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1996 Mercedes Benz 500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
22
19936
19948
19956
19968
19972
19987
1999
Compare all 500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
2Visibility
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
1Structure
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR SHAKES AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN, DUE TO A HARNESS PROBLEM. DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM THE SPEED OF THE CAR IT STARTS TO SLOWS DOWN BEFORE THE ENGINE DIES OUT AND WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WOULD DO IT SLOWLY, NOT AT NORMAL SPEED. ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM, THERE'S A MISFIRE…

Read full complaint

WHEN IT RAINS THE CAR SHAKES AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN, DUE TO A HARNESS PROBLEM. DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM THE SPEED OF THE CAR IT STARTS TO SLOWS DOWN BEFORE THE ENGINE DIES OUT AND WHEN I TRY TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WOULD DO IT SLOWLY, NOT AT NORMAL SPEED. ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM, THERE'S A MISFIRE IN THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457368

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2011
Visibility

1996 MERCEDES BENZ S500. CONSUMER STATES TEMPERATURE/ CLIMATE CONTROL MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED *TGW THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10403090

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHIOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT FROM TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842686

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
EquipmentVisibility

WINDOW BUTTON FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #605161

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1997
Structure

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #604900

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1996
Power Train

WHINING NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #512051

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.