1997 Mercedes Benz S Class

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 10.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all S Class years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System

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: 2 of 2 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.

Electrical System. Review the 2 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

Electrical System complaints

2 reports

Clear category filter

140,000 miles · Mar 3, 2010

Electrical System

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE OF A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MERCEDES MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTI…

Read full complaint

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENGINE OF A 1997 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 HAS DISINTEGRATED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MERCEDES MANUFACTURER SEEMED TO HAVE USED AN INFERIOR AN UNSUITABLE INSULATION FOR THE WIRES, WHICH, FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN TIME, DETERIORATE ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM FUNCTIONING AS WELL AS CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION SUCH AS FIRE IN ENGINE AND ETC. THE MERCEDES MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10316157

83,000 miles · Mar 4, 2008

Electrical System

MULTIPLE FAILURES, WITH DEGRADATION OF INSULATION ON WIRING IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220071

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.