2001 Mercedes-Benz S600 Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

11156004

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

78,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10884660

Incident

Apr 11, 2016

Mileage

84,000 mi

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...

NHTSA ID

10884648

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10838369

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10824354

Incident

Jan 15, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10824310

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

80,015 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10824246

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

54,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10679459

Incident

Jan 26, 2015

Mileage

87,600 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10470427

Incident

Aug 4, 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

NHTSA ID

10454826

Incident

Mar 28, 2012

Mileage

82,000 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN VEHICLE DISPLAYING SPEED, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL LEVEL, AND OTHER ENGINE FUNCTIONS NOT WORKING. REFERRING TO RECALL ID 06V028000, I CONTACTED LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND OWNER OF VEHICLE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS. CONTACTED MERCEDES-BENZ REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD EXACTLY THE SAME. I EXPLAINED TO BOTH REPRESENTATIVES THAT I TOOK OWNERSHIP IN 2008 AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS ON VEHICLE, BUT THEY BOTH GAVE SAME RESPONSE, EMPHASIZING OF AN EXPIRED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOT OF RECALL AS MENTIONED. (REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF ANY RECALL EXISTING.) WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, SUPENSION GOES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY; WHILE DRIVING STILL GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT NOT AS CONSTANT. DID NOT REPORT TO DEALERSHIP OR REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE AS MENTIONED, THEY KEPT REFERRING TO AND EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS UNKNOWN TO ME, AND DID NOT KNOW OF ANY RECALLS. THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE RELATING TO SAFETY THAT WERE UNKNOWN TO ME. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. AS THE OWNER I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET THE REPAIRS DONE NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY BUT ALSO MY FAMILY AS WELL, BUT IF THERE ARE RECALLS ALREADY ESTABLISHED, THE MANUFACTURER OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. I HAVE AN OLDER VEHICLE FROM ANOTHER MANUFACTURER, AND THEY NOTIFIED ME OF ALL RECALLS CONCERNING THAT VEHICLE WITHOUT ME DOING ANY REGISTRATION WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10410120

Incident

Jun 28, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395988

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION ACTIVE CONTROL BODY PUMP. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ACTIVE CONTROL BODY PUMPS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE FOR $3,700. HE WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO INQUIRE IF HIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V228000, SUSPENSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10300257

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER, LEAKING SUDDENLY, 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 2 DAYS (25 TO 50 MILES.) VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNED OIL UPON EXITING CAR. NORMAL DRIVING. NO REASON FOR LEAKAGE, NO ACCIDENTS, SERVICED REGULARLY AND ON TIME. CONCERNED ABOUT OIL HITTING THE EXHAUST, RESULTING IN A FIRE. A FRIEND HAD HIS MERCEDES CATCH ON FIRE, ON THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM, TOTAL LOSS OF CAR, BUT DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE. MERCEDES ESTIMATES REPAIRS TO BE BETWEEN $8,000 & $10,000.....TO FIX AN OIL LEAK !!!!! TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE S600'S, AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE A RECALL. (SAID, UNFORTUNATELY, REPAIR SHOPS LOVE IT, $10,000 JOBS ARE FEW & FAR BETWEEN.) UPON CHECKING ON VARIOUS WEB SITES AND 'GOOGLING" THE PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH YOU, YET I DO NOT SEE ANY REFERENCES TO THEM ON YOUR SITE. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE RECALLS? PLEASE RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT , I WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND READ. [XXX] *TR

NHTSA ID

10299820

Incident

Oct 25, 2009

Mileage

69,000 mi

MY OIL COOLER HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE 41,000 MILES AND I HAVE READ OTHER MERCEDES BENZ S600 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A SHOP 4K DOLLARS. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR I THINK MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I LEAK UP TO A QUART OF OIL EVERY 2 WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291912

Incident

Nov 11, 2009

Mileage

44,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 76,000 MILES. THE ENGINE OIL COOLER IS LEAKING, AND THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE. THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFAULT. THE LEAKING OIL CAN RUN ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. MBA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291127

Incident

Nov 5, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

ABC HIGH PRESSURE HOSE LEAKING BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288757

