.0%
- Driver assistance28.7%
- Suspension14.3%
- Powertrain (other)14.3%
- Steering14.3%
- Heating & air conditioning14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION. CAR WILL NOT CRANK/ NO START. CAR WAS STATIONARY-PARKED.
THE COMPUTER CONTROL UNIT FOR THE HYBRID MOTOR HAS FAILED ON MY AND MANY S400S. THIS CAUSES CAR TO STALL OUT AT STOPLIGHTS OR WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION. CAR WILL NOT CRANK/ NO START. CAR WAS STATIONARY-PARKED.
THE S400 HYBRID HAS A HABIT OF STALLING WHEN IN A STOP POSITION. THIS REQUIRES A COMPLETE RE-START AT A STOP LIGHT OR AFTER HAVING COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUTS OFF AND DOES NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL YOU STOP FOR A FEW MINUTES AND RE-START THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STALLING IS VERY UN-SAFE. THE CAR STALLS AT A STOP POSITION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRONG GAS ORDERS FROM INTERIOR AFTER FILL UP. STATIONARY, IN MOTION, STOPPED. TO THE POINT OF NAUSEA AND LIGHT HEADEDNESS. 2011 IS ON RECALL LIST FOR GAS PUMP AND SENDER REPLACEMENT, PLUS WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 15 YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO ALSO INCLUDE THE 2010 S400 HYBRIDS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 87,000 MILES ON IT, AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO POSSIBLE FUEL INGITION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. PLEASE RESPOND WITH THE UTMOST OF HASTE, LIVES ARE AT STAKE. DEATH BY FIRE IS HORRIFIC.
CAR STALLS CONSTANTLY, LOOSE FUEL CAP WARNING COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL CAP, CHECKED VEHICLE CODES, BUT CANNOT GET THE ISSUE IDENTIFIED. A VEHICLE STALLING LIKE THIS IS A TREMENDOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AND IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM IN THIS YEAR MODEL, JUST AS THERE WAS WITH THE 2011-2012 MODELS WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL. THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Airmatic Suspension sprung a leak and could not be driven safely due to the vehicle getting severely low where the tire and rim tucked into the wheel well. When the airmatic suspension fails the vehicle can get so low that it can scrape the roadway, hit bumps and damage parts under which can dislodge and cause an severe accident or pile up. Requesting a Nationwide Recall on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with Airmatic Suspension.
I WAS DRIVING, TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY, I TOOK EXIT WHICH IS A 270 DEGREE CIRCLE WITH SHARP TURNS, I AM NOT DRIVING FAST AT ALL BUT THE CAR JUST STALLED WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I ALMOST FALL DOWN THE HILL, I ALMOST DIED, THIS PRODUCT HAS SERIOUS QUALITY ISSUES. I WAS DRIVING IN DOWN TOWN MANHATTAN WITH TWO OF MY MOST IMPORTANT CLIENTS, WE WERE GOING TO AN ART AUCTION, THE CAR JUST STALLED WHEN I STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND WILL NOT RESTART, ME AND MY CLIENTS WERE WEARING 3 PIECE SUITS AND ITS MORE THAN 90 DEGREES OUT, WE WERE SWEATING LIKE CRAZY, I BELIEVE THE CAR'S POOR QUALITY MADE IT TO FAIL WITHOUT ANY SIGNS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Airmatic Suspension sprung a leak and could not be driven safely due to the vehicle getting severely low where the tire and rim tucked into the wheel well. When the airmatic suspension fails the vehicle can get so low that it can scrape the roadway, hit bumps and damage parts under which can dislodge and cause an severe accident or pile up. Requesting a Nationwide Recall on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with Airmatic Suspension.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE HYBRID SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE AND FAILS TO RESTART. THIS PLACES THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND OTHERS AT RISK OF COLLISION AS VEHICLE WILL REMAIN STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO MERCEDES-BENZ AS IF IS A FAILURE OF THE POWER ELECTRONICS MODULE. IT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO TWO SERVICE CAMPAIGNS: 2012880004 NOVEMBER 2012 2015030006 JUNE 2015 HOWEVER IT APPEARS THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART IS REPLACED WITH A SIMILARLY DEFECTIVE PART. FURTHERMORE MERCEDES-BENZ NO LONGER MAKES THIS PART AVAILABLE FOR THIS MODEL WHICH WAS PRODUCED THROUGH 2013. THIS DEFECTIVE PART THIS MODEL AT HIGH RISK FOR THE SAFETY OF ITS OWNERS, PASSENGERS AND OCCUPANTS OF OTHER VEHICLES AS THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED IN THE ROAD. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY MANY. OF NOTE THERE WERE FEW OF THIS VEHICLE MADE (S400 IS AN EARLY HYBRID MODEL MADE BY MERCEDES-BENZ) SUCH THAT A LOW NUMBER OF REPORTS REPRESENTS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THIS MODEL. THE FREQUENCY IF EVENTS CAN BE SEEN IN A SEARCH OF S400 POWER ELECTRONICS MODULE PROBLEMS I HAVE CONTACTED MBUSA WHO STATES THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART. THEY HAVE ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO PRODUCE PARTS FOR A MODEL THAT ENDED 6 YEARS AGO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Airmatic Suspension sprung a leak and could not be driven safely due to the vehicle getting severely low where the tire and rim tucked into the wheel well. When the airmatic suspension fails the vehicle can get so low that it can scrape the roadway, hit bumps and damage parts under which can dislodge and cause an severe accident or pile up. Requesting a Nationwide Recall on all Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with Airmatic Suspension.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
S400 IS A HYBRID FROM MERCEDES BENZ AND WHEN DRIVEN OVER 40 MILES IN DISTANCE THEN THE AC WILL TURN ON NO MATTER WHAT. WE TRIED TO TURN IT OFF BUT CAN NOT. MB DEALER TOLD US IT IS NORMAL OPERATIONS BUT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AS IN THE WINTER THE AC ALSO TURNS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND MB DEALER HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .