NHTSA Data Explorer

Mercedes-Benz S320

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mercedes-Benz S320.

Complaints

292

Active records

Recalls

13

Active records

TSBs

58

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

1

Injuries

10

Crashes

9

Fires

9

Top reported issues — Mercedes-Benz S320

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

77

Operating state

64

Reporting mechanism

63

Safety restraint issue

36

Electrical issue

33

Engine behavior

31

Ride/handling behavior

31

Safety restraint behavior

17

Thermal issue

17

Fluid issue

14

Performance issue

14

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

12

Access/entry issue

11

Lighting behavior

11

Powering on/off behavior

10

Smell

10

HVAC behavior

9

Braking behavior

8

Driver assistance issue

8

Steering behavior

8

Noise

7

Starting behavior

5

Infotainment behavior

3

Recent change

3

Vibration/harshness

3

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

1995 MERCEDES BENZ S320

Filed Aug 9, 2019


LETTER TO SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT EXPRESSING CONCERNS RE HIS S320 MERCEDES BENZ. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, THE DRIVESHAFT DISC, BUSHING, CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. *JS *JS *JS

1995 MERCEDES BENZ S320

Filed Jan 8, 2018


Fire

SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHILE DRIVING.ON THE HIGHWAY 87 NORTH DECEMBER 23, 2017 AT 8:45AM. I WAS HEADING TO CANADA FOR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. LATER DISCOVERED THAT ALTERNATOR WIRING AND CABLES CAUGHT ON FIRE.

1996 MERCEDES BENZ S320

Filed Apr 28, 2017


THE TOTAL ENGINE HWIRE HARNESS INSULATION IS FALLING APART FROM VERIOUS AREA IN THE ENGINE BAY. WHICH MAKING THE WIRE TO EXPOSE - POSSIBILITIES OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE IF IT SHORT CIRCUIT. DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO KNOW. NOT ABLE TO FIND A NEW ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE VEHICLE . ANY HELP WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

1997 MERCEDES BENZ S320

Filed Jun 7, 2016


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 (NA) MERCEDES-BENZ S320. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.

1995 MERCEDES BENZ S320

Filed Mar 20, 2016


THE WIRING THAT CONTROLS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATOR HAS INSULATION THAT HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING A SHORT IN THE WIRING RESULTING IN AN INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT THE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY.

1995 MERCEDES BENZ S320

Filed Feb 5, 2015


ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND IS ROTTING OFF THE COPPER WIRE CAUSING SHORTS SHORTING OUT MODULES TRANSMISSION HAS STOP SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH UNLESS YOU LET UP OFF THE GAS AT HIGH RPM'S THEN LET IT FALL DOWN TO ABOUT 7000 RPM'S THEN IT SHIFTS I HAVE CAME CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRUCKS TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT THIS THING COULD CATCH FIRE AT ANY TIME I JUST WONDER WHAT ITS GOING TO TAKE TO GET THIS THING ON THE RECALL LIST IS MERCEDES WAITING FOR IT TO KILL SOMEONE…

1996 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS

Filed May 6, 2014


TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A CONNECTOR FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION FLUID TO FLOOD THE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…

2003 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS

Filed Apr 1, 2014


THE SRS SYSTEM (AIRBAGS) HAVE BEEN DEEMED INOPERABLE BY THE DEALER AND MAY EITHER DEPLOY AT ANY TIME OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A COLLISION. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER RECOGNITION SENSOR PAD LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH DISABLES/ENABLES THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONALITY. BOTH A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN THE 2000 TO 2006 MODEL YEAR MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS VEHICLES. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE CONTAINS A SENSOR THAT EVENTUALLY FAILS FOR NO APPARENT REASON OR WARNING…

2004 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS

Filed Mar 27, 2014


SRS SYSTEM NOT OPERATING ON PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

1993 MERCEDES S CLASS

Filed Mar 12, 2014


THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS HAS INSULATION THAT IS BADLY CRACKED AND FLAKING OFF CAUSING FAULT CODES AND POOR RUNNING. THE BODY HARNESS HAS CRACKED INSULATION AS WELL. WHILE THIS IS AN OLDER CAR IT IS LOW MILES AND HAS SPENT ITS LIFE STORED INDOORS. I HAVE A 1968 MODEL AMC CAR. THE WIRING IS FINE STILL. THIS WAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW FROM DAY ONE. IT WOULDN'T BE SO BAD IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT SO EXPENSIVE - 750 DOLLARS. *TR

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.