Mercedes-Benz S550 Best and Worst Years (2010–2017)
Avoid the 2014 and 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550: 2015 has the highest complaint index (100) with 41 complaints, 4 crashes, 3 fires and 7 injuries, while 2014 follows with a complaint index of 86 and 24 complaints. The 2012 and 2013 model years are best, with complaint indexes of 14 and 0.
- Model years
- 8
- 2010–2017
- NHTSA complaints
- 133
- Recall campaigns
- 15
- Crashes reported
- 10
- Fires reported
- 5
- Top problem area
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires
S550 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Mercedes-Benz S550 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Caution | 57 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 17.5 | — |
| 2011 | Good | 29 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Electrical System | 17.5 | — |
| 2012 | Best | 14 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Engine | 18.5 | — |
| 2013 | Best | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Electrical System | 18.5 | — |
| 2014 | Avoid | 86 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 5 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 19.5 | — |
| 2015 | Avoid | 100 | 41 | 4 | 3 | 5 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 19 | — |
| 2016 | Caution | 71 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Structure & Body | 19 | — |
| 2017 | Good | 43 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 10 | Visibility & Wipers | 20 | — |
S550 years to avoid: what went wrong
2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Index 100 · 41 complaints · 5 recalls
NHTSA lists 41 complaints for the 2015 S550, the highest complaint index (100) and worst rank of any year covered. Owners most often reported Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues (8 complaints, median mileage 23,526) and Seat Belts issues (7 complaints, median mileage 43,000). This year had 4 crashes, 3 fires, and 7 injuries. Sample complaints describe a collision-prevention system test drive that ended in a crash, an airbag that only partially deployed with a seat belt that failed to tighten, and an engine compartment fire discovered after the car was parked. Five recall campaigns apply to this year, including Structure & Body panel recalls.
2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 Index 86 · 24 complaints · 5 recalls
NHTSA lists 24 complaints for the 2014 S550, giving it a complaint index of 86 and a rank of 2nd-worst among the years covered. Owners most often reported Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues (4 complaints, median mileage 16,000) and Visibility & Wipers problems (4 complaints, median mileage 13,248). Brakes issues appeared at a median of 36,000 miles. Sample complaints describe run-flat tire sidewall blowouts at highway speed, a hard downshift with a loud noise near the rear, and a crash in which frontal airbags did not deploy. The year had 4 crashes, 2 injuries, and 5 recall campaigns, including recalls tied to Structure & Body and a software fault affecting the emergency call system's date and time.diff
Most common Mercedes-Benz S550 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.
- Other25 (19%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires24 (18%)
- Steering18 (14%)
- Electrical System16 (12%)
- Fuel System16 (12%)
- Structure & Body15 (11%)
- Engine14 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers13 (10%)
- Seat Belts12 (9%)
- Airbags9 (7%)
Frequently asked questions
- What year Mercedes-Benz S550 should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, avoid the 2014 and 2015 S550. The 2015 has the highest complaint index (100) with 41 complaints, 4 crashes, 3 fires and 7 injuries; the 2014 has a complaint index of 86 with 24 complaints and 4 crashes.
- What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz S550?
- The 2012 and 2013 model years score best based on NHTSA data. The 2013 has a complaint index of 0 with 7 complaints and no recalls, and the 2012 has a complaint index of 14 with 5 complaints.
- Are 2010 and 2016 S550s risky to buy?
- They are rated Caution rather than Avoid. The 2010 has a complaint index of 57 with 16 complaints, and the 2016 has a complaint index of 71 with 15 complaints and 5 recalls.
- What problems show up most across all S550 years?
- Across all years covered, Suspension, Wheels & Tires issues account for 24 of 133 total complaints (18%), followed by Steering at 18 complaints (14%) and Electrical System and Fuel System each at 16 complaints (12%).
- Does the 2014 or 2015 S550 have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2014 model year and 5 for the 2015 model year, including recalls covering the Structure & Body and an eCall software date/time fault.