NHTSA lists 2 complaints for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S Class, 1 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS.
At a glance
Complaints
2
With crash
1
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
54
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
11
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS
1
50.0%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
50.0%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
50.0%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Defect: MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING 54 MY 2009 S-CLASS, W221 VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY INTERCHANGED DURING PRODUCTION. THE EXCHANGE OF A FRONT AND A REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD RESULT IN A PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THAT CANNOT BE OPENED BY MERELY PULLING ON THE INTERIOR HANDLE AND A REAR DOOR LOCK THAT CAN BE OPENED WITH A SIMPLE P (excerpt)
Consequence: THIS SITUATION COULD AFFECT THE SAFE EXITING OF A VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM INADVERTENT OPENING OF THE REAR DOOR. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE PART NUMBER ON ALL DOOR LOCKS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DOOR LOCK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
11 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
POWER TRAIN
2
AIR BAGS
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
PARKING BRAKE
1
SEATS
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
SUSPENSION
1
10136035
Date: 2014-06-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.
Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper
10039256
Date: 2011-05-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
MERCEDES-BENZ: THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON WITH MULTIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAMSHAFT AND/OR SCORING OF A PISTON. *RM
10039253
Date: 2011-05-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SEATS.
MERCEDES-BENZ: THERE IS CRACKING NOISE AT THE FRONT SEATS WHEN OPERATING THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT. *RM
10039254
Date: 2011-05-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
MERCEDES-BENZ: THERE IS A TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODE STORED. IT IS A DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEM WITH THE WET START-UP CLUTCH. *RM
10038977
Date: 2011-04-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
MERCEDES-BENZ: THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SWITCHES TO LIMP HOME MODE OR HAS NO POWER. THERE ARE MULTIPLE POSSIBLE FAULT CODES. A PISTON MAY BE DAMAGED. *RM
10037408
Date: 2010-11-19. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
MERCEDES-BENZ: SHOCK ABSORBER PROCEDURE. *RM
10034306
Date: 2010-06-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.
MERCEDES: AIRBAG DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY. AIR BAG SRS CONTROL MODULE (N2/2) DOES NOT HAVE A SET SHELF LIFE AND WILL NORMALLY BE RELIABLE FOR THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. WITH 164, 216 221, 251 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT CAN BE RESET FIVE TIMES. WITH MODES 202, 210 AND NEWER, THE AIRBAG CONT
10034504
Date: 2010-03-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
MERCEDES (XENTRY): ENGINE DIAGNOSIS WARNING LAMP ACTIVATED. MAGNETIC SHORT BETWEEN ARMATURE AND POLE CORE DUE TO CALIBRATION ERROR AT VALVE AND TOLERANCE DEVIATION BY SUPPLYING MANUFACTURER. THIS CAUSES THE PURGE VALVE TO JAM IN THE OPEN STATE. *PE
10030939
Date: 2009-07-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: PARKING BRAKE.
MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CO
10030938
Date: 2009-07-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
MERCEDES: THE SOFTWARE FOR THE PANORAMIC SLIDING SUNROOF MAY NOT MEET CURRENT PRODUCTION SPECIFICATIONS. AS A RESULT THE PANORAMIC SLIDING SUNROOF MAY NOT CLOSE SMOOTHLY. THE SOFTWARE FOR THE PANORAMIC SLIDING SUNROOF WILL BE UPDATED. *PE
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.