2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 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 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63, 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
- Brakes116.7%
- Electrical116.7%
- Engine116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
- Steering116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT SHOWED ABS, STEERING, SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, REFER TO OPERATORS MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE LIGHT SHOWED, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CARS BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ENDED UP IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AFTER HITTING SEVERAL OBJECTS INCLUDING A TREE, WE ALL WALKED OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH, HOWEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A SPEED HIGHER THAN 30 MPH I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE ALL DIED. THE CAR LOST ALL FUNCTIONALITY OF BRAKES AND STEERING, THE BRAKES APPEARED TO STAY ON AND LOCKED EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THEM. I HAVE DRIVEN MERCEDES FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM EVER. ON THE GOOD SIDE ALL SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, THE AIR BAGS, THE BODY ALTHOUGH ENDING UP AT THE WINDSCREEN FROM THE FRONTAL CRASH DID NOT SMASH OR POP WINDSCREEN OUT, THE ENGINE DID NOT END UP CRUSHING OUR LEGS, IN FACT NO ONE GOT A SCRATCH ON THEM. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED OUT OF DITCH IT WAS ALSO NOTED BY OTHERS THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WITH THIS CAR GETS IT CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY. *TR
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 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S63. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A BYSTANDER INFORMED HER UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT HER PREGNANT SELF AND HER 4 DOGS THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES OR SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED 5 BY STANDERS WHERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH 5 FIRE HOSES THEY ALL HAD IN HAND. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *LN*JB
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 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S63. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A BYSTANDER INFORMED HER UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT HER PREGNANT SELF AND HER 4 DOGS THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES OR SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED 5 BY STANDERS WHERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH 5 FIRE HOSES THEY ALL HAD IN HAND. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *LN*JB
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ S63. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SENDING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,828. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE, THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AS WELL. UPDATED 07/24/14
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
I WAS DRIVING CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT SHOWED ABS, STEERING, SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, REFER TO OPERATORS MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE LIGHT SHOWED, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CARS BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ENDED UP IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AFTER HITTING SEVERAL OBJECTS INCLUDING A TREE, WE ALL WALKED OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH, HOWEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A SPEED HIGHER THAN 30 MPH I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE ALL DIED. THE CAR LOST ALL FUNCTIONALITY OF BRAKES AND STEERING, THE BRAKES APPEARED TO STAY ON AND LOCKED EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THEM. I HAVE DRIVEN MERCEDES FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM EVER. ON THE GOOD SIDE ALL SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, THE AIR BAGS, THE BODY ALTHOUGH ENDING UP AT THE WINDSCREEN FROM THE FRONTAL CRASH DID NOT SMASH OR POP WINDSCREEN OUT, THE ENGINE DID NOT END UP CRUSHING OUR LEGS, IN FACT NO ONE GOT A SCRATCH ON THEM. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED OUT OF DITCH IT WAS ALSO NOTED BY OTHERS THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WITH THIS CAR GETS IT CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY. *TR
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
I WAS DRIVING CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT SHOWED ABS, STEERING, SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, REFER TO OPERATORS MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE LIGHT SHOWED, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CARS BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ENDED UP IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AFTER HITTING SEVERAL OBJECTS INCLUDING A TREE, WE ALL WALKED OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH, HOWEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A SPEED HIGHER THAN 30 MPH I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE ALL DIED. THE CAR LOST ALL FUNCTIONALITY OF BRAKES AND STEERING, THE BRAKES APPEARED TO STAY ON AND LOCKED EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THEM. I HAVE DRIVEN MERCEDES FOR 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM EVER. ON THE GOOD SIDE ALL SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, THE AIR BAGS, THE BODY ALTHOUGH ENDING UP AT THE WINDSCREEN FROM THE FRONTAL CRASH DID NOT SMASH OR POP WINDSCREEN OUT, THE ENGINE DID NOT END UP CRUSHING OUR LEGS, IN FACT NO ONE GOT A SCRATCH ON THEM. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED OUT OF DITCH IT WAS ALSO NOTED BY OTHERS THAT THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WITH THIS CAR GETS IT CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY. *TR
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 .