Most common 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz S500 complaints by model year
Best S500 years: 2021, 2023. Years to avoid: 2022, 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500:
Air suspension system failure
The subject s-class vehicles contain a compressed air suspension system that uses air struts on each of the four wheels in lieu of traditional springs and shock absorbers.these air struts use compressed air to support the weight of the vehicle and control ride height.in the event of the loss of air from the system, an alert will flash on the instrument cluster warning the driver to either drive carefully or to stop…
What 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 owners say
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel and dashboard lights were off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that his daughter was able to drive the vehicle since the exterior lights were working properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an extended warranty had been issued for the failure but had already expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the instrument panel cluster burned out and all the warning lights illuminated. The contact observed an abnormal burning odor. The contact shut off and parked the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 06V028000 (interior lighting). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that he missed the warranty by three months. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Suspension
My airmatic suspension madey my car go down real low, I pay a lot of money to get the two air matic suspension fix. My rear end is still going down and now the rear is lower than the front. I am just lije the rest of the people that has complaint about this . NHTSA action number ped7042. I feel they need to make the manufacturer fix this problem before some one get hurt bad or dead.
This complaint is related to a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 with rear wheel drive and the "airmatic" suspension system. After parking the vehicle and shutting off the ignition, loud banging noises came from the airmatic suspension compressor at the front right of the vehicle. No warnings or faults were displayed on the vehicle's diagnostic system and the vehicle's ride height was normal. The banging noise stopped. While driving the vehicle later that night, the airmatic suspension released its remaining compressed air and dropped the entire suspension to a point so low that the front tires could not be turned without doing extensive damage to the wheel housing and fenders. Any undulation in the road caused rubbing and damage in the wheel housing. Finally, after this, a warning came on the dash saying "stop- car too low". …
Lights
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. The contact stated that the instrument cluster had started to flicker and had eventually gone completely blank without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000. The defective instrument cluster also prevents the owner of these cars not knowing when the vehicle air shocks can and will suddenly drop without warning like the rear air shocks completely dropped.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercedes Benz S500. The contact stated upon start-up, the instrument cluster went blank. The contact called Mercedes-Benz of los angeles (1801 s. Figueroa st, los angeles, ca 90015) where they informed him to bring the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 06V028000 (interior lighting) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. ## VIN passed ## 2002 Mercedes Benz S500 ##
2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 S500 rates average: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the S500 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500?
The electrical system — 14 complaints, 56% of all complaints for this model year, most often about instrument cluster/panel. Next are the suspension (6) and lights (4).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz S500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2021 and 2023. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2000 and 2001. See the full Mercedes-Benz S500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.