Model year record
2004 Mercedes-Benz S500 recalls & problems
The 2004 Mercedes-Benz S500 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 12 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S500.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
S500
| City / highway | 14 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 7-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,850/year to fuel
S500 4matic
| City / highway | 14 / 20 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel | 6 | 104,500 mi |
| Suspension | 3 | — |
| Service brakes | 3 | 93,000 mi |
| Air bags | 2 | — |
| Steering | 2 | — |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | — |
| Seat belts | 1 | — |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | — |
| WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 1 | — |
| Interior lighting | 1 | — |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Exterior lighting
The dash board lights lose their ability to illuminate the dashboard and the back airbags on the suspension keep deflating
- Suspension
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Service brakes1 injury
SYSTEMATIC WATER INTRUSION BY AIR COWL DISABLED ELECTRONICS WHILE DRIVING AND ALSO LONG TERM CAUSED A HEALTH ISSUE RESPIRATORY NEUROLOGICAL - TWO YEARS HOMEBOUND AFTER WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED W/UNKNOWN CANCER
- Electrical system
THE TRUNK WIRING HARNESS HAVE WIRES THAT THE PROTECTIVE COVERING HAS SHRED AND ALL COME APART. CAUSING WRITERS TO TOUCH. LOCKS NOT TO LOCK. TRUCK WON'T OPEN AND LICENSE PLATES LIGHTS ARE OUT
- Air bags
LICENSE PLAYE LIGHT OUT SHORT CAUSES SRS LIGHT TO COME ON AND HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THERE IS NOW AN SIS DEFECTIVE LIGHT DUE TO THE WIRING. MY TRUCK DOES NOT POWER CLOSE. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES. AND WHILE TURNING IT CAUSED AN ERROR FOR TURN LIGHTS
- SteeringCrash
DURING RAIN STORM, WATER SEEPEED INO AIR COWL INTO CABIN-PASSENGER SIDE- FLOODED FLOOR EVENTUALLY SAM ELECTRONIC MODULE UNDER FLOOR WAS DAMAGED AND SHUT OFF ELECTRONICS IN AUTOMOBILE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY- WITH OUT POWER CONTROLS OPERATING IT MADE DRIVING AND STOPPING THE CAR A VERY DANGEROUS FEAT EVENTUALLY WENT OFF ROAD INTO GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN AWARE (A LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN CA) OF DESIGN DEFECT OF AIR COWL DRAIN CLOGGING AND FLOODING CABIN BUT HAS KEPT THIS DANGEROUS FLAW FROM OWNERS EVEN THOUGH WE LEARNED THEY HAVE FOR SALE AN UPDATE KIT TO PREVENT THIS AT OWNERS EXPENSE. OUR CASE FORTUNATELY DID NOT CAUSE A FATALITY BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HAD…
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VENT CONTROLS FAILED TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONING AND THE HEATING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR REGULATOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
- Electrical system
ON MAY 16, 2014, I PURCHASED A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S500 WITH 61,649 MILES FROM CAR CREDIT NATION.AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND VISITING WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE INSPECTIONS, WE FOUND FURTHER ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, THAT WE FELT WERE LIFE THREATENING AND HAZARDOUS TO THE ROAD, OTHER DRIVERS, AND OUR SAFETY. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT THE ROTORS AND BRAKES WERE EXTREMELY BAD ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH THEY NOTICE AT THE TIME OF THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, WHERE THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CUTOFF,THE ALARM SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF AND LOCKED, THE COMMAND…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.