2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
No clear pattern 22.2% of complaints about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2005 vehicle, but with only 45 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is electrical system (15 complaints), typically at 10.8 yr or about 99,000 miles.
Covers 2 variants: S500 (19), S430 (19)
- Complaints
- 45
- Median age at failure
- 10.0 yr
- Median mileage
- 60,000 n=45
- Crash / fire / tow
- 6.7% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 0
Electrical system 38,717 mi 4.7 yr in service
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2005 SMART CAR. MAINTENANCE BOOK SAYS GET TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY, SO WE DID. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACED. *TR
Electrical system 105,000 mi 10.0 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE GEAR TO SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT THE ELECTRICAL MODULE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE KEY AND THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Electrical system 105,000 mi 11.6 yr in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.