AI Damage1995 Mercedes-Benz S Series: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S Series filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 56% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (56% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (33% of all).
- Air bags: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl contact owns a 1995 mercedes s500. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the engine suddenly locked up and the vehicle stopped. The passenger side air bag deployed suddenly. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the driveshaft flex disk caused the failure.
Disconnected battery to avoid further fire. Diagnosed as faulty engine wiring harness.
While driving approximately 35 mph the engine stalled without warning. After several attempts the vehicle was able to be restarted. However she noticed the "asr" warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle has not been repaired at this time. The failure 137,150. The current mileage was 137,341.
Engine wiring harness failure. Engine stalling and misfiring.
1995 mercedes s420 engine wiring harness-insulation and wire disintergration causing engine to stall and false indicators and overheating sudden loss of power and stalling while driving.
When driving on highway asr light came on, and caused the vehicle to slow down. Right away had to press the pedal all the way to the floor in order to keep moving. Contacted dealer, and dealer made 5 attempts to repair it. But was unable to resolve problem. Problem still exists.
A sulfur smell emanates after my mercedes s500v has been running during warm weather conditions or when the car is running for a period of at least half an hour while driving the speed limit. When I pull into my garage at home, the smell comes into my home.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S Series?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, air bags. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (33%), warning lights, check engine (22%), overheating, coolant loss (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz S Series?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1995 Mercedes-Benz S Series from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1995 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.