NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
54 reports90,000 miles · Apr 13, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND UNILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND UNILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10705300
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling
WORN TIMING SPROCKET AND BALANCE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IN 2011. MERCEDES BENZ KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND DID NOT INFORM ME. THE VEHICLE HAD 46000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. IF I WAS INFORM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT. …
Read full complaint
WORN TIMING SPROCKET AND BALANCE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IN 2011. MERCEDES BENZ KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND DID NOT INFORM ME. THE VEHICLE HAD 46000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. IF I WAS INFORM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10653045
68,400 miles · Sep 1, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE BECOMES STUCK IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WILL NOT SHIFT, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MOVE QUICKLY. FOR EXAMPLE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO MOVE THE CAR. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TO RESET THE COMPUTER TO GET THE CAR OUT OF 6TH GEAR. THIS HAS H…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE BECOMES STUCK IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WILL NOT SHIFT, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MOVE QUICKLY. FOR EXAMPLE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE TO MOVE THE CAR. I HAD TO SHUT THE CAR OFF TO RESET THE COMPUTER TO GET THE CAR OUT OF 6TH GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES OVER THE PAST 3 MONTH PERIOD. MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR LOSE POWER WHEN IT IS STUCK IN A GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629934
57,650 miles · Aug 22, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
2007 S550, 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 57,000 MILES. STARTED ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO. EXPERIENCING VERY ROUGH JOLTING TYPE SHIFTING, MOST COMMONLY OCCURS AFTER BEING PARKED ON AN INCLINE OR DECLINE. OCCURS WHEN DRIVING UP OR DOWN AN INCLINE. ALSO, OCCURS ON THE FREEWAY OR AFTER USING CRUISE CONTROL. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIR…
Read full complaint
2007 S550, 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 57,000 MILES. STARTED ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS AGO. EXPERIENCING VERY ROUGH JOLTING TYPE SHIFTING, MOST COMMONLY OCCURS AFTER BEING PARKED ON AN INCLINE OR DECLINE. OCCURS WHEN DRIVING UP OR DOWN AN INCLINE. ALSO, OCCURS ON THE FREEWAY OR AFTER USING CRUISE CONTROL. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND STAYS THERE UNTIL IT'S RESTARTED. REQUIRES TURNING OFF THE CAR WAITING A FEW SECONDS AND RESTARTING TO RESET THE GEARS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOW STARTING TO COME ON.VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I CANNOT BELIEVE IT SIMPLY HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE...I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS I AM WITH HER.----MANY FORUMS ARE SUGGESTING A VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT. APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLE. LOCATED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT UNFORTUNATELY WAS DISMISSED DUE TO THE COMPLAINT CITING FRAUD. I DON'T BELIEVE MERCEDES SOLD THESE VEHICLES KNOWING THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. I WOULD JUST EXPECT THEM AFTER RECEIVING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO OFFER THEIR CLIENTS A REPAIR OPTION VIA RECALL. TO DATE I AM NOT AWARE OF ONE. I HAVE OWNED 4 MERCEDES IN MY LIFETIME, 38 YEARS OLD AND HAD A FEW MINOR ISSUE HERE AND THERE BUT NEVER ANYTHING LIKE THIS. SERVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREAT BUT NOW THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY I AM LEFT OUT IN THE COLD. NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS IN MY OPINION AND VERY UNSAFE FOR ANYONE ON THE ROAD WHILE A MERCEDES OWNER IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10627631
77,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Engine
MY LAST TWO VEHICLES HAVE BEEN A 2007 MERCEDES S550. MY FIRST ONE OPERATED WELL UNTIL THE LAST 6-MONTHS THAT I HAD IT. DURING THAT TIME, I HAD SIX VISITS AND $5000+ IN REPAIRS, BEFORE A FREAK FLOOD TOTALED THE CAR. I USED THE INSURANCE MONEY AND PURCHASED A SECOND CAR, IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE THE FIRST P…
Read full complaint
