Mercedes-Benz S 500 years to avoid
The Mercedes-Benz S 500 years to avoid are 2022 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2021 is the cleanest year on record.
42
Total complaints
15
Recall campaigns
2021–2023
Years covered
1
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
S 500 years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | High complaint rate | 38 |
Every S 500 year
Common questions
What are the worst Mercedes-Benz S 500 years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the S 500 years to avoid are 2022. The cleanest year on record is 2021.
What is the best year for the Mercedes-Benz S 500?
By complaint volume, 2021 has the cleanest NHTSA record among S 500 years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Mercedes-Benz S 500 have?
Across all model years, the S 500 has 15 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 42 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.