WDDUG8CB3GA2696622016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-ClassS550
2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 29 owner complaints include 1 reported injury, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.
Executive Summary
2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class
2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 29 owner complaints include 1 reported injury, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.
- 1 injury reported across 29 owner complaints
29 owner complaints filed — top areas: Other (28%), Suspension/Wheels (14%), Visibility (14%). 1 injury 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
- 2016
- Trim / Series
- S550
- Body Style
- Sedan/Saloon
- Vehicle Type
- PASSENGER CAR
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 8-cyl 4.70L
- 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
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 2016 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 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class report visibility 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 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S-Class report safety systems issues more than most other systems. Complaints concentrated in one area often signal a systemic weakness worth a targeted pre-purchase inspection.
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
CLEARComplaint Intelligence
29 complaints analyzed across 9 system categories
38% of complaints filed in Jan & Jun — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME29 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
The contact owns a 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering failure warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that he was lucky to have been driving the vehicle in front of the residence and not on the highway. In addition, the contact stated that it was very difficult trying to move the vehicle from one parking space to another in front of the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed electric power steering module. The contact was informed that the electric power steering module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed about NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V899000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
2016 S550 front roof panel issues. Adhesive issues.
Started car in parking lot and warming light read zero air in right front tire. No prior warning. Checking tire for any road hazard - nails or other potential punctures but none were present but the tire had a hole just below the wheel that had blown out. The tire is a Pirelli P Zero 245/40R20 Run Flat. Was able to drive it to Tire Discount the next day to replace the tire. Manager checked tire and could not find any other issue with the tire. They were supposed to hold the tire but it was removed by the recycling company. I have pictures and the managers examination. Our safety any others if the split in the tire would have blown at speed in traffic. Called and emailed Pirelli and they could care less about a safety issue. Just told me it was out of warranty because it was over 1 year old. The tire has approximately 5,000 miles on it.
Rear left seat belt is stuck and won’t retract. Seat has not been used much. Vehicle is a 2016 with 65,000 miles.
The car's front passenger passenger seat buckle fails to properly secure the seat belt. After inserting the seat belt it fails to latch into the buckle. The Mercedes dealer has examined the seat buckle and determined that it failed. They are recommending a replacement.
My vehicle is listed in this Mercedes recall campaign bulletin, and it is also experiencing the safety issue that is discussed in this recall campaign bulletin: Campaign No.2021070010, August 2021 Revision A 09/03/2021 When I contact Mercedes to have the issue addressed, they stated my Vin is not a part of this recall campaign, and to contact you about it.
I got this certified car from Mercedes Benz dealer. I have driven it sparingly for less than 10K miles without really any hitting any bumps or potholes . After a recent service [XXX] 2024 at a MB dealer, I was told that 2 wheels were cracked 1 front & 1 back . I took it to another MB dealer (MB Morristown, NJ) to change the wheels & they advised that all 4 wheels were cracked, & one wheel had 3 cracks. These are premium AMG staggered wheels & without a doubt there is genuine design issue or defect to wheels which at high-speed could crack & crumble causing major injury & destruction to property. I have all the service records regarding this issue INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Staggered tires on this car Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymetric 2 Run flats. Front size - 245/40 R 20/99y, Rear -275/35 R 20/102 These tires cannot take the load of the car . I purchased the vehicle & the same tire (front driver side) has blown & ripped open over a moderate pothole, Aug 2020 & in Sep, 2022. In my opinion these tires are massive liability and a huge safety hazard. These are Summer runflat tires & also there no Allseason ROF's
On cold days below 40 degrees, my 2016 Mercedes S550 W222, trunk lid when closed using the close button on the trunk lid closes and immediately reopens. It will only stay closed if I tie it down with a rope or elastic cord. I found a work around if I am home and apply heat to the latch with a hair drier and spray the latch with silicone lubricant spray. This problem is identical to Mercedes Campaign No. 2019030005, April 2019, which applies to S-Clsss 222 platforms Model Year 2018-2019. I request that this campaign be extended to Model Year 2016 and my car. I have attached copy of Mercedes Campaign No. 2019030005, April 2019.
