2018 Mercedes-Benz S 560 4MATIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Power Train: 2; Suspension: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 |
2026: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking 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.
Owner report 11731198 · 2026-04-14 (April 14, 2026)
The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 4Matic. The contact stated that while performing a brake service, the contact became aware that there was fluid leaking underneath the vehicle, coming from the driveshaft. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving due to the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amou…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11731198 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 250.0%ODI 11731198 · 77,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 4Matic. The contact stated that while performing a brake service, the contact became aware that there was fluid leaking underneath the vehicle, coming from the driveshaft. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving due to the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amou… | 150.0%ODI 11761003 · 80,023 miThe contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-560 4Matic. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle while the brake pedal was depressed or while the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lost automotive power. However, after several seconds, the vehicle suddenly regained automotive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for a routine oil change and brake service, and the contact made the dealer aware of the failure. The dealer s… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 125.0%ODI 11759759Reckless driving on 94. The driver going more than 80mph up behind me into traffic blowing the horn the proceeds to go are flashing something could have been a cell phone maybe. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11736396While I was driving on the freeway, I heard what sounded like a gunshot. I slowed down and exited the nearest exit. After checking my vehicle windows and seeing no damage, I got out of my car and noticed the front sunroof panel glass had shattered. I am not sure how this can happen. |
| Seat Belts | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11748478The front passenger seat belt, after a hard break, it released and never retracted | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 125.0%ODI 11734474Hello as of now there was no accidents just read Reading the Recalls it is very serious I take in the vehicle to the Mercedes Benz dealership 4-29- 26 They did nothing but said they would get in contact with me once they receive the remedy | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 77,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11731198 · 77,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 4Matic. The contact stated that while performing a brake service, the contact became aware that there was fluid leaking underneath the vehicle, coming from the driveshaft. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving due to the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amou… |
Complaint and recall timeline
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
| 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 | 2 | 26V216000 | ODI 11731198 · 77,000 miThe contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 4Matic. The contact stated that while performing a brake service, the contact became aware that there was fluid leaking underneath the vehicle, coming from the driveshaft. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was shaking while driving due to the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (POWER TRAIN); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amou… ODI 11734474Hello as of now there was no accidents just read Reading the Recalls it is very serious I take in the vehicle to the Mercedes Benz dealership 4-29- 26 They did nothing but said they would get in contact with me once they receive the remedy |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 1 | None | ODI 11747448The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S560 4MATIC. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced failures associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V216000 (Power Train). The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was informed that once the parts for the recall repair were available, vehicle owners would be notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer by telephone and by email; however, no response was … |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 1 | None | ODI 11759759Reckless driving on 94. The driver going more than 80mph up behind me into traffic blowing the horn the proceeds to go are flashing something could have been a cell phone maybe. |
| 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.
2019: 0 complaints · 2020: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
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 | Power Train | Suspension | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | — | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | — | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 0 | 0 | — |
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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.