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.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- 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 | 71 | 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 | 57 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Structure & Body | 19 | — |
| 2017 | Caution | 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 across all model years.
- 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
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.