While driving or even sitting this piece gets extremely hot and has actually burned me twice. As soon as the car is turned on the temperature rises on this piece that’s on by the arm rest
Catalytic converters are factory defective My vehicle has less than 80K miles and used as pleasure vehicle. The problem has been inspected and confirmed by a reputable independent service provider. Warning lights came on and upon inspection it was determined that 3 catalytic converters are defective. My spouse also complains about a bad odor when vehicle is on but not running.
Failure of LED instrument cluster. 2016 S550. No display. In October 2020 I had total system failure in my garage. Battery discharged down to +/- 5V. The car was still under warranty. Tech arrived and tried to recharge battery. He did not have the proper equipment, (his statement). I had to use two of my chargers in parallel plus his to get car back to life. He disconnected the battery from car to get there. Battery came back to life. Everything seemed to work. Started to drive car and experienced random IC failure. There were times when cluster worked fine and suddenly it went blank (black). Contacted dealer and was told that I should keep on driving it would fix itself. Dealer had the car for a week and could find no fault. And it fixed itself. Great!!! Note, at this time the car was still under Warranty. Forward to June 2022. I replaced Batteries. As in 2020 display died (black) randomly. This time it was more often black than alive, it does not want to recover. Note, every time the display dies I loose all indications, no speed indicator plus anything else. No steering wheel controls. No sound of directional indicator (blinker). Dangerous to drive. It can happen at any time. It can work when I drive off and stop!!! Note, this I find very interesting, there is no failure code anywhere, not in the diagnostic Xentry either. That for my opinion is a design problem. Dealer uploaded some code into cluster. Told me it is working. Came to pick up car, SA brought me the car and told me IC failed again. Dealer then advised me that I would have to ~$3000 to get it fixed or contact MBUSA and request for them to pay. Consider that the whole thing started when car was under warranty. Contacted MBUSA on 10/19/22 reporting the details. Was promised a response within 24/48 Hrs. No response. Followed up several times, it is on there computer. Today's date is 11/8/22. They are ignoring me. For my opinion this is a design fault. No failure code! This is it.
My steering deactivates and totally locks out while driving. I do get warning messages and it comes on when the steering deactivates and then goes out its like intermittent sometimes I wont have steering at all for a few minutes and sometimes it just goes in and out. MBUSA has an active recall on this very issue but my car even though it was built in the time frame they say other cars have been built they are not willing to fix it. It has been inspected twice and the dealer has verified the steering rack needs replacement, they still wont fix this. The message that comes on is power steering Malfunction see owners manual. When this locks out i get other items that wont work either like lane departure assist and blind spot inop lights. This started happening slowly roughly a year ago but it would only lock out once or twice a few days here and there and wouldn't do it for awhile, I brought it to the dealer then, which I showed them videos of what was happening and asked them to contact mbusa which they said they would call me and never did, I waited about a year while not driving it hoping maybe they would add my car to the recall and that never happened so I escalated the issue and called them myself, they asked me to bring it to the dealer again and I did they verified my problem and have said they wont fix it bc my car is not on the recall list. The recall my car should fall on is 16v899000 it is doing the exact thing this recall is worried about. I had to drive like this a few times bc I had no ride, driving like that when I know its about to lock out is a tiny bit better then when I am not expecting it and may need to again but it is not safe when trying to turn off an exit or a street it locks in the middle of turning or at the start of a turn and gets harder to control.
on Feb 26, 2022 between the hours of 4:00 am and 5:15 am the Sunroof on my 2016 S550 Mercedes Benz shatter for no cause or reasons while driving on the main highway. When the loud bang accrued while driving I immediately pulled the car over to exam the issue and I noticed the Sunroof glass had shattered. I was able to drive the S550 Mercedes Benz to my residence. However, this Sunroof Shattering could have a cause major issue if the lower cover to my sunroof was open. I would strong recommend Mercedes Benz reach out to the glass manufacture concerning this safety issue with defective glass (Shattering Glass Sunroof for no cause or reasons)
I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED CRACKS ON THREE SEPARATE TIRE RIMS. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 41,000 MILES.THE TIRES ARE LOW PROFILE, RUN FLAT TIRES AND THE RIMS APPEAR TO BE ALUMINUM AND FAULTY.
