2002 Mercedes Benz S500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel (5) · Suspension (4) · Interior Lighting (4)
🧭 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
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (52)
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.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · 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. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 52 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-21 · Interior Lighting“see attached document for complaint. …”
2021-12-09 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz s500. the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel and dashboard lights were off. there were no warning lights illuminated. the contact stated that his daughter was able to drive the vehicle since the exterior lights were working properly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagn…”
2021-11-22 · Interior Lighting · 135,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz s500. the contact stated that the instrument cluster had started to flicker and had eventually gone completely blank without warning. the contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that his vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 06v028000 (interior lighting). the manufacturer wa…”
2020-09-04 · Interior Lighting · 60,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz s500. the contact stated upon start-up, the instrument cluster went blank. the contact called mercedes-benz of los angeles (1801 s. figueroa st, los angeles, ca 90015) where they informed him to bring the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected. upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to nhtsa camp…”
2019-07-16 · Air Bags · 154,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz s500v. while driving 35 mph, the contact's daughter had the right of way on their green light. another vehicle was going in the opposite direction ran their light and they crashed into the contact's daughter's driver side of the vehicle. the air bags did not deploy. the contact's daughter did not sustain an…”
2017-03-21 · Electrical System · 177,000 mi“my dash lights went out i can't see anything not my speed dash is dark night and day…”
2017-03-07 · Engine · 86,140 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz s500. while driving 25 mph, the vehicle heard an abnormal noise coming from the center of the vehicle. a warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was an abc hydraulic fluid leak, which was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the fa…”
2016-08-30 · Electrical System · 170,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes-benz s500. while driving approximately 65 mph, the instrument panel cluster burned out and all the warning lights illuminated. the contact observed an abnormal burning odor. the contact shut off and parked the vehicle. the vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure was undeter…”
2015-12-10 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 127,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 mercedes benz s500. while starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster failed to illuminate or show any of the gauges and indicators. the failure occurred constantly. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster was experiencing an electrical malfunction and needed to be replaced…”
2015-09-02 · Suspension · 131,000 mi“my airmatic suspension madey my car go down real low, i pay a lot of money to get the two air matic suspension fix. my rear end is still going down and now the rear is lower than the front. i am just lije the rest of the people that has complaint about this . nhtsa action number ped7042. i feel they need to make the manufacturer fix this problem…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.