YearToAvoid

2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

43/100

#5 most-complained of 8 S550 years

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 has 16 NHTSA complaints and 10 recalls, giving it a complaint index of 43 and a rank of 5th out of 8 model years — a "Good" verdict relative to other S550 years. Visibility & Wipers issues lead the complaint list at 25% share.

Complaints
16
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20
17 city / 25 hwy

Top 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Power steering fails shortly after startup, with a warning message and a very hard-to-turn steering wheel, reported around 1,200 miles.
  • Entire electrical system shuts down while driving, killing the engine, lights, and trunk release, reported around 600 miles.
  • Windshield develops cracks repeatedly, requiring multiple replacements within a short span of time.
  • Panoramic sunroof panel cracks or fails to close properly while driving, with one case reported around 38,000 miles.
  • Front seat belt buckle intermittently fails to lock, reported around 100,000 miles.
  • Dashboard leather separates near the airbag housing, exposing the airbag on the passenger or driver side.
2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2017Feb 2018Jan 2020Aug 2022Apr 2023Apr 2024Dec 2024
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2017 to Jul 2025; peak Jun 2024 (4).

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
2016Caution7115519
2017Good43161020

All Mercedes-Benz S550 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 reliable?
NHTSA lists 16 complaints and 10 recalls for the 2017 S550, with a complaint index of 43. That places it 5th out of 8 model years and earns a "Good" verdict compared to other S550 years.
What is the top problem area for the 2017 S550?
Visibility & Wipers complaints make up 25% of all reported issues, mainly involving repeated windshield cracking, followed by Steering issues at 19%.
Does the 2017 S550 have a steering recall?
Yes. Recall 17V714000 covers a transistor fault in the power steering control unit on 2017 S550 and related models; dealers inspect and replace the steering rack as necessary.
How does the 2017 S550 compare to the 2015 model year?
The 2015 S550 has a complaint index of 100 and an "Avoid" verdict, while the 2017 model has a much lower index of 43 and a "Good" verdict.
What is the median mileage at failure for the 2017 S550?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 23,000 miles for the 2017 S550, though individual problem areas vary, from 600 miles for electrical issues to 100,000 miles for seat belt issues.

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.