Incident

Oct 4, 2009

Mileage

71,250 mi

2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER LEAKING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. THE CAR IS DRIVEN NORMALLY TO WORK AND VACATION TRIPS. NOTHING SPECIAL LEADING UP TO THE OCCURRENCE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENT. I AM AFRAID THAT WITH THE AMOUNT OF OIL THAT LEAKS AND HOW IT RUNS DOWN THE BELL HOUSING AND HITS THE EXHAUST, THAT A FIRE IS POSSIBLE. WITH THE WINDAGE TRAY THAT IS MOUNTED UNDER THE TRANSMISSION, IT CAUSES IT TO POOL THE OIL AND LEAKS ON THE EXHAUST WHEN IT IS DRIVEN. THE OIL COOLER IS MOUNTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND REQUIRES THE HEADS TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE OCCURS APPROX EVERY 40K-60K MILES. A SIMPLE REPLACEMENT DOES NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT HERE THAT MBUSA IS NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE WITH THE CUSTOMER OR A CHANGE IN DESIGN FOR RESOLUTION. I HAVE CALLED MBUSA (1-800-367-6372, 4,5) AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MB IN NW ARKANSAS AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE SAME ISSUE AND ESTIMATED A REPAIR COST OF $7800 AND 2 WEEKS. I AM AWAITING SOME ATTENTION FORM NHTSA OR MBUSA BEFORE REPAIRS. I WOULD BE WILLING FOR NHTSA TO INSPECT CAR BEFORE AND DURING THE REPAIRS TO PUSH FOR A RECALL. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS ON THE NET. PLEASE CHECK HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2001/MERCEDES+BENZ/S-600. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284537

Incident

Sep 17, 2009

Mileage

50,000 mi

THERE IS A LEAK IN THE OIL COOLER (ENGINE COOLING) OF MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CAR HAS 79K MILES ON IT. IT STARTED DRIPPING OIL LATE LAST YEAR AT ABOUT 69K MILES AND IS NOW POURING OUT OIL PROFUSELY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS CAR BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR IT. TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WILL COST AT LEAST 6K. THE CAR IS TOTALLY A LEMON AND I CANNOT DRIVE IT AS I AM TOLD THE OIL LEAK CAN DAMAGE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY OR CAUSE A FIRE. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS OIL LEAK PROBLEM. BELOW IS A LINK TO JUST ONE OF THE WEBSITES WHERE I FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN SOMEONE HELP? MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2001/MERCEDES+BENZ/S-600. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281930

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

69,000 mi

2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKING SINCE 40K MILES, NOW IT IS LEAKING PROFUSELY, MERCEDES BENZ WANTS $4000 TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258893

Incident

Dec 28, 2008

Mileage

42,000 mi

OIL LEAK FROM THE OIL COOLER COLLECTOR AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THE OIL RUNS DOWN THE EXHAUST PIPE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257714

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

THE MERCEDES S600 MY2001 HAS A TERRIBLE OIL LEAK CAUSED BY THE OIL COOLER. IF NOT WATCHED CAREFULLY THE OIL WILL LEAK COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ENGINE VERY FAST. I'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN QUOTED AROUND $5K TO FIX. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255513

Incident

Nov 18, 2008

I HAVE AN OIL LEAK WHICH MY MECHANICS TELLS ME IS THE OIL COOLER AND TO REPAIR IS ESTIMATE TO COST $5000.00. I HEAR FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247779

Incident

Oct 29, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-600. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING SUSPENSION FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,746.

NHTSA ID

10243554

Incident

Sep 26, 2008

Mileage

55,746 mi

THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER INFORMED ME THAT I HAD AN OIL COOLER AND ABC HOSE LEAK ON MY 2001 S600. THE COST TO REPAIR IS UNBELIEVABLE. ABOUT $7,500. IN READING THE MBZ FORUM THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM MBZ. THE FAILURE FOR THE OIL COOLER LEAK CAN LEAD TO A FIRE, AND THE ABC HOSE LEAK CAN LEAD TO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO DRASTICALLY LOWER AT THE EFFECTED WHEEL. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED BY A MANUFACTURER RECALL. THIS IS A DEATH HAZARD TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I AM NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE COST TO REPAIR AND THE PROBLEM OF INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239498

Incident

Aug 4, 2008

Mileage

76,568 mi