2016 MERCEDES CLS550... I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED AND I'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. I'VE ALREADY HAD A SEIZURE IN THE CAR AND WAS FOUND SLUMPED OVER BY FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL AT A DEAD STOP WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND THE AIR ON AND I WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING IS THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN PUT TOGETHER. THE HOSPITAL OBVIOUSLY WOULD NOT THINK THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY AIR CONDITIONER. THEY DID A CAT SCAN EVERYTHING FINE . THEY DID A COVID TEST EVERYTHING AND I WAS CLEARED AND OUT THE DOOR IN 5 HOURS. I HAVE PUT THIS TOGETHER AND FIGURED IT OUT MYSELF. I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT A FOUL SOUR DISGUSTING ODOR COMING THROUGH MY AIR CONDITIONER AND I HAVE ALMOST PASSED OUT ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS SAME EXACT FEELING UP UNTIL I HAD MY SEIZURE. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG AND I WENT AHEAD AND REPLACED MY CABIN FILTER. I STILL HAVE THE ONE THAT WAS IN THE CAR. I WANT COMPENSATION FOR THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BECOME OF MY BODY BECAUSE OF THIS CAR. I HEARD THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY LAWSUITS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER ON THIS MODEL AND OTHER MODELS BUT NEVER ANYTHING THAT WOULD KILL SOMEONE. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. I'VE HAD A TESTER USED IN MY CAR AND IT PICKED UP CARBON MONOXIDE. I AM GOING TO SUE THE BALLS OFF OF MERCEDES AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE CAR FOR NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM OR ANY RECALLS THAT WERE PUT OUT. ANYWAYS I CAN ALMOST SMELL THE EXHAUST FUMES ON TOP OF A SOUR SMELL. GOOD THING I'M SMART ENOUGH TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER. I EXPECT SOMEBODY TO GET BACK TO ME ASAP AS I WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND I WILL BRING THIS PUBLIC.
I WOKE UP ONE MORNING AND WAS ASTOUNDED TO FIND A LONG DIAGONAL CRACK ACROSS THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF OF MY 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. I CONTACTED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS WAS DUE TO OUTSIDE INFLUENCE OR A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A "STRESS CRACK" AND STUCK ME WITH A BILL FOR $13,000. THIS IS A 2016 MODEL CAR WITH 50K MILES ON IT WITH A SUNROOF THAT SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED. WHAT IF MY WIFE AND YOUNG CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN IT STARTED TO CRACK? THE RESPONSE FROM MERCEDES IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT.
HEARD A LOUD BANG WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL RETURNING HOME AND LOOKED UP AND SAW THE RIGID CRACK FROM FRONT TO THE BACK ON THE PANORAMIC GLASS. THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF DEBRIS HITTING THE GLASS AS THERE ARE NO CHIPS.
WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILURE REOCCURRING CONSTANTLY ON VEHICLE, OTHERS SEEM TO HAVE SAME ISSUE. REOCCURS DUE TO PART FAILURE I WOULD SUGGEST. CAUSES DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WITH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE.
