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1996 Mercedes Benz S420

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

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: 1 of 1 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 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. 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

1 reports
147,000 miles · Jul 10, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ S420. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SRS, VSR, TIRE AND OTHER UNKNOWN INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURES RECURRED A FEW …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ S420. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SRS, VSR, TIRE AND OTHER UNKNOWN INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURES RECURRED A FEW TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN, ONE OF THE TIRES CAME OFF THE RIM, THE RIM WAS CRACKED, AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO GO UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI #11230817

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.