2015 Mercedes Benz REDUNDANT S550E problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
56,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
1
14.3%
Electrical and battery issues
1
14.3%
Steering behavior
1
14.3%
Fuel system concerns
1
14.3%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Unknown Or Other
3
Electrical System
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Steering
1
Tires
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Unknown Or Other
3
Electrical System
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Steering
1
Tires
1
Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Steering: 1; Tires: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the air condition system activated, there was hot air blowing out of the vents. The contact stated that the hot air was blowing out of the vents and the floorboard was soiled with water. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the compressor and the motherboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the indepen…
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
57.1%Usable mileage4 / 7 records
100.0%Valid incident date7 / 7 records
100.0%Valid filing date7 / 7 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates7 / 7 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2015
Unknown Or Other
342.9%ODI 10873520
MY S550E TRUNK CAN REMAIN UNLOCKED AND SOMETIMES REFUSE TO LOCK - RESULTING IN COMPROMISING THE SECURITY OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE STATE MACHINE TO LOCK THE TRUNK. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A LOCKED STATE AND THE REMOTE IS USED TO LOCK THE TRUCK - IT FAILS TO DO SO.
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
REPLACED ALL TIRES WHEN ALL HAD SEVERE TREAD WEAR AND TWO HAD SIDE WALL BLISTERS AT 23,000 MILES. I RECEIVED AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT. WITH ABOUT 1,000 MILES ON THE NEW TIRES THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE SIDEWALL BLISTER. *JS
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Unknown Or Other
Too few reports for a range
40,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 11020403 · 40,000 mi
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
The contact owns a 2009 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the air condition system activated, there was hot air blowing out of the vents. The contact stated that the hot air was blowing out of the vents and the floorboard was soiled with water. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the compressor and the motherboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the indepen…
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
I PURCHASED A LAVISH S550 AND OVER TIME I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THE CABIN. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE SMELL BECAME MORE PUNGENT. I GO ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT SOME OF THE CARS HAD FAULTY FUEL PUMPS WHICH LEAK INTO THE BACKSEAT. NOT ONLY DOES IT LEAK BUT THE VAPORS ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CABIN MAKING IT UNBEARABLE TO BREATH. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MERCEDES AND THEY DON'T WANNA OWN UP TO THERE FAULTY EQUIPMENT. WITH THE TEMPERATURE BEING EXTREMELY HOT I WOULD THINK MY CAR WOULD BLOW UP BECAUSE IT IS A BLACK CAR. …
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2015: 3 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2015
0
2
3
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2015
5
0
2
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Unknown Or Other
Electrical System
Fuel/Propulsion System
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Steering
Tires
Unknown Or Other
—
1ODI 10887556
VEHICLE FAILS TO GO IN PARK AFTER DRIVING ON THE STREET AND ARRIVING AT THE GROCERY STORE.
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
I WAS ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD DRIVING ABOUT 10-15 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE CAR KEPT GOING STRAIGHT AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE ESP STABILITY CONTROL AND ABS FAILED TO OPERATE AT THAT POINT. THIS WAS AFTER A RECENT REPROGRAMMING BY THE DEALER. THIS FUNCTION HAD OPERATED CORRECTLY ALL WINTER PRIOR TO THAT EVENT. THE ESP LIGHT DID NOT FLASH LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES IN THAT SITUATION. THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A CAR COMING THE OTHER WAY AND I WOULD HAVE HIT THEM DUE TO THIS FAILURE. NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYE…
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Fuel smell or leak mentions
2 mentions · 28.6% of complaints
Median mileage: 102,000 mi (2 usable records).
ODI 11020403 · 40,000 mi
ON 8/29/17 AROUND 11:20 - 11:30AM, I WAS DRIVING ON N270 JUST OFF FROM HOV LANE FROM S495 NEAR MONTROSE EXIT(LITTLE BIT BEFORE), SOME METALLIC ROUND WHEEL TYPE WITH SHARP EDGES AROUND FLEW OVER FROM S270. I TRIED TO AVOID IT BY SWERVE MY CAR BUT IT MUST HAVE LANDED BELOW MY CAR AND SCRATCHED UNDERNEATH WHICH CAUSED MY CAR MAKING WEIRD SOUND PLUS BURNING GASOLINE SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE MY TIRE PRESSURE GAZE CHANGE SO I WENT INTO LOCAL LANE FROM FALLS ROAD TO GET TO MY HOME. MY CAR WAS NOT STEERING PROPERLY AND I CAN SMELL GASOLINE EVEN FROM CLOSED …
I PURCHASED A LAVISH S550 AND OVER TIME I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THE CABIN. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL THE SMELL BECAME MORE PUNGENT. I GO ONLINE TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND FIND OUT SOME OF THE CARS HAD FAULTY FUEL PUMPS WHICH LEAK INTO THE BACKSEAT. NOT ONLY DOES IT LEAK BUT THE VAPORS ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CABIN MAKING IT UNBEARABLE TO BREATH. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO MERCEDES AND THEY DON'T WANNA OWN UP TO THERE FAULTY EQUIPMENT. WITH THE TEMPERATURE BEING EXTREMELY HOT I WOULD THINK MY CAR WOULD BLOW UP BECAUSE IT IS A BLACK CAR. …