2016 Mercedes-Benz S550

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 has 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: takata recall. i was driving on the highway on my way to phoenix az to drop off my mom and grandma when suddenly the sunroof exploded. it sounded like a gun shot. there wasn't any type of object near me to cause it. it was very random. this disturbed my family mentally scaring them and i swerved off.

1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

6 complaints

33%

• TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX AZ TO DROP OFF MY MOM AND GRANDMA WHEN SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF OBJECT NEAR ME TO CAUSE IT. IT WAS VERY RANDOM. THIS DISTURBED MY FAMILY MENTALLY SCARING THEM AND I SWERVED OFF
• I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND WAS ASTOUNDED TO FIND A LONG DIAGONAL CRACK ACROSS THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF OF MY 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE OR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY
• on Feb 26, 2022 between the hours of 4:00 am and 5:15 am the Sunroof on my 2016 S550 Mercedes Benz shatter for no cause or reasons while driving on the main highway. When the loud bang accrued while driving I immediately pulled the car over to exam the issue and I noticed the Sunroof glass had shatt

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

“TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX AZ TO DROP OFF MY MOM AND GRANDMA WHEN SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF OBJECT NEAR ME TO CAUSE IT. IT WAS VERY RANDOM. THIS DISTURBED MY FAMILY MENTALLY SCARING THEM AND I SWERVED OFF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

3 complaints

17%

• TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX AZ TO DROP OFF MY MOM AND GRANDMA WHEN SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF OBJECT NEAR ME TO CAUSE IT. IT WAS VERY RANDOM. THIS DISTURBED MY FAMILY MENTALLY SCARING THEM AND I SWERVED OFF
• I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND WAS ASTOUNDED TO FIND A LONG DIAGONAL CRACK ACROSS THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF OF MY 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE OR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY
• My vehicle is listed in this Mercedes recall campaign bulletin, and it is also experiencing the safety issue that is discussed in this recall campaign bulletin: Campaign No.2021070010, August 2021 Revision A 09/03/2021 When I contact Mercedes to have the issue addressed, they stated my Vin is not a

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

TIRES

3 complaints

17%

• Staggered tires on this car Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2 Run flats. Front size - 245/40 R 20/99y, Rear -275/35 R 20/102 These tires cannot take the load of the car . I purchased the vehicle & the same tire (front driver side) has blown & ripped open over a moderate pothole, Aug 2020 & in Sep,
• Started car in parking lot and warming light read zero air in right front tire. No prior warning. Checking tire for any road hazard - nails or other potential punctures but none were present but the tire had a hole just below the wheel that had blown out. The tire is a Pirelli P Zero 245/40R20 Run F
• Started car in parking lot and warming light read zero air in right front tire. No prior warning. Checking tire for any road hazard - nails or other potential punctures but none were present but the tire had a hole just below the wheel that had blown out. The tire is a Pirelli P Zero 245/40R20 Run F

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

“Staggered tires on this car Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2 Run flats. Front size - 245/40 R 20/99y, Rear -275/35 R 20/102 These tires cannot take the load of the car . I purchased the vehicle & the same tire (front driver side) has blown & ripped open over a moderate pothole, Aug 2020 & in Sep, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

2 complaints

11%

• The car's front passenger passenger seat buckle fails to properly secure the seat belt. After inserting the seat belt it fails to latch into the buckle. The Mercedes dealer has examined the seat buckle and determined that it failed. They are recommending a replacement.
• Rear left seat belt is stuck and won’t retract. Seat has not been used much. Vehicle is a 2016 with 65,000 miles.

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

“The car's front passenger passenger seat buckle fails to properly secure the seat belt. After inserting the seat belt it fails to latch into the buckle. The Mercedes dealer has examined the seat buckle and determined that it failed. They are recommending a replacement.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

1 complaints

• I AM REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE 3RD TIME, SMALL STONES CREATING HUGE CRACKS, SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL FOR IT TO HAPPEN SO OFTEN.

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

“I AM REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE 3RD TIME, SMALL STONES CREATING HUGE CRACKS, SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL FOR IT TO HAPPEN SO OFTEN.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

TIRES(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 18 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX AZ TO DROP OFF MY MOM AND GRANDMA WHEN SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF OBJECT NEAR ME TO CAUSE IT. IT WAS VERY RANDOM. THIS DISTURBED MY FAMILY MENTALLY SCARING THEM AND I SWERVED OFF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX AZ TO DROP OFF MY MOM AND GRANDMA WHEN SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF OBJECT NEAR ME TO CAUSE IT. IT WAS VERY RANDOM. THIS DISTURBED MY FAMILY MENTALLY SCARING THEM AND I SWERVED OFF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TIRES: Staggered tires on this car Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2 Run flats. Front size - 245/40 R 20/99y, Rear -275/35 R 20/102 These tires cannot take the load of the car . I purchased the vehicle & the same tire (front driver side) has blown & ripped open over a moderate pothole, Aug 2020 & in Sep,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: The car's front passenger passenger seat buckle fails to properly secure the seat belt. After inserting the seat belt it fails to latch into the buckle. The Mercedes dealer has examined the seat buckle and determined that it failed. They are recommending a replacement.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)