AI Damage2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and wheels. The maker issued 81 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 81
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 27% of all complaints
- 2 Wheels 18% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 18% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- Visibility: 3 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
- Wheels: 2 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Air bags: 1 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 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 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
Heard a loud bang while driving down the highway and didn't know what it was until returning home and looked up and saw the rigid crack from front to the back on the panoramic glass. There are no indications of debris hitting the glass as there are no chips.
Vehicle's front windshield spontaneously cracked overnight while vehicle as parked in a locked private garage. Crack originates at top of windshield frame where body torques the glass and continues through advanced driver assistance systems, ending up in driver's line-of-sight.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 mercedes benz s550 4matic. The contact stated that the recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 19v01000 (air bags) was received. After contacting the local dealer (unknown), the contact was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available.
It changes the distance ( you can see it happen in the in the menu setting on the speed and tachometer screen) as soon as the car autonomously brakes. Set it at 200 feet and in reality it is 90 feet and as soon as it brakes the distance to keep instantly drops to just under what it is set at so the car thinks the…
In 2015 mercedes bought back my 2014 s550 due to the reasons stated here.they also helped me buy a 2016 s,which came in around 12/18/2015 figured the problems would have been fixed by then.mercedes had enough time to fix them if they wanted to since I have been complaining since I first got my 2014.I immediately…
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 10,521 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the S550 4matic has 6 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 11, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors
Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and…
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic…
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic /9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective and…
- Complaint Repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60MPH. NOTE
Although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. Cause Although the cause of the vibration…
- Complaint Only vehicles with a variable transfer case are affected
This can be identified through control unit N45 or N15/7 in the quick test. When accelerating with light load, vibrations or jolting sensation may come from the drivetrain. It may be mistaken for a harsh shift. Cause…
- Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic…
Complaint Customer complaints relating to automatic transmission 725.0 (NAG3 Classic / 9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission) and 725.1 (NAG3 facelift/9G‑TRONIC automatic transmission facelift) For faster, more effective…
- Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same…
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering…
- Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally
Cause Accidental or unnoticed activation of the button to open the tailgate on the vehicle key. EXAMPLE: when stored in trouser pocket, handbag etc. Remedy As of the 6th generation, the vehicle key can be recoded so…
- Complaint A popup is seen on the HU with the message "data connection temporarily not available"
Potentially affected functionalities in NTG4.5, NTG5 1.Weather 2.Local Search 3.IP Radio 4.Send2Car 5.Speech Detection Service 6.Navigation 7.iHeartRadio 8.Traffic Cams Cause MB Apps is sundowned for all vehicles with…
- Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns
It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be used on its own as justification for creating a TIPS case. Cause The root cause will vary depending on the…
- Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end)
The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), the…
- Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering…
Complaint Creaking noise, in irregular sequence when driving slowly in combination with slight steering movements and/or Creaking/crackling noises from the area of the wheel bearing on the front axle when cornering/…
- Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed,…
Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be returned to your facing PDC. The deadline for all dealer returns is no later than…
NHTSA lists 81 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
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 years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, wheels, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (18%), A/C or heater (9%), infotainment or screen glitches (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic?
NHTSA lists 81 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4matic 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 2016 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.