Short answer
Among Mercedes-Benz S Class model years through 2024, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2 more years have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2021 has the most (17). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mercedes-Benz S Class: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2000–2025)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 71
- Fewest recalls
- 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2 more years (0)
- Most recalls
- 2021 (17)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (18)
Mercedes-Benz S Class Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Power train |
| 2023 | 8 | Not rated | Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2022 | 9 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Communication, Electrical system |
| 2021 | 17 | Not rated | Communication, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2020 | 6 | Not rated | Communication, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 13 | Not rated | Communication, Engine and engine cooling, Structure |
| 2018 | 14 | Not rated | Lane departure, Communication, Electrical system |
| 2017 | 10 | Not rated | Communication, Seat belts, Structure |
| 2016 | 7 | Not rated | Structure, Communication, Electrical system |
| 2015 | 9 | Not rated | Electrical system, Structure, Communication |
| 2014 | 6 | Not rated | Structure, Communication, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2012 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, diesel, Fuel system, gasoline, Tires |
| 2011 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Tires |
| 2010 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2008 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2007 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2006 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Interior lighting |
| 2004 | 5 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Interior lighting |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Suspension, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2002 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Interior lighting, Suspension |
| 2001 | 6 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Interior lighting |
| 2000 | 5 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20251 recall
- 20242 recalls
- 20238 recalls
- 20229 recalls
- 202117 recalls
- 20206 recalls
- 201913 recalls
- 201814 recalls
- 201710 recalls
- 20167 recalls
- 20159 recalls
- 20146 recalls
- 20130 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20112 recalls
- 20100 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20080 recalls
- 20070 recalls
- 20060 recalls
- 20051 recall
- 20045 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20023 recalls
- 20016 recalls
- 20005 recalls
Mercedes-Benz S Class: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mercedes-Benz S Class recalls are electrical system (18), communication (17), structure (14), engine and engine cooling (12) and fuel system, gasoline (10). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Mercedes-Benz S Class Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mercedes-Benz S Class?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2 more years are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Mercedes-Benz S Class model years have the most recalls?
2021 has the most, with 17 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "S Class", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy