YearToAvoid

2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 has a Complaint Index of 43 and ranks 5th worst out of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 16 complaints and 10 recall campaigns, with Visibility & Wipers the top complaint area at 25% of reports.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
43/100
#5 of 8 S550 years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
16
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
10
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Visibility & Wipers
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers4 (25%)
  2. Other3 (19%)
  3. Steering3 (19%)
  4. Airbags2 (13%)
  5. Electrical System2 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body2 (13%)
  7. Engine1 (6%)
  8. Fuel System1 (6%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (6%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Power steering can fail shortly after startup, showing a warning message and making the steering wheel very hard to turn.
  • The entire electrical system has been reported to shut down while driving, killing the engine, lights, and trunk release without warning.
  • Windshields have cracked repeatedly, with some owners needing repairs multiple times within a few months.
  • The panoramic sunroof has cracked or failed to close properly, in one case while driving at highway speed.
  • Front seat belts have intermittently failed to lock into the buckle, requiring full buckle replacement.
  • Dashboard leather has separated near airbag covers on both the passenger and driver sides, exposing the airbag underneath.
2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 complaints: complaints filed per month2May 2017Feb 2018Jan 2020Aug 2022Apr 2023Apr 2024Dec 2024
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Jul 2025; peak Jun 2022 (2).

2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V854000Dec 15, 2023Structure & Body2,976 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair, allowing the front panel to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: A detached roof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-197.

  2. NHTSA 21V197000Mar 19, 2021Structure & Body15,096 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.

    Risk: The adhesive bonding of the front panel might deteriorate, possibly causing the front panel to detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

  3. NHTSA 21V072000Feb 12, 2021Other67 vehicles

    Communication

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles. The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.

    Risk: A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services through the call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.

See all 10 recalls for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 →

2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
20 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,000
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2017 compared with other S550 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid10041519
2016Caution5715519
2017Caution43161020

All Mercedes-Benz S550 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 S550 has a Complaint Index of 43 and ranks 5th worst of 8 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It has fewer complaints than the 2014 and 2015 model years but carries 10 recall campaigns.
Why is the 2017 S550 rated Caution instead of a lower rating based on its complaint index?
NHTSA data shows its verdict was capped to Caution because of 8 recall campaigns that require a dealer visit, even though the complaint index alone is lower than the Avoid years.
What is the top problem area for the 2017 S550?
Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 25% of complaints, mainly involving windshield cracking.
Does the 2017 S550 have a steering recall?
Yes. NHTSA recall 17V714000 covers a power steering control unit transistor issue on 2017 S550 and related models.
Which S550 model years should be avoided compared to 2017?
NHTSA data rates the 2014 and 2015 S550 as Avoid, with complaint indexes of 86 and 100, both worse than the 2017 model's 43.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.