37 of the
95 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz S600
are about the engine —
39% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROGRESSING OIL LEAK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF A LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 11/01/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED OIL LEAKED OUT ON TO THE MANIFOLD CAUSING HEAVY SMOKE. ALSO, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SAG OR LEAN IN THE FRONT END AND REAR.
NHTSA complaint #10884660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA INFLATORS MY CAR SEEMS TO BE LEAKING OIL. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY OIL COOLER, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ S 600 IN THAT IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MATTER...WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED OIL LEAKS IN MY GARAGE SO AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR I PULLED THE CAR OVER SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED THE TOW TRUCK...
NHTSA complaint #10884648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #10824246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKS. THIS LOOKS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL WITH V12 ENGINE.THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10824310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THESE S600 WITH V12 ENGINES FROM 2000-2005 HAVE SEVERE ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKS. SOME WITH AS LITTLE AS 30,000 MILES. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO NOW MERCEDES WANTS TO CHARGE FROM 5,OOO TO 6,000 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM AND DONT WANT TO WARRANT AFTER FIX BECAUSE ITS A RECURRING PROBLEM BECAUSE OF POOR ENGINEERING. THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10838369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OIL COOLER SEALS FAIL APPROXIMATELY EVERY 50 TO 60,000 MILES & IN ORDER TO CHANGE THEM YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE HEADS OFF THE ENGINE.THIS JOB COST ANYWHERE FROM $3,400 TO $6,000 DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO. FIRST & FOREMOST THE OIL LEAK BECOMES BAD VERY QUICKLY & SPILLS DOWN THE MANIFOLD, WHILE DRIVING COULD CAUSE A FIRE & EVEN WORST DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #10824354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM FOR 2004 RECALL BUT MERCEDES BENZ DOSE NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES. THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE. CONSEQUENCE: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. ORIGINAL RECALL FROM THE NHTSA MODEL YEAR(S): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 MANUFACTURER'S REPORT DATE: JULY 2, 2007 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V263000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: SUSPENSION POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 19,924 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE RADIATOR IS DEFECTED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10713599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2005 HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM FOR 2004 RECALL BUT MERCEDES BENZ DOSE NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES. THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE. CONSEQUENCE: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE. ORIGINAL RECALL FROM THE NHTSA MODEL YEAR(S): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 MANUFACTURER'S REPORT DATE: JULY 2, 2007 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V263000 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: N/A COMPONENT: SUSPENSION POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 19,924 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE RADIATOR IS DEFECTED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH WAY.
NHTSA complaint #10713599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS LEAVING WORK I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY TO GET HOME AND 20 MINUTES LATER I PULLED INTO MY DEVELOPMENT WHEN THE CAR LOST ALL OF ITS POWER AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. FIRST I PANICKED THEN I EXITED THE CAR AND POPPED OPEN THE HOOD. ALL THE WIRING CONNECTING TO THE INJECTION HARNESS WERE SMOKING AND THE WIRES COMING OUT OF THE COMPUTER BOX HAD DISINTEGRATED SHOWING BARE COPPER WIRE. I FURTHER INSPECTED AND THE COATING HAD COME OFF THE WIRING INTO THE COMPUTER BOX. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME ABOUT THE WIRING THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD PUT INTO THIS CAR. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO. THIS CAUSED ME LOTS OF PROBLEMS, WHICH MY ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. AND THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO. THE VIN NUMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE DURING THIS WRITING.
NHTSA complaint #10660404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN REPEATED INCIDENTS, DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR IN MY 2007 MERCEDES BENZ S600 HAD NO EFFECT. I WAS, FOR EXAMPLE, LEFT ADRIFT IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC, WITH SEMI-TRAILERS WHIZZING BY AND NO WAY TO ACCELERATE--PURE INERTIA WAS CARRYING THE CAR FORWARD. MERCEDES BENZ'S LARGEST NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DEALER, AUTOBAHN, WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR MONTHS, EVEN AFTER ADVISING ME THAT THEY WERE "CONFIDENT" THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE, AND THE FACT THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THEIR CAUSE GIVES RISE TO SUBSTANTIAL CONCERN THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER S CLASS VEHICLES. THESE PROBLEMS RECURRED FOR MONTHS. THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED IS JUST BLIND LUCK, AND ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITH MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR. ULTIMATELY MERCEDES BENZ REPURCHASED THE CAR AS A LEMON. I HAVE COPIES OF CORRESPONDENCE TO MERCEDES, NONE OF WHICH IT RESPONDED TO IN WRITING.
NHTSA complaint #10547440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE ALMOST STARTED ON FIRE AFTER OIL STARTED POURING OUT OF OIL COOLER. HAD CAR TOWED TO GARAGE WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE LEAKING OIL COOLER. ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER WITH THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10458779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL FAILED AND CAUSED THE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V263000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10427156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DISTRIBUTION HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT HIS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,988.
NHTSA complaint #10380101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S600 OIL COOLER, LEAKING SUDDENLY, 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 2 DAYS (25 TO 50 MILES.) VERY STRONG SMELL OF BURNED OIL UPON EXITING CAR. NORMAL DRIVING. NO REASON FOR LEAKAGE, NO ACCIDENTS, SERVICED REGULARLY AND ON TIME. CONCERNED ABOUT OIL HITTING THE EXHAUST, RESULTING IN A FIRE. A FRIEND HAD HIS MERCEDES CATCH ON FIRE, ON THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM, TOTAL LOSS OF CAR, BUT DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE. MERCEDES ESTIMATES REPAIRS TO BE BETWEEN $8,000 & $10,000.....TO FIX AN OIL LEAK !!!!! TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE S600'S, AN ENGINEERING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE A RECALL. (SAID, UNFORTUNATELY, REPAIR SHOPS LOVE IT, $10,000 JOBS ARE FEW & FAR BETWEEN.) UPON CHECKING ON VARIOUS WEB SITES AND 'GOOGLING" THE PROBLEM, I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED FILING A COMPLAINT WITH YOU, YET I DO NOT SEE ANY REFERENCES TO THEM ON YOUR SITE. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR COMPLAINTS TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE RECALLS? PLEASE RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT , I WANT TO BE SURE THAT IT HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND READ. [XXX]
NHTSA complaint #10299820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MERCEDES BENZ, S-600 (MODEL 2003), IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ALMOST LOST CONTROL AFTER IT'S ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) LIGHT FLASHED ON SUDDENLY IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR BODY CAME DOWN GRINDING AGAINST THE WHEELS/TIRES ON 12/03/2009 AGAIN AFTER THE CAR'S ABC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED ON 11/19/2009 AT MB DEALER IN EDISON, NJ. I HAVE REPORTED SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR ABOUT ABC SYSTEM QUALITY PROBLEM (ODI NUMBER IS: 10294645). THE CAR WAS SENT TO MB DEALER IN EDISON, NJ FOR CHECKS AT SAME DAY AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WATER PUMP DEAD AND MADE ENGINE BELT BROKEN AND ABC SYSTEM AT MALFUNCTION. I FEEL THE ABC QUALITY PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED ENGINE WATER PUMP'S QUALITY. ABC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS SAFETY CONSIDERATION. IT LOOKS LIKE MB HAS A INCORRECT DESIGN OF ENGINE WATER PUMP AND ABC SYSTEM FOR S-600. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER THIS ISSUE FOR A NEW RECALL. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10294652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.