2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 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 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550, 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
- Fuel system228.6%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
- Suspension114.3%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
My driver side Rear seat underneath is leaking gasoline. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V557000
I am filing a complaint with your agency regarding a fuel pump malfunction with my 2011 Mercedes S550 (VIN# [XXX]), because I feel that the incident below is a major safety concern and is similarly situated to the following NHTSA Campaign #12V557000. On March 15, 2022, I was pumping gas into my vehicle at Costco in Brookhaven, Georgia. The gas attendant and I were chatting about gas prices and so forth. In 10-to-15 minutes Costco's members that were getting gas, were attempting to alert us that an ocean ($88.00) of fuel was rapidly spewing out the opposite side (driver side) of the vehicle's fuel tank. On March 16, 2022, I had the vehicle towed to RBM of Atlanta in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Later that afternoon, [XXX], the service advisor advised me that the vehicle's fuel tank will need to be replace. I agreed to the repair. However, I asked the advisor to send me photos of the malfunctioned part, as well as, an itemized Repair invoice. I have yet to receive either. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
IABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. IT HAD A WARNING MESSAGE 'SERVICES REQUIRED. DO NOT SHIFT THE GEAR'. WE TOWED OUR CAR TO THE DEALER AND LEARNED THAT THE BACKSEAT FLOOD HAD STANDING WATER! THIS CAUSED THE ELECTRONIC SHORTAGE. WE PAID OVER $2000 TO MAKE THE CAR RUNNING AGAIN. IT LOOKS THAT THE RAIN GOT IN THROUGH DRIVER SIDE BACK WINDOW BECAUSE OF THE SEALING PROBLEMS. IT RAINED LAST NIGHT. I JUST LOOKED AT MY CAR. THE BACK FLOOR LIKES RIVER AGAIN. I AM UNABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN. NOW WE FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE. WE DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE RAIN WILL GET INTO THE CAR TO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. WE ARE AFRAID THAT WE MAY BE TRAPPED IN A FLOOD IF WE DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN' WE CONTACTED THE DEALER LAST MONTH TO ASK THEM TO RECALL THIS CAR AND FIND THE REASON FOR THIS LEAKING. THEY TOLD US TO PAY ALL THE COSTS. WE DID NOT ACCEPT BECAUSE THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT! WE ARE SEEKING YOUR HELP TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS LEAKING MAY CAUSE MANY ELECTRIC PROBLEMS THAT HAS MAKE THIS CAR UNABLE TO DRIVE. I ATTACHED THE EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE DEALER IN CASE THAT YOU MAY NEED THEM. THANK YOU AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM YOU SOON!
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 110 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RATTLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GPS PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 110 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE RATTLED WITHOUT WARNING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE GPS PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHICH STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS LEADING TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOUSE OF IMPORTS (6862 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, (714) 627-5553) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OVER A MONTH AGO WHERE IT WAS STILL AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE MANGER WAS ASSIGNED. THE CONTACT SENT PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND FAILED PARTS TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
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
The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the contact noticed that the air suspension had collapsed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,879.
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 .