AI DamageMercedes-Benz S550 4matic: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic across 3 model years: 19 owner complaints and 96 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 26% of all complaints
- 2 Wheels 16% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- Visibility: 5 complaints (26% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Wheels: 3 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Air bags: 2 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 5 | 0 | 15 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 46 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 8 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The side airbags did not deploy, neither did the front airbags. The car was totaled. The side airbags are supposed to deploy in a side impact or rollover situation, both of which occurred.
Stopped in traffic on a slight downgrade for a long period of time. Brake pedal was applied firmly, when the truck in front of me would release the pedal slightly to allow the car to drift forward. After several times there were no breaks and the car drifted into the truck in front of us.
I got this certified car from Mercedes Benz dealer. I have driven it sparingly for less than 10K miles without really any hitting any bumps or potholes . After a recent service [XXX] 2024 at a MB dealer, I was told that 2 wheels were cracked 1 front & 1 back .
I have now experienced cracks on three separate tire rims. The car has less than 41,000 miles.the tires are low profile, run flat tires and the rims appear to be aluminum and faulty.
I am replacing the rear rims for the 3rd time in 1 year. The 2 amg rear rims keep cracking under normal driving conditions. This is absolutely ludicrous. I have driven for nearly 30 years and never had to keep replacing cracked rims like this. These rims are nearly 1500 each.
Fault door hinge driver door - hinge makes creaking noises and has sticking points
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic…
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
- Complaint Only vehicles with a variable transfer case are affected
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic…
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same…
- Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally
- Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available"
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
- Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns
- Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid…
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-05.