Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2002 Mercedes Benz S600
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
650.0%
Median failure at 98,000 miles
Suspension
325.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 118,350 mi
Electrical System
325.0%
Median failure at 38,643 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
111.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
222.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
222.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
333.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2006peak 2Jul 2024
NHTSA investigations into the 2002 Mercedes Benz S600
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE07042Opened 14 Aug 2007Closed 20 Nov 2007SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION:LINES AND FITTINGS
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE
THE SUBJECT S-CLASS VEHICLES CONTAIN A COMPRESSED AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT USES AIR STRUTS ON EACH OF THE FOUR WHEELS IN LIEU OF TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS.THESE AIR STRUTS USE COMPRESSED AIR TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL RIDE HEIGHT.IN THE EVENT OF THE LOSS OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, AN ALERT WILL FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING THE DRIVER TO EITHER DRIVE CAREFULLY OR TO STOP THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT CAN BE REDUCED BY AS MUCH AS 105 MM BELOW NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT BEFORE THE FULL LOAD OF THE VEHICLE FOR THAT WHEEL COMES TO REST ON A STEEL ROD, WIT...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Orlando, FLFire
SUSPENSION
THE CAR WAS LEAKING OIL AND HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE CAR WOULD NOT RAISE UP AND WAS LEAKING OIL AS FAST AS IT WAS PUT IN. IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. COULD NOT FIX IT I HAD TO PARK IT.
NHTSA complaint #10393645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 98,000 milesFayetteville, NC
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the active body control warning light illuminated, after which the front suspension lowered to the ground, preventing the vehicle from being driven. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the hydro-pneumatic suspension pump and high-pressure hose. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V263000 (Suspension, Engine, and Engine Cooling) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #11600533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,000 milesFayetteville, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the active body control warning light illuminated, after which the front suspension lowered to the ground, preventing the vehicle from being driven. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the hydro-pneumatic suspension pump and high-pressure hose. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V263000 (Suspension, Engine, and Engine Cooling) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #11600533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 138,700 milesHamtramck, MI
SUSPENSION
ABC LINE STARTED LEAKING SECOND TIME IN 4 YEARS EXACTLY REPLACED IT BACK IN 2013 ALMOST COST ME 1500 AND NOW ITS BACK DOING THE SAME PROBLEMS THE CAR IS TO LOW ON THE GROUND AND CAN'T NOT DRIVE WHATS SO EVER
NHTSA complaint #11005430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesThomson, GA
ENGINE
MASSIVE OIL LEAK. OIL COOLER. BACK OF ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #11004677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chico, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LIGHTS, GAUGES, AND METERS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10862850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,615 milesChula Vista, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MASSIVE OIL LEAK. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S EVERYTHING FROM OIL PRESSURE VALVES TO THE OIL COOLER. MB... WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?? I NEED HELP AND NONE OF THE SAN DIEGO MB DEALERS CAN FIX PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10435223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FLFire
SUSPENSION
THE CAR WAS LEAKING OIL AND HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE CAR WOULD NOT RAISE UP AND WAS LEAKING OIL AS FAST AS IT WAS PUT IN. IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE. COULD NOT FIX IT I HAD TO PARK IT.
NHTSA complaint #10393645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,200 milesN Potomac, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL LEAK FROM OIL COOLER SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10294579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Biloxi, MS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL COOLER LEAK ON MY 2002 S600, AND I FOUND OUT THAT THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS (2000-2002 V12 ENGINES) AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD COVER OR AT LEAST A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE REPAIR. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR WEBSITE SO I DECIDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AND SAID THE REAR MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I PAID OVER $1100.00 FOR THIS REPAIR AND TOOK THE CAR BACK 3 TIMES WITHIN A WEEK AND A HALF BECAUSE THE OIL LEAK CONTINUED ONLY TO FIND OUT THE OIL COOLER IS WHAT IS LEAKING AND NOT THE REAR MAIN SEAL.
NHTSA complaint #10239514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 118,500 milesFairburn, GA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE MERCEDES S600 HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE OIL COOLER THAT IS EMBEDDED INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS REQUIRES THE INTAKE AND HEADS TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE OIL COOLER AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $5K. SPECIAL CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO CLEAN THE OIL FROM THE WIRING HARNESS, TRANSMISSION AND AREAS THAT HAS BEEN SOAKED BY THE OIL LEAK. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO RE-OCCUR EVERY 50-100K MILES. AS A KNOWN PROBLEM, MERCEDES HAS NOT ASSUMED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10229469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,264 milesAtherton, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO LOSE ALL POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT COIL PACKS AND THAT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS AGAIN, AT A TOTAL COST OF $3875.00 THIS SEEMS VERY DISTURBING CONSIDERING THEY ALREADY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOW REFUSE TO TAKE RESPOSIBILITY FOR THE COIL PACKS EVEN THOUGH THEY ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE HIGH IGNITION SYSTEMS. ONLY 14275 MILES ON VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10185393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 63,022 milesStafford,, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1. DRIVING VEHICLE ON LONG DISTANCE TRIP 2.. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ALL GAUGES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. REPLACED FUSE TO RESTORE GAUGES, BUT FUSED FAILED WITHIN 5 MINUTES, REPEATED ATTEMPTS RESULTED IN THE SAME OUTAGE. 3. APPOINT WITH DEALER ON 9/11/06 TO REPAIR ESTIMATED $1400 COST.
NHTSA complaint #10166829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.