2001 Mercedes Benz S500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Interior Lighting (6) · Vehicle Speed Control (5) · Suspension (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz S500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
25 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (30)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2025-11-15 · LI33.30-P-056665 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out
Power Train 2025-05-21 · LI33.30-P-056665 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-28 · LI82.10-P-078896 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamps leaking or fogged cause the fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. in contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. a leak test must be performed to determine i
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-28 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. remedy note: if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover
Engine 2025-04-01 · LI83.20-P-051802 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint vehicle with atypical reduced heat output. cause silicate granulate may have escaped from a damaged bag in the expansion reservoir (not visible), reducing the coolant flow in the heater heat exchanger (see picture). remedy with the aforementioned complaint, make sure that the cooling circu
Electrical System 2025-03-05 · LI82.70-P-077433 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint during a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. it becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. cause a. seating of the microphones in the h
Showing the 6 most recent of 30 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.