2008 MERCEDES BENZ S550 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
I’m reporting a serious safety issue with the balance shaft sprocket in my Mercedes-Benz S550 (M273 engine, 273.968). This is a known defect that causes the sprocket to wear out far too early due to poor material design. When it wears, it throws off the engine timing, leading to check engine light...
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering intermittently. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recur...
Mileage: 40,000
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering intermittently. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recur...
Mileage: 40,000
We were traveling home and our TPMS indicated a tire failure. The PSI starting dropping rapidly. We took the tire off and found that only 4 " of rubber holding the back sidewall together on the tire. I then inspected the other tires on the car (which were purchased and installed at the same time)...
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the message "SAFETY" was temporarily displayed on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated while starting the vehicle on several occasions, the message " SAFETY " was displayed on the infotainment s...
Mileage: 176,310
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the message "SAFETY" was temporarily displayed on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated while starting the vehicle on several occasions, the message " SAFETY " was displayed on the infotainment s...
Mileage: 176,310
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WAS SUDDENLY REAR-ENDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT HEAD REST AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED BROKEN BONES IN HIS NECK AS WELL AS INJURIES TO HIS LEFT...
Mileage: 78,013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WAS SUDDENLY REAR-ENDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT HEAD REST AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED BROKEN BONES IN HIS NECK AS WELL AS INJURIES TO HIS LEFT...
Mileage: 78,013
P-RC-200808004 BODY CONTROL ACCELERATION SENSORS...MODELS 2001-2008 11/4/2008 - 200807001 RE-CODE THE SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) ...
Mileage: 148,000
EVEN CHANGE TO NEW TIRES, THE AIR PRESSURE UP TO 37 AND ALWAYS AFTER 1 WEEK OR SO, DOWN TO 33, COMPLAIN AND CHANGE TIRE AND STILL HAVE THE SAME RESULT. YOU COULD ONLY CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE AFTER YOU RUN FOR A WHILE. MASSAGE CHAIR, AFTER OPERATION AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT STOP. CLOCK IN THE CABIN D...
Mileage: 69,000
EVEN CHANGE TO NEW TIRES, THE AIR PRESSURE UP TO 37 AND ALWAYS AFTER 1 WEEK OR SO, DOWN TO 33, COMPLAIN AND CHANGE TIRE AND STILL HAVE THE SAME RESULT. YOU COULD ONLY CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE AFTER YOU RUN FOR A WHILE. MASSAGE CHAIR, AFTER OPERATION AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT STOP. CLOCK IN THE CABIN D...
Mileage: 69,000
EVEN CHANGE TO NEW TIRES, THE AIR PRESSURE UP TO 37 AND ALWAYS AFTER 1 WEEK OR SO, DOWN TO 33, COMPLAIN AND CHANGE TIRE AND STILL HAVE THE SAME RESULT. YOU COULD ONLY CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE AFTER YOU RUN FOR A WHILE. MASSAGE CHAIR, AFTER OPERATION AND ALL THE SUDDEN IT STOP. CLOCK IN THE CABIN D...
Mileage: 69,000
MY VEHICLE HAS A STRONG GAS ODOR WHILE DRIVING BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIC OR PARKED. THIS SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT I CANNOT SIT IN THE CAR AND MY CLOTHES REAK OF THE SMELL. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY EXTERNAL GAS LEAKAGE OR PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THE CAR. ONLY THE GAS ORDOR THAT HAS GIV...
Mileage: 70,000
I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT AIR SHOCKS AROUND 90,000 MILES. NO OFF ROAD DRIVING. BOTH AIR STRUTS LEAKED WITHIN 4 MONTHS . SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT CANE ON FIRST. THEN A MESSAGE TO STOP THE CAR AND NOT OPERATE.
Mileage: 91,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BAC...
Mileage: 91,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE LOWERED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/...
Mileage: 70,000
I PURCHASED 4 NEW 255/45/ZR18 EXTREMECONTACT DWS ABOUT 13 MONTHS AGO AND NOW ALL 4 TIRES HAVE A BULGING BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALLS. OF COURSE I BROUGHT IT BACK FROM WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY BLAME IT ON POT HOLES, ROAD HAZARDS. I CURRENTLY CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT I MIGHT HAVE A B...
Mileage: 87,609
MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS 255/45ZR18 99Y AS+ INSTALLED ON 2008 MERCEDES S550. TIRES TREAD IS "CHUNKING" WITH 18,000 MILES OF USE. PURCHASED FROM COSTCO. I HAVE CONTACTED COSTCO. WAS TOLD IT WAS "NORMAL", COMPLAINED IT CANNOT BE, WE NEGOTIATED BACK AND FORTH ON AN ADJUSTMENT. IT WASN'T SATISFACTO...
THE TIRE TREAD ON THE MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS SHREDS OR CRUMBLES. MICHELIN CALLS IT "CHUNKING" AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE COMPOUND USED TO MAKE THE TIRE. THE COMPOUND HAS SINCE BEEN MODIFIED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED ON MY GIRL FRIEND'S 2009 MERCEDES C-SERIES SEDAN AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPL...
Mileage: 59,300
I WAS IN UNFAMILIAR AREA. REMOTE KEY WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN USING SMALL KEY TO ENTER VEHICLE CAR SIREN WOULD NOT QUIT BLARING AND .NEW BATTERIES DID NOT HELP. MERCEDES RESPONDER TOLD ME I HAD INOPERATIVE "DEAD" KEY. CAR OF COURSE WAS INOPERATIVE. NO WAY TO MOVE CAR FROM AREA. COULD NOT SECURE CAR....
Mileage: 57,000
I WAS IN UNFAMILIAR AREA. REMOTE KEY WOULD NOT OPERATE. WHEN USING SMALL KEY TO ENTER VEHICLE CAR SIREN WOULD NOT QUIT BLARING AND .NEW BATTERIES DID NOT HELP. MERCEDES RESPONDER TOLD ME I HAD INOPERATIVE "DEAD" KEY. CAR OF COURSE WAS INOPERATIVE. NO WAY TO MOVE CAR FROM AREA. COULD NOT SECURE CAR....
Mileage: 57,000
MERCEDES BENZ, S550, 4MATIC, 2008. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I WAS MOVING FORWARD AT ABOUT 15-20 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN INTO MY BACK SINCE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THIS UNFORTUNATE MAL...
Mileage: 101,300
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON 10 FWY GOING FROM AZ TO CALIF. WOULD NOT RESTART & WAS TOWED TO PALM SPRINGS MBZ. NOT OPEN TIL MON 27TH. *TR
Mileage: 41,000
I GOT A BLOW OUT IN THE REAR LEFT SIDE TIRE. I WAS DOING ABOUT 40 MPH AND DID NOT GO OVER ANYTHING THAT I WAS AWARE OF. I WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE USING THE SUPPLIED TIRE AND JACK. THE JACK WAS VERY FLIMSY AND AFTER I RAISED THE VEHICLE THE JACK FLIPPED OVER CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR, HOWEVER I NAR...
Mileage: 14,000
I HAVE 2008 MERCEDES S550. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT AND I CALLED DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE BRAKES ARE GONE AND EVEN ROTORS ARE DAMAGED. I HAD NO INDICATION ALL THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING THAT THE CAR HAD NO BRAKES AS NO BRAKELIGHTS CAME ON. TILL THE TIME I WENT TO DEALERSHI...