VEHICLE'S FRONT WINDSHIELD SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVERNIGHT WHILE VEHICLE AS PARKED IN A LOCKED PRIVATE GARAGE. CRACK ORIGINATES AT TOP OF WINDSHIELD FRAME WHERE BODY TORQUES THE GLASS AND CONTINUES THROUGH ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS, ENDING UP IN DRIVER'S LINE-OF-SIGHT. NO VISIBLE POINT OF IMPACT ON DAMAGED AREA OF GLASS. DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED BY THE STRESS CRACK, RENDERING THEM NON-FUNCTIONAL. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THAT STRESS CRACK WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND INSTALLATION OF THE GLASS, NOT DUE TO ANY IMPACT OR ROAD DEBRIS. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER DENIED COVERAGE UNDER NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY (4YR./50,000 MI), STATING THAT GLASS DEFECTS ARE ONLY COVERED FOR 1 YR/12,000 MI. *TR
PANORAMIC SUNROOF CRACKED WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. *TR
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES BENZ S550 4MATIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V01000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PHOENIX AZ TO DROP OFF MY MOM AND GRANDMA WHEN SUDDENLY THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. THERE WASN'T ANY TYPE OF OBJECT NEAR ME TO CAUSE IT. IT WAS VERY RANDOM. THIS DISTURBED MY FAMILY MENTALLY SCARING THEM AND I SWERVED OFF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CRASHING.
I AM REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD FOR THE 3RD TIME, SMALL STONES CREATING HUGE CRACKS, SEEMS VERY UNUSUAL FOR IT TO HAPPEN SO OFTEN.
FROM 2014 THROUGH 2016 THE INTELLIGENT DRIVE AND THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE DOES NOT WORK. I KEEP SAYING THE S550 THINKS 200 FEET IS 90 FEET AND 100 FEET IS 30 FEET. WHAT I MEAN TO SAY IS THE SYSTEMS THINK 90 FEET DISTANCE IS 200 FEET AWAY AND 30 FEET IS 100 FEET AWAY. IT DOES NOT MEASURE THE DISTANCE PROPERLY. IT COULD BE, AND MOST LIKELY, A PROGRAMING ISSUE. IT IS THE SAME ON ALL THE 2014 THROUGH 2016 S550'S I HAVE TRIED. THE OTHER THING IT DOES WITH THE DISTRONIC CRUISE CONTROL IS WHEN IT STARTS TO BRAKE, THE DISTANCE SET DECREASES AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND AGAIN THE DISTANCE SET DECREASES AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP AND SO ON. IT CHANGES THE DISTANCE ( YOU CAN SEE IT HAPPEN IN THE IN THE MENU SETTING ON THE SPEED AND TACHOMETER SCREEN) AS SOON AS THE CAR AUTONOMOUSLY BRAKES. SET IT AT 200 FEET AND IN REALITY IT IS 90 FEET AND AS SOON AS IT BRAKES THE DISTANCE TO KEEP INSTANTLY DROPS TO JUST UNDER WHAT IT IS SET AT SO THE CAR THINKS THE DANGER IS OVER AND SPEEDS UP AGAIN AND THEN BRAKES AGAIN. AND YOU KEEP GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE CAR IN FRONT BECAUSE THE SET DISTANCED KEEPS CHANGING AND YOU HAVE TO BRAKE SO YOU DO NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT BECAUSE THE S550 WON'T. I HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE. IT IS EASIER TO SHOW WITH THE DISTANCE GRAPHIC UP ON THE SCREEN. THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY SCREWED UP. AS IS THE LED LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN AND SLUSH. CANNOT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT IN A WINTER STORM. IT ALL HAPPENS AROUND TOWN TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WAS ACTUALLY TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE DISTRONIC CRUISE TO WORK I HAVE TO BE DRIVING FASTER THAN 75 MPH. MY 2007 S550 4 MATIC'S DISTRONIC AND AUTONOMOUS BRAKING WORKED PERFECTLY.
