2008 Mercedes Benz S63 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
64,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 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.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Engine: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Wheels: 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 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. 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.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
5 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 | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 240.0%ODI 10840345 · 66,000 miTHE ENGINE HYRDO LOCKED AT 66000 MILES AND FAILED A PISTON ROD ACCORDING TO MERCEDES. CAR WAS MAINTAINED AND SHOWED NO ABNORMAL FUNCTIONALITY, JUST PRIOR TO INCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ENGINE LOCKED UP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH FAILED HEAD BOLT STUD. | 133.3%ODI 11343017 · 71,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S63. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A BYSTANDER INFORMED HER UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT HER PREGNANT SELF AND HER 4 DOGS THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES OR SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED 5 BY STANDERS WHERE AB… |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 11343017 · 71,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S63. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, A BYSTANDER INFORMED HER UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT HER PREGNANT SELF AND HER 4 DOGS THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES OR SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT STATED 5 BY STANDERS WHERE AB… |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 120.0%ODI 10986281 · 52,396 miI BOUGT MY CAR 5 MONTHS AGO I HAVE 52,667 MILES ON IT LAST WEEK MY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I HAD TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND BELT TENSIONER I PAID $1572.58 FOR IT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR IT WAS STARTED BUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LEFT IT AFTER A WHILE A HERD WEIRD NOISE I TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTED NORMAL BUT THE NEXT DAY SAME THING RATTLING NOISE WHEN MY CAR WAS COLD TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE BEFORE THE THERMOSTAT CHANGE CAR WAS PERFECT NO NOISE WELL DEALER TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS CAM SHAFT AD… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10585256 · 59,828 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MERCEDES BENZ S63. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE SENDING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,828. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE, THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AS WELL. UPDATED 07/2… |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 120.0%ODI 11608765About 2 to 3 weeks ago I suddenly started smelling faint gas outside the vehicle on the driver side. Over 2 weeks it got stronger and finally I was able to smell it inside and immediately investigated. I discovered the fuel filter underneath the rear seat behind the driver was leaking and the foam under the seat was soaked in gasoline. I did not find my vehicle to be in recall for this safety issue. However, I did find recall 12V-557 for other models that have similar issues with a defective fuel filter. I believe my vehicle should be covered … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 120.0%ODI 11366385 · 120,000 miSUNROOF DON'T WANT TO CLOSE. NEED TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10523519 · 75,000 miI WAS DRIVING CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT SHOWED ABS, STEERING, SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, REFER TO OPERATORS MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE LIGHT SHOWED, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CARS BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ENDED UP IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AFTER HITTING SEVERAL OBJECTS INCLUDING A TREE, WE ALL WALKED OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH, HOWEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A SPEED HIGHER… |
| Steering | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10523519 · 75,000 miI WAS DRIVING CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT SHOWED ABS, STEERING, SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION, REFER TO OPERATORS MANUAL. APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER THE LIGHT SHOWED, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CARS BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR SWERVED ACROSS THE ROAD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND I ENDED UP IN A CRASH THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AFTER HITTING SEVERAL OBJECTS INCLUDING A TREE, WE ALL WALKED OUT WITHOUT A SCRATCH, HOWEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A SPEED HIGHER… |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Too few reports for a range | 59,198 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10840345 · 66,000 miTHE ENGINE HYRDO LOCKED AT 66000 MILES AND FAILED A PISTON ROD ACCORDING TO MERCEDES. CAR WAS MAINTAINED AND SHOWED NO ABNORMAL FUNCTIONALITY, JUST PRIOR TO INCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ENGINE LOCKED UP. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND COULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH FAILED HEAD BOLT STUD. ODI 10986281 · 52,396 miI BOUGT MY CAR 5 MONTHS AGO I HAVE 52,667 MILES ON IT LAST WEEK MY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I HAD TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND BELT TENSIONER I PAID $1572.58 FOR IT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR IT WAS STARTED BUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LEFT IT AFTER A WHILE A HERD WEIRD NOISE I TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTED NORMAL BUT THE NEXT DAY SAME THING RATTLING NOISE WHEN MY CAR WAS COLD TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE BEFORE THE THERMOSTAT CHANGE CAR WAS PERFECT NO NOISE WELL DEALER TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS CAM SHAFT AD… |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Too few reports for a range | 52,396 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10986281 · 52,396 miI BOUGT MY CAR 5 MONTHS AGO I HAVE 52,667 MILES ON IT LAST WEEK MY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I HAD TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND BELT TENSIONER I PAID $1572.58 FOR IT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR IT WAS STARTED BUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LEFT IT AFTER A WHILE A HERD WEIRD NOISE I TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTED NORMAL BUT THE NEXT DAY SAME THING RATTLING NOISE WHEN MY CAR WAS COLD TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE BEFORE THE THERMOSTAT CHANGE CAR WAS PERFECT NO NOISE WELL DEALER TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS CAM SHAFT AD… |
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 120,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11366385 · 120,000 miSUNROOF DON'T WANT TO CLOSE. NEED TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER |
| Wheels | Too few reports for a range | 62,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10783239 · 62,000 miHEADING WEST ON I-10 AROUND 7PM ON OCTOBER 17, 2015 JUST BEFORE MILE MARKER 42. ROAD CONSTRUCTION CUT OLD ASPHALT OUT AND LEFT A GROOVE OVER 4" HIGH. I CHANGED LANES AND BLEW ONE TIRE (CUT SIDE WALL STRAIGHT THROUGH ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE) OUR AND GOUGED THE OTHER TIRE. BOTH TIRES HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY ONE RIM IF IT IS BENT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THIS HAS CAUSED MY VEHICLE. |
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 | 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.
2008: 0 complaints · 2009: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 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 | Engine | Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Fuel/Propulsion System | Power Train | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | — | 1ODI 10986281 · 52,396 miI BOUGT MY CAR 5 MONTHS AGO I HAVE 52,667 MILES ON IT LAST WEEK MY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I HAD TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND BELT TENSIONER I PAID $1572.58 FOR IT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR IT WAS STARTED BUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LEFT IT AFTER A WHILE A HERD WEIRD NOISE I TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTED NORMAL BUT THE NEXT DAY SAME THING RATTLING NOISE WHEN MY CAR WAS COLD TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE BEFORE THE THERMOSTAT CHANGE CAR WAS PERFECT NO NOISE WELL DEALER TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS CAM SHAFT AD… | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1ODI 10986281 · 52,396 miI BOUGT MY CAR 5 MONTHS AGO I HAVE 52,667 MILES ON IT LAST WEEK MY CAR JUST BROKE DOWN IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I HAD TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND BELT TENSIONER I PAID $1572.58 FOR IT WHEN I RECEIVED MY CAR IT WAS STARTED BUT AFTER ARRIVING HOME I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LEFT IT AFTER A WHILE A HERD WEIRD NOISE I TURNED OFF AND BACK ON IT STARTED NORMAL BUT THE NEXT DAY SAME THING RATTLING NOISE WHEN MY CAR WAS COLD TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER BECAUSE BEFORE THE THERMOSTAT CHANGE CAR WAS PERFECT NO NOISE WELL DEALER TOLD ME MY CAR NEEDS CAM SHAFT AD… | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 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.