2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 Reliability
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 has 51 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and seat belts. Compared with nearby S550 model years (2013–2017), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the S550's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
51
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
6
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 model year, filed between 2014 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 10 | 20% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 16% |
| Body structure | 6 | 12% |
| Visibility / wipers | 6 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 12% |
| Air bags | 5 | 10% |
| Wheels | 5 | 10% |
| Steering | 4 | 8% |
2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2015 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V899000 | Dec 14, 2016 | Steering — electric power assist system | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 SL550, 2013-2014 SL63 AMG, 2014-2016 E350, 2014 E350 Cabriolet, E350 Coupe, 2014-2015 S550, 2015 E350 Bluetec, 2015-2016 E400, 2016 E550 Coupe, and Maybach S600 vehicles manufactured… |
| 17V177000 | Mar 14, 2017 | Electrical system — software | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 AMG GT-S, GLC300, CLA250 and GLE300d 4Matic vehicles, 2013 C250, E350 BlueTec and G63 AMG vehicles, 2008-2014 C300 vehicles, 2013-2014 C300 4Matic and ML350 4Matic vehicles, 2009 C350 vehicles, 2014… |
| 19V787000 | Nov 1, 2019 | Communication | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle… |
| 21V197000 | Mar 19, 2021 | Body structure — body / roof and pillars | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300,… |
| 23V854000 | Dec 15, 2023 | Body structure — body / roof and pillars | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 C-Class, CLA, GLA, S-Class, GLC, and GLE vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle details. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof… |
How the 2015 compares with nearby S550 years
Verdicts compare these S550 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 | 0 | Electrical system | Too few reports |
| 2014 | 25 | 5 | Unknown or other | Caution |
| 2015 (this page) | 51 | 5 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
| 2016 | 29 | 5 | Unknown or other | Caution |
| 2017 | 22 | 10 | Unknown or other | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550
- Seat belts: pull each belt fully, make sure it retracts and latches, and check the belt warning light.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 reliability FAQ
Is the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 reliable?
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 has 51 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and seat belts. Compared with nearby S550 model years (2013–2017), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the S550's typical year.
What are the most common 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 are unknown or other (10), seat belts (8), body structure (6), visibility / wipers (6). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550, including 16V899000 (steering — electric power assist system) and 17V177000 (electrical system — software). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550 compare with the 2014 and 2016 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2014 has 25 complaints and 5 recalls (caution); the 2016 has 29 complaints and 5 recalls (caution). The 2015 has 51 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2015 Mercedes-Benz S550?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Mercedes-Benz S550 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2015 S550, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.