ALL THE SAFETY COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST TWO FORMS HAPPEN IN ALL THE 2014,2015. AND 2016 MERCEDES S550. THE CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO PRACTICALLY DRIVE THEMSELVES. IT EVEN HAS STEERING ASSIST THAT KEEPS THE CAR CENTERED IN THE LANE AND WILL EVEN STEER AROUND CURVES. IT IS SUPPOSE TO KEEP PRE SET DISTANCES FROM THE CAR IN FRONT THAT YOU CAN SET BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET. IT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP BEFORE HITTING AN OBJECT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. NONE WORK. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN IN 2020 WHEN THE CAR MERCEDES BUILD WILL ACTUALLY DRIVE ITSELF. IF THEY CANNOT GET THIS SIMPLE SAFETY FEATURES TO WORK CORRECTLY IN MY CAR, HOW IS IT GOING TO WORK WHEN IT MASS PRODUCES CARS THAT TOTALLY DRIVE THEMSELVES.. THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PKG. WORKS LIKE IT WAS NEVER INSTALLED IN MY CAR, HOW WILL HAVING THE CAR TAKE OVER MORE CONTROL WORK. IF I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR NOW GOD HELP US ALL. WHEN ALL THE CARS DRIVE THEMSELVEWS. SURE THE ONES THEY ARE DRIVING AS TEST CARS WORK. THEY WERE HAND BUILT. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE MASS PRODUCED WHITH OTHER COUNTRIES MAKING THE PARTS. IT SOUNDS AS IF MERCEDES IS GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE RECALL CAMPAIGN WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT DO NOT WORK NOW.
COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS DOES NOT WORK. IT'S SUPPOSE TO WORK FROM 4 MPH TO 65 MPH.IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE STOPPED CARS OR OBJECTS IN IT'S PATH.IT'S SUPPOSE TO AUTONOMOUSLY APPLY THE BRAKES TO HELP PREVENT COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. IT NEVER INTERVENES.WHEN A CAR CUTS ME OFF OR PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF ME OR STOPS IN FRONT OF ME,THE SAFETY FEATURES DO NOT INTERVENE.I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION EVERY TIME. A WARNING TONE,THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD PRE-TENSION,PLACE THE SEATS IN A MORE FAVORITE POSITION CONCLUSIVE TO AN ACCIDENT, CLOSE THE WINDOWS & SUNROOF.BRAKES BEFORE YOU HAVE TIME TO PUT THE BRAKES ON. IT DOES NON OF THOSE THINGS.I HAVE HAD A 2007 S550 WITH ALL THE SAFETY OPTIONS & THEY WORKED PERFECTLY EVERY TIME.IT WOULD PUT THE BRAKES ON HARD BEFORE MY FEET HAD TIME TO HIT THE BRAKES IT WOULD CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF AND PUT THE SEATS IN A MORE FAVORITE POSITION FOR AN ACCIDENT IT WOULD BRING IT TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING IN FRONT.I AM A SAFE DRIVER AND KEEP A PROPER DISTANCE TO CARS IN FRONT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WAS MY FAULT. BUT OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT DRIVE LIKE THAT. I HAVE CAMERAS IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND REAR WINDOW THAT CONSTANTLY RECORD. IT WILL SHOW CARS PASSING ME AND PULLING IN FRONT WITH LESS THAN A CAR LENGTH AWAY AND MY CAR NEVER RESPONDS WITH ANY OF THE SAFETY FEATURES.( AUTONOMOUSLY BRAKING, SEAT BELTS PRE TIGHTENING ETC.) IT SHOULD DO THOSE THINGS FASTER THAN HUMANLY POSSIBLE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEMS IS THAT IT THINKS 20 FT. IS100 FEET AND 60 FT. IS 200 FT.SO IT THINKS THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO SLOW DOWN. THAT IS THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSE TO DETECT VEHICLES IN FRONT AND TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. SO THE PROGRAMING THAT IS CONTROLLING THE DISTANCE IS PROGRAMED WRONG. MY 2014 WAS BOUGHT BACK FOR THAT REASON AND I WAS GIVEN A 2016 REPLACEMENT. ALL THE 2014 & 2015 & 2016 DID NOT WORK EITHER.
