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: 6 of 9 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reports
174,020 miles · Oct 18, 2010
Air BagsPower Train
TL*THE 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. THE CURRENT AN…
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TL*THE 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. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 174,020.
NHTSA ODI #10361066
103,000 miles · Jun 16, 2010
Electrical System
1995 S600 WIRING HARNESS FAILURE-- ASR LIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336596
86,800 miles · Feb 6, 2010
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE WAS RUNNING POORLY, ARRIVED HOME AND SMELLED BURNING WIRES. DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO AVOID FURTHER FIRE. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. *CN
NHTSA ODI #10307023
137,150 miles · Nov 10, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420. 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.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420. 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. UPDATED 12/07/09. *LJ THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS WERE REPLACED AND THE STEERING BOX WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 12/08/09
NHTSA ODI #10291621
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2007
Electrical System
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. ENGINE STALLING AND MISFIRING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208217
102,576 miles · Aug 23, 2007
Electrical System
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. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10200633
145,000 miles · Aug 15, 2007
Electrical System
I HAVE 1995 MERCEDES S320 AND HAVING VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS....IT'S CRACKED ALL OVER AROUND THE FUEL INJECTIONS & IGNITION COILS AND MANY MORE PLACES.....MERCEDES NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE THE LAMINATED MATERIAL THEY HAVE USED ON THE WIRES IS VERY VERY CHEAP AND IT'S COMING OFF THE WIRES & LEAVING THE…
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I HAVE 1995 MERCEDES S320 AND HAVING VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS....IT'S CRACKED ALL OVER AROUND THE FUEL INJECTIONS & IGNITION COILS AND MANY MORE PLACES.....MERCEDES NEED TO TAKE CARE OF IT BECAUSE THE LAMINATED MATERIAL THEY HAVE USED ON THE WIRES IS VERY VERY CHEAP AND IT'S COMING OFF THE WIRES & LEAVING THEM NACKED AND LEADING INTO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10199695
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
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. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #862687
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
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. THE SULFUR SMELL IS OFFENSIVE AND I BELIEVE TO BE HAZARDOUS TO MY HEAL…
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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. THE SULFUR SMELL IS OFFENSIVE AND I BELIEVE TO BE HAZARDOUS TO MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY FAMILY. MY FAMILY AND I, AS WELL AS OTHER PASSENGERS, HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE ODOR. IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE CONDITION WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRS THE USE OF MY VEHICLE. MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED IN WRITING WITH FOUR (4) LETTERS. PRESTIGE MOTORS, INC. HAS HAD THE CAR IN TO REPAIR THE SULFUR SMELL SEVEN (7) TIMES. MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA AND PRESTIGE MOTORS, INC. HAVE BEEN GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AND TO THIS DATE THEY STILL HAVEN'T DONE SO. AT THIS POINT, I DEMAND THAT MERCEDES BENZ REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE CAR WITH A NEW ONE.
NHTSA ODI #700865
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.
1995 Mercedes Benz S Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year