FUALTY DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM
2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S550 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 11 of 16 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.
- Suspension. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
6 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF THE WOODLANDS, 16917 INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH, WOODLAND TEXAS 77…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THE NIGHT BEFORE AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF THE WOODLANDS, 16917 INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH, WOODLAND TEXAS 77385) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION HAD TO BE RE-CALIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
WIFE DRIVING 45 MPH ON 4 LANE HWWY RIGHT FRONT OF CAR FALLS DOWN ON TIRE PULLED OFF ROAD SOON AS POSSIBILE RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT FAILED RUINED TIRE DAMAGED FENDER LUCKLY ONLY 45 MPH NOT 80 MPH ON I-75 INTERSTATE OR 130 MPH ON AUTOBON IN GERMANY OR SOMEBODY COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
MY S550 WHEN DRIVING WOULD SUDDENLY GIVE A MALFUNCTION SIGNAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SERVICE REPLACED THE 2 FRONT STRUTS. NOW THE CALL WILL GIVE A SIGNAL, RED LETTERS, "DO NOT MOVE CAR" AND THE ENTIRE STRUT SYSTEM WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR BODY IS VIRTUALLY SITTING ATOP THE TIRES. THIS AFTER REPLACING THE 2 FRONT STRUTS! …
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MY S550 WHEN DRIVING WOULD SUDDENLY GIVE A MALFUNCTION SIGNAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, SERVICE REPLACED THE 2 FRONT STRUTS. NOW THE CALL WILL GIVE A SIGNAL, RED LETTERS, "DO NOT MOVE CAR" AND THE ENTIRE STRUT SYSTEM WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR BODY IS VIRTUALLY SITTING ATOP THE TIRES. THIS AFTER REPLACING THE 2 FRONT STRUTS! THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO BE AT A LOSS AND I CAN'T EVEN GET THEM TO RETURN MY CALLS. I DON'T THINK IT IS A STRUT PROBLEM BUT A COMPUTER GLITCH. I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY TO PAY FOR THE STRUT REPLACEMENT. I WOULD LIKE MY CAR FIXED OR A REFUND.
PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED MERCEDES BENZ S5550 4 MATIC. COMPLETE STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED AN HOUR AFTER PURCHASE (AFTER 20 MILES OF DRIVING). THE CAR'S STEERING WHEEL WAS SPINNING FREELY, AND NO CONTROL OVER THE FRONT WHEELS WAS POSSIBLE WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE HAD TO BE RECOVERED BY THE DEALER. *TR
WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED EVEN FOR A FEW SECONDS, VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT AND WILL PUT YOU IN THE DITCH IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE SHOULD TRACK STRAIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS RELEASED.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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