Mercedes-Benz S-Class Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class repairs by problem area

Engine (28%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (8%)

Brakes and Traction Control (8%)

Suspension and Steering (22%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (24%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (5%)

Other (5%)

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Chart based on 317 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class suspension repair cost distribution

$2500+ (8%)

$1000 - $2499 (34%)

$500 - $999 (16%)

$100 - $499 (23%)

< $100 (19%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 64 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

275-horsepower 3.5L V6 Hybrid 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

57000 mi

US $2258
Left front Strut Right Front Strut 

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2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

turbocharged 429hp 4.7L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

40300 mi

C $1800
replacement of tie rods, regular maintenance 

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2012 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

turbocharged 240hp 3.0L V6 Diesel 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

122000 mi

US $3500
L Front strut failed, replaced both. 

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2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

382-horsepower 5.5L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

98950 mi

US $721
Right front lower control arm was replaced. 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

382-horsepower 5.5L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

93000 mi Replaced left front suspension piece with torn boot. 
104000 mi Replaced control arm bushings 
81000 mi

US $710
Replaced right/front air strut 
100630 mi

US $370
air suspension compressor running too long, so I replaced it. 
101630 mi

US $338
bad air strut 
37000 mi Failure of air suspension system. Also, strut ordered from Germany, hence long time in shop. Free loaner car provided, thankfully. 
48000 mi

US $1200
Steering system failure, electrical/power 

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2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

382-horsepower 5.5L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

92300 mi

US $800
Air Suspension Pump malfunction 
103000 mi

US $1100
Front Lower Control arm's bilateral 
128000 mi

£1110
Replaced o/s/f strut, replaced both front lower spring control arms 
136500 mi

£2652
Faulty airmatic pump + n/s/f shock absorber was leaking 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

turbocharged 604hp 6.0L V12 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

31000 mi Hydraulic pressure line 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

turbocharged 510hp 5.5L V12 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

23000 mi ABC Malfunction Msg - R&R ABC Tandem Pump again. This is the 4th time it's been replaced since new. Car has been to 4 Benz shops 8 times since April '09 and been out of service 45 days since April '09. 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

382-horsepower 5.5L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

63100 mi

US $450
RHS Tie rod control arm bushings were completely worn and squeaking loudly. 
70300 mi

US $750
Front Thrust Bushing leaking 
62000 mi

£300
Small height rod seized and then broke 
141000 mi

US $460
Stabilizer bushings were damage from cam plug oil leak fixed earlier last year, also slight suspension noise, so entire stabilizer bar assembly was replaced by ind. Cam plug was still leaking so took it back to dealer to get warranty repair. 
159940 mi

US $2465
Airmatic air suspension strut, air compressor, control valve replaced. 
161139 mi

US $1191
Airmatic compressor, relay, and valve block. 
168328 mi

US $1782
Replaced driver side front airmatic strut. 
191591 mi

US $1505
Repack wheel bearing, grease. Replace worn out front spring link control arm 
38000 mi

US $165
Squeaking from front suspension- replaced control arm After control arm replacement, alignment was off. Original repairing dealer refused to correct - took to another dealer and paid out of pocket. 
47000 mi Suspension problem apparent when bought vehicle. First attempt changed swaybar mounts. This did not work and did not make sense to me. Second attempt to fix suspension issue could not reproduce condition, third attempt required having a technician in the car for a ride along to finally convince MB there was a problem, the TSB was referenced to address and resolve the issue. Suspension problem apparent after vehicle purchase. First attempt changed swaybar mounts. This did not work and did not make sense to me. Second attempt to fix suspension issue could not reproduce condition, third attempt required having a technician in the car for a ride along to finally convince MB there was a problem, the TSB was referenced to address and resolve the issue. 
61000 mi

US $900
Lower control arms front suspension replaced. 
67000 mi

US $1105
Control Arm 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

382-horsepower 5.5L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic AWD

110000 mi

US $2400
Replaced front AirMatic units 
125000 mi

US $900
Passenger side front ball joint bushing failure. Part replaced 
97500 mi

US $200
Lubricated & resealed a bearing/u-joint on the front driver's side (may have been related to previous issue) 
51000 mi

US $4000
airmatic [suspension] 
105000 mi Ball joint replaced 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan

turbocharged 232hp 3.0L V6 Diesel 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

56000 mi

£1000
Worn bushing 
192820 mi

€1000
The 'fusee-kogel' (ball joint), had too much tolerance and therefore the car would not be approved to drive on Dutch roads. Sold it the week after (to a German family). I warned them, but I guess all the bling-bling won. 

