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
Operating state
Reporting mechanism
Safety restraint issue
Electrical issue
Engine behavior
Ride/handling behavior
Safety restraint behavior
Thermal issue
Fluid issue
Performance issue
Transmission/drivetrain behavior
Access/entry issue
Lighting behavior
Powering on/off behavior
Smell
HVAC behavior
Braking behavior
Driver assistance issue
Steering behavior
Noise
Starting behavior
Infotainment behavior
Recent change
Vibration/harshness
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
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