MY LAST TWO VEHICLES HAVE BEEN A 2007 MERCEDES S550. MY FIRST ONE OPERATED WELL UNTIL THE LAST 6-MONTHS THAT I HAD IT. DURING THAT TIME, I HAD SIX VISITS AND $5000+ IN REPAIRS, BEFORE A FREAK FLOOD TOTALED THE CAR. I USED THE INSURANCE MONEY AND PURCHASED A SECOND CAR, IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST. I HAVE NOT EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A GASKET LEAK BETWEEN THE UPPER / LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS A MOLDED GASKET AND IS NOT FIELD REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE MANIFOLD MUST BE REPLACED AT $2000. IN MY RESEARCH, IT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES, BUT THEY REFUSE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD, THEY ALLOW THE WARRANTY TO EXPIRE AND ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE BILL. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA AND THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY COMPENSATION OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOWS A LACK OF COMMITMENT BY MERCEDES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I MIGHT POINT OUT THAT THEY ONLY HAVE 48 MONTH / 50K WARRANTY, WHICH IS VERY LOW TO OTHER VEHICLES WHICH HAVE A STANDARD 10 YEAR / 100K WARRANTY. THIS TELLS ME THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE THE FAITH IN THEIR CARS TO INCREASE THE WARRANTY. THIS IS A CAR THAT COST 100K NEW AND ONE WOULD EXPECT A BETTER WARRANTY AND SUPPORT FROM A COMPANY THAT TOUTS THEIR CARS AS BEING THE BEST. I CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES OR STEP FOOT INTO A DEALERSHIP. ON THAT NOTE, I CAUGHT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ATTEMPTING TO OVERCHARGE ME ON A PART BY $400. ONCE I PROVED WHAT OTHER DEALERS WHERE CHARGING, THEY MADE AN EXCUSE AND GAVE ME THE PART AT THE RATE THAT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP WAS CHARGING. WHAT A SHAME. BUYER BEWARE!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10621728
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING MY S550 AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THERE WAS TO RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR RPMS WERE INCREASING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS CRAWLING AT LESS THAN 5MPH. THIS LED TO ME PULLING OVER AND PARKING THE…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY S550 AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THERE WAS TO RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR RPMS WERE INCREASING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS CRAWLING AT LESS THAN 5MPH. THIS LED TO ME PULLING OVER AND PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND IT BEGAN TO WORK NORMALLY. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND THE CAR WAS REVVING BUT TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAVING TO STOP SHORT TO PREVENT CRASHING INTO ME WHILE I WAS MAKING THE LEFT TURN. THIS WAS AGAIN RESOLVED WITH ME PARKING THE VEHICLE, TURNING IT OFF AND THEN RESTARTING IT. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED OUT OF NO WHERE I DECIDED ITS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10618927
160,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WITH ELECTRICAL PLATES NEEDED TO B…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WITH ELECTRICAL PLATES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA ODI #10588912
136,000 miles · Apr 26, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING MY S550 AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THERE WAS TO RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR RPMS WERE INCREASING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS CRAWLING AT LESS THAN 5MPH. THIS LED TO ME PULLING OVER AND PARKING THE…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY S550 AND CAME TO A RED LIGHT. I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT THERE WAS TO RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THE CAR RPMS WERE INCREASING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS CRAWLING AT LESS THAN 5MPH. THIS LED TO ME PULLING OVER AND PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED IT AND IT BEGAN TO WORK NORMALLY. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND THE CAR WAS REVVING BUT TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAVING TO STOP SHORT TO PREVENT CRASHING INTO ME WHILE I WAS MAKING THE LEFT TURN. THIS WAS AGAIN RESOLVED WITH ME PARKING THE VEHICLE, TURNING IT OFF AND THEN RESTARTING IT. AFTER THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED OUT OF NO WHERE I DECIDED ITS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10585032
64,122 miles · Dec 18, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train
THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AND THEN QUIT RUNNING. THE CONDUCTOR PLATE IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THIS IS A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT THAT MERCEDES-BENZ HAS IGNORED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10556570
78,000 miles · Jul 31, 2013
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD NOISE WHEN COMPLETING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION OR WHEN TRAVELING OVER A ROAD BUMP. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD NOISE WHEN COMPLETING A TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION OR WHEN TRAVELING OVER A ROAD BUMP. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ALSO SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, AND THE BALL JOINTS DRIED OUT AND FAILED.. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10532893