W1K6G6DB1PA1888962023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-ClassS500 4MATIC
2023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 12 owner complaints include 1 reported injury, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.
Executive Summary
2023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class
2023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 12 owner complaints include 1 reported injury, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.
- 1 injury reported across 12 owner complaints
12 owner complaints filed — top areas: Suspension/Wheels (33%), Electrical (25%), Body/Structure (17%). 1 crash reported.
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- MERCEDES-BENZ
- Model
- S-Class
- Year
- 2023
- Trim / Series
- S500 4MATIC
- Body Style
- Sedan/Saloon
- Vehicle Type
- PASSENGER CAR
- Drive Type
- AWD/All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 6-cyl 3.0L 429 hp
- Doors
- 4
- Manufacturer
- MERCEDES-BENZ CARS
- Assembly
- SINDELFINGEN, GERMANY
- GVWR
- Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: SINDELFINGEN, GERMANY
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
- ⚠12 complaints on a 3-year-old vehicle — unusually high
Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.
Driver Assistance Features
ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database
Deferred Failure Risk
Vehicle-specific risks from this model-year's complaint record, known defects, and service milestones
Owners of the 2023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class report suspension/wheels issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
Owners of the 2023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class report electrical issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
On 4WD/AWD vehicles, neglected differential or transfer case fluid causes metal-on-metal wear. Replacement costs $1,500–$4,000.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
CLEAR1 injuries reported across 12 complaints — elevated injury rate for this class of vehicle.
Complaint Intelligence
12 complaints analyzed across 5 system categories
42% of complaints filed in Apr & Feb — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME12 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
The sunroof shattered suddenly while driving. There was no external impact to the vehicle.
While driving on highways using cruise control and adaptive cruise control the vehicle decelerates without driver input. The system also misreads or fails to update speed limit signs causing incorrect cruise speeds and sudden speed changes. This behavior has occurred repeatedly during normal driving conditions and creates a risk of rear end collision from following traffic. The problem has been documented across multiple service visits. A repair attempt was made and I was informed that no repair is currently available. The issue recurred immediately after the repair attempt and remains unresolved. No consistent warning lights are displayed before or during the events. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
The car was designed too low. When parked at a supermarket, Publix in surfside Miami Beach, when ready to leave the parking bumper pulled at the front bumper and disconnected it partially. A north miami Mercedes Benz service department said this is not unusual as this car is very low. A claim was filed with progressive auto insurance [XXX] and an escalation case opened with Mercedes Benz customer service case number [XXX] asking that at least they cover the $1,000 insurance deductible. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The tire (Pirelli 255/35R21) on my 2023 Mercedes Benz 580V4 developed a bubble on its sidewall. This tire was just replaced February 16, 2024, and has under 8,000 miles on it. This is the fourth tire I have replaced due to bubbles on the sidewalls.
On [XXX] I had a blowout on the passenger front side of my vehicle. The vehicle was towed to Sugarland MB and a new Pirelli 255/35 R21 purchased. The blowout happened after I hit a bump (not pothole) in the road on [XXX] at [XXX] . My 2023 MB 580V had 9701 miles on it and had just had it's first "A" service with no defects noted in any of the tires. On [XXX] I noticed a bulge on the front driver's side tire. I took it into Sewell MB and they notice additional defects on another tire. I had to purchase one front driver side 255/35 R21 and a rear passenger side 285/30R 21. After leaving the dealership I filed a complaint with the NHTSA file #11622692 and called Pirelli to report the failures and make a formal complaint. I also called MB customer service and opened case #[XXX]. A representative from Pirelli contacted me on 10/31/2024 @ 11:00am and basically stated the issue with multiple failures of these 21" tires across the US is a MB problem and not Pirelli's. As of this followup complaint I have not been contacted by any one else . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I had 9985 miles on my 2023 Mercedes S580V when the front passenger tire experienced a blowout earlier this year. The tire failed right after I had my first A service which did not show an issue with tires. Today is 10/30/2024 and I have 13978 miles on my vehicle. The driver side front tire Pirelli 255/35-R21/98Y has a bubble on the side wall. I took it to my dealership and they discovered that the rear passenger side Pirelli 285/30-R21/100Y has a bubble as well. I am having both tires replaced today.
Emergency stop assist
The "distronic" cruise control is so abrupt in its acceleration and declaration that vehicles behind me tend to take evasive action. The car doesn't sense vehicles far enough ahead to take smooth action, resulting in a jarring, favorite, and fearful ride.
The contact owns a 2023 Mercedes-Benz S580. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Do Not Drive Car" was displayed temporarily. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no issues were found. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V880000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The check engine warning was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The contact is requesting an update on the case.
When in eco mode the vehicle will occasionally shut off at a stop light. The vehicle "jumps" and then all of the warning signals come on followed by the vehicle shutting down. It takes about 20-30 seconds for vehicle to be able to restart again. The dealership had the vehicle for nearly a month and the only solution they came up with was to turn eco mode off every time I start the vehicle. They said their will be a future recall to fix this issue. Also, the vehicle will occasionally move forward on its own and then quickly break. This phantom braking is quite painful and feels as if you were just hit from behind. A previous problem was the vehicle would move forward after being taken out of car wash mode even with the brake engaged. The dealership said this was solved by a software download. There is a current recall which includes the make and model of this vehicle but Mercedes insists this vehicle is not included in the recall. The vehicle was manufactured within the time frame listed in the documentation from NHTSA but nonetheless Mercedes does not include this vehicle amongst the cars qualifying for replacing the fuel pump. I believe this car is dangerous and will hurt somebody.
2nd issue with objects in tire and losing air. There are known issues with this new model and the combination of the 21"rim, new model series, and Pirelli tire. Additional consumer issues can be found at: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w223/845213-those-experienced-tire-blowouts-21n-pirellis.html
I leased a 2023 Mercedes from Grapevine Mercedes. When I test drove the vehicle the car had a check engine light on. The sales man said he would get that fixed. The salesman had the service tech clear the code without addressing the issue. A week later the check engine light comes on. The dealership has advised me that the car has a software issue and its unsafe to drive. They must wait for technicians in Germany to fix the problem. It will take weeks. There is a chance the car will shut off while driving.
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 12 NHTSA complaints on file for the MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class — a relatively low volume that spans from 2023 to 2026.
The amber reliability line averaged 94/100 across the vehicle's life — relatively stable, with the lowest point of 86/100 in 2025.
Notably, despite 12 complaints on file, no recall has been issued — either the defect pattern has not met NHTSA's threshold for a formal campaign, or a recall may be forthcoming.
Red dots on the amber line flag 2025, a year when complaints included crash events — these are the highest-severity incidents in the dataset.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $32,334 (~$539/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2023 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for W1K6G6DB1PA188896. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
Market & Background Signals
Theft risk, fleet history, dealer patterns, and emissions compliance
MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class has an elevated theft rate (3.0× average). Factor in higher comprehensive insurance costs.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | W1K6G6DB1PA188896 |
| Model Year | 2023 |
| Make | MERCEDES-BENZ |
| Model | S-Class |
| Trim | S500 4MATIC |
| Vehicle Type | PASSENGER CAR |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| Drive Type | AWD/All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement (L) | 3.0 |
| Horsepower | 429 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | MERCEDES-BENZ CARS |
| Assembly City | SINDELFINGEN |
| Assembly Country | GERMANY |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | W1K |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 1 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | P |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | A |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 188896 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 12 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 8/1/2026, 12:11:22 PM.