IN 2015 MERCEDES BOUGHT BACK MY 2014 S550 DUE TO THE REASONS STATED HERE.THEY ALSO HELPED ME BUY A 2016 S,WHICH CAME IN AROUND 12/18/2015 FIGURED THE PROBLEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY THEN.MERCEDES HAD ENOUGH TIME TO FIX THEM IF THEY WANTED TO SINCE I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE I FIRST GOT MY 2014.I IMMEDIATELY COMPLAINED, WHEN MY 2016 CAME IN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES AS MY 2014 HEAD.THE DISTRONIC PLUS.YOU CHOOSE THE DISTANCE YOU WANT TO KEEP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT. ONCE THAT DISTANCE IS SET, IT DOES NOT KEEP THAT DISTANCE.THE CAR THINKS 200 FEET IS 90 FEET &100 FEET IS 40.IT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A CAR THAT PULLS IN FRONT OF YOU THAT IS A CAR LENGTH AWAY & DOES NOT SLOW DOWN.IF A CAR MOVES OUT FROM IN FRONT OF YOU,THE CAR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF THE OTHER CAR THAT LEFT YOUR LANE, YOUR CAR SPEEDS UP AND DOES NOT SLOW DOWN FOR THAT CAR IN FRONT AND YOU HAVE TO SHARPLY BRAKE.MY CAR SLOWS DOWN TOO LATE ALL THE TIME AND I HAVE TO APPLY THE BRAKES WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED AUTONOMOUSLY & BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP FROM THE CAR IN FRONT MAINTAINING THE PRE SET DISTANCE.THIS HAPPENS USING IT ON SIDE ROADS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKING SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN AT ALL SPEEDS.MY CAR HAS THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PKG.NONE IN THAT PKG WORK WELL, IF AT ALL. I HAD AN AUDI Q7 WITH THE SAME TYPE OF CRUISE CONTROL,I NOW HAVE A 2015 AUDI Q7 WITH IT.I HAVE HAD 2 FORD EDGE'S , 2 LEXUS LS450'S AFTER THE LEXUS I PURCHASED A 2007 MERCEDES S-550 WITH IT .IN ALL THOSE CARS IT WORKED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. AUTONOMOUS BRAKING AND PRE SAFE AND DISTRONIC CRUISE AND ALL OF THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGES AVAILABLE THEN WERE AMAZING IN THE 2007 AND I FELT SAFE IN THAT CAR. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL NOW. IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS IT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMS OR HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS I DO WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEMS. OR MERCEDES LIED.
ISSUE 1. DURING UPSHIFT OR DOWNSHIFT GEARS 3 & 4, THERE IS A JERKING MOVEMENT.NOT A SMOOTH SHIFT LIKE THE OTHER GEARS. I HAVE RESEARCHED VARIOUS BENZ OWNERS BLOGS, I SEE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF SIMILAR ISSUE GOING BACK TO 2008. LETTER TO MBUSA, THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. ISSUE 2. WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN A SHALL INCLINE WITH CLEAR LANE MARKINGS, THE CAR TENDS TO APPLY THE BREAKS, WITH A WARNING SIGN APPEARING ON THE SCREEN INSIDE. COULD THIS BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE, SINCE IT BREAKS WITHOUT ANY WARNING HAVE WRITTEN TO MBUSA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 29 total NHTSA complaints filed over 8 years, with the worst year being 2020 (8 complaints).
The amber reliability line averaged 98/100 across the vehicle's life — relatively stable, with the lowest point of 94/100 in 2024.
Notably, despite 29 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.
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: $32,364 (~$539/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2016 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 WDDUG8CB3GA269662. 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 | WDDUG8CB3GA269662 |
| Model Year | 2016 |
| Make | MERCEDES-BENZ |
| Model | S-Class |
| Trim | S550 |
| Vehicle Type | PASSENGER CAR |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 8 |
| Displacement (L) | 4.70 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | MERCEDES-BENZ CARS |
| Assembly City | SINDELFINGEN |
| Assembly Country | GERMANY |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | WDD |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 3 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | G |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | A |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 269662 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 29 |
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: 8/2/2026, 4:49:02 AM.