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2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4-door

turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel automatic 2WD

65580 mi Steering fluid leakages 
67000 mi

£394
near side control arm worn and failed MOT 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

US $300 AirMatic Compressor Replacement - Covered by Aftermarket Extended Warranty 

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2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

163000 mi

US $1200
Replace front lower control arms complete with bushings on both sides of vehicle. Vehicle was creaking and speaking on bumps. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

96100 mi

$1600
Airmatic suspension leaking. Replaced all air struts with Arnott. Still leaking, awaiting replacement valve block. 
149000 mi

US $600
Bad Air Shock, front end was "on the ground" 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

43500 mi

US $450
Airmatic compressor replaced. Front control arms replaced. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

275-horsepower 4.3L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

140000 mi

US $1750
While driving, a light stating the car was too low and to pull over illuminated on the dash. I pulled over and realized that the car was sitting very low in the front. Replaced airmatic shocks with OEM updated version. $1750 later it's great 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

turbocharged 493hp 5.5L V12 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

98400 mi

US $10
rebuilt rear ABC valve block. Car would settle in rear after 24 hours. Removed valve body, cleaned all valves, replaced o-rings. 
110000 mi

US $550
top bushing on rear ABC strut / shock failed, causing an irritating thump on rough roads. 
106330 mi

C $1500
ABC oil over flow and noise. Replace right front pressure line. Replace oil reservoirs. 

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2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

122000 mi

US $600
Replace the nitrogen accumulators. A leaky accumulator cause the ABC fluid to leak. If left unresolved could cost several thousand dollars to replace the entire system. 
125000 mi

US $375
Replace lower front ball joint on driver's side of vehicle. 

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2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

275-horsepower 4.3L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

90000 mi

US $7000
New air matic suspension 
103000 mi

US $1000
Airmatic shock - front driver side (previous owner replaced other three) 

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2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Engine not specified

117000 mi

US $100
squeaking right front suspension 
120000 mi

US $400
Replaced lower front control arms and ball joints. 

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2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

139000 mi

US $2500
Hydraulic auto-leveling suspension repair. Three accumulator cells were replaced. all fluids were also replaced. 
140000 mi

US $2400
combination hydraulic leveling suspension pump/power steering pump replacement 
89160 mi

$200
rear left hydraulic line comes into contact with the plastic protecting under the fender and gets scratched until it finally breaks and loses all pressure(ABC). 

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2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Engine not specified

155000 mi airmatic pump burned out and strut went out. Have had several issues with car after 100,000 miles. Repairs for suspension were almost as much as the value of the car, so I decided to sell it for what I could get. 
133000 mi

US $2200
replaced front end suspsension, tie rod ends, bushings, etc 

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2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

108000 mi

US $300
Air Compressor failed for Airmatic system 

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2000 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4dr Sedan, ext.

275-horsepower 4.3L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

100000 mi

US $1002
Problem: wear. Rplaced front torque struts. Parts $698.00, Labor $270.00 Problem: Wear began to cause creaking noise from suspension. Replaced lower control arms & ball joints. Also installed eccentric pin kit to correct right front caster during subsequent alignment. Parts $212.50 Labor $789.50 
102000 mi

US $1100
Right front air bag, part of the Airmatic System, failed and had to be replaced. 
103000 mi

US $600
An airmatic strut/shock failed. This makes the 3rd one. Apparently they all fail pretty close together. I am having lifetime warrantied products installed. The car sat too low to the ground to drive. 

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Mercedes-Benz S-Class Suspension Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Mercedes-Benz S-Class problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.