2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class problems and recalls

Owners filed 13 complaints on the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the last three full years, out of 29 on record. The most cited component is the Engine.

29
Complaints
0
Recalls
2
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
1
Injuries
69.0
Severity index

Severity index 69.0 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 69.0p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 7 complaints (24.1%)7 24%SteeringSteering: 5 complaints (17.2%)5 17%Service BrakesService Brakes: 5 complaints (17.2%)5 17%SuspensionSuspension: 3 complaints (10.3%)3 10%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 3 complaints (10.3%)3 10%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 3 complaints (10.3%)3 10%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 3 complaints (10.3%)3 10%Power TrainPower Train: 2 complaints (6.9%)2 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE724.1%
STEERING517.2%
SERVICE BRAKES517.2%
SUSPENSION310.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER310.3%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE310.3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM310.3%
POWER TRAIN26.9%

Complaints filed per year

0362017: 12019: 52020: 22021: 62022: 12023: 62024: 32025: 42026: 1 (partial year)1719202162223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20171
20195
20202
20216
20221
20236
20243
20254
2026 (year to date)1
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (13 against 9).

Other Mercedes-Benz S-Class model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 10 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.