2010 Mercedes-Benz S550

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S550 has 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is suspension problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: 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..

1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SUSPENSION

6 complaints

27%

• 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.
• 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 TH
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

5 complaints

23%

• 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.
• 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 TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES BENZ S550. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AT THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints

23%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GEORGETOWN (7401 S IH-35, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626, 512-930-6150) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GEORGETOWN (7401 S IH-35, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626, 512-930-6150) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED
• UPON REFULING MY AUTOMOBILE FULL I COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF GAS FUMES. EARLIER THAT DAY I HAD AN IMPACT OF MY TIRE OVER A CURB. GAS FUMES COULD BE SMELLED NOT SO MUCH ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE AUTO BUT INSIDE WITHOUT ABATEMENT. UPON INSPECTION BY MERCEDES BENZ OF STOCKTON CA IT WAS DETERMINED A F

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GEORGETOWN (7401 S IH-35, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626, 512-930-6150) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints

• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

1 complaints

• 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 TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 22 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SUSPENSION: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GEORGETOWN (7401 S IH-35, GEORGETOWN, TX 78626, 512-930-6150) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)