Most common 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 problems
Share of the 26 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz S550 complaints by model year
Best S550 years: 2012, 2011, 2013. Years to avoid: 2015, 2007, 2016, 2014, 2017. Compare all years →
2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 recalls (5)
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 may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 2, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on, March 22,2024, and August 2, 2024.
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, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45…
Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge.
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 location.
Remedy: MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge.
Seat belts
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 S63 AMG Coupe, S65 AMG Coupe, S550 Coupe 4Matic, S63 AMG 4Matic Convertible, and S550 Convertible vehicles manufactured June 29, 2015, to March 15, 2016.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will update the control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-December 2016. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 S550 Coupe 4MATIC, S63 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, S65 AMG Coupe and S63 AMG Convertible 4Matic vehicles manufactured September 3, 2015, to February 4, 2016. The low beam headlights on the affected vehicles may not be properly adjusted.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the headlight adjustment, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in November 2016.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550:
Front Roof Panel Detachment
On January 8, 2021, after ongoing review with Mercedes Benz, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-001 to assess allegations of front roof panel detachments while driving at highway speeds in certain 2015 Mercedes-Benz (Mercedes) C-Class vehicles.The subject front roof panel is a stationary panel composed of polycarbonate and is attached to the…
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Vehicle's front windshield spontaneously cracked overnight while vehicle as parked in a locked private garage. Crack originates at top of windshield frame where body torques the glass and continues through advanced driver assistance systems, ending up in driver's line-of-sight. No visible point of impact on damaged area of glass. Driver assistance and safety systems are affected by the stress crack, rendering them non-functional. Dealer investigated and determined that stress crack was due to a defect in manufacturing and installation of the glass, not due to any impact or road debris. However, manufacturer denied coverage under new vehicle warranty (4yr./50,000 mi), stating that glass defects are only covered for 1 yr/12,000 mi.
Heard a loud bang while driving down the highway and didn't know what it was until returning home and looked up and saw the rigid crack from front to the back on the panoramic glass. There are no indications of debris hitting the glass as there are no chips.
Wheels & tires
Started car in parking lot and warming light read zero air in right front tire. No prior warning. Checking tire for any road hