Model year record

2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1 owner complaint on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V116000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
20,339
Reported to NHTSA
2025-02-24
Owners notified
2025-04-25

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 S 500, Maybach S 580 4MATIC, 2021-2023 S 580 4MATIC, 2022 S 680 4MATIC, and 2023 S 580e 4MATIC vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

Safety risk

A brake fluid leak can extend the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2025030007.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V807000

Communication: auto crash notification

Component
Communication: auto crash notification
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
21
Reported to NHTSA
2024-10-25
Owners notified
2024-12-06

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Maybach S 580 4MATIC, S 500 4MATIC, and S 580 4MATIC vehicles. The emergency call system may fail to place an automatic or manual call and may not provide the vehicle location as intended.

Safety risk

A disabled emergency call system that prevents a vehicle occupant from contacting emergency services or fails to identify the vehicle location, can delay emergency responders and increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the communication module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 6, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024110002.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V493000

Back over prevention: display function

Component
Back over prevention: display function
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
8,530
Reported to NHTSA
2022-07-11
Owners notified
2022-08-19

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 AMG EQS53, EQS580, EQS450, 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error in the MBUX multimedia system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Safety risk

An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the MBUX multimedia system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 19, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022080002.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V365000

Communication: auto crash notification

Component
Communication: auto crash notification
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
242,722
Reported to NHTSA
2022-05-20
Owners notified
2022-07-08

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication module's SIM card software can cause a mobile network connection failure, disabling the emergency call (eCall) system.

Safety risk

A disabled eCall system would prevent a vehicle occupant from contacting the emergency services call center in an emergency, potentially delaying emergency responders and increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on July 8, 2022, May 17, 2024, July 29, 2024, and September 27, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's numbers are for this recall is 2022060005 and 2023110006.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V214000

Steering: column

Component
Steering: column
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
4
Reported to NHTSA
2022-04-01
Owners notified
2022-05-13

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 4Matic and S500 4Matic vehicles. The electrical connector to the steering column module may not be secured properly, which can disable gear shifts and/or safety features including the electronic stability program, the driver's air bag, and turn signal indicators.

Safety risk

Disabled safety features or the inability to shift gears can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the cover for the electrical connector, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040006.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V167000

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Component
Exterior lighting: turn signal
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
9,156
Reported to NHTSA
2022-03-18
Owners notified
2022-05-13

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 EQS 450, EQS 580, and 2021 S500 and S580 vehicles. A software error may disable the rear turn signals, hazard lights, and reverse lights.

Safety risk

Disabled rear turn signals, hazard lights, and reverse lights can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other driver's, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the rear signal software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040013.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V789000

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

Component
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger
Manufacturer
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Vehicles affected
1,311
Reported to NHTSA
2021-10-11
Owners notified
2021-12-01

Defect description

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The air bag control unit software may deactivate the occupant recognition control unit, resulting in a deactivated front passenger air bag.

Safety risk

A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021100010. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling120,700 mi

The 2022 model has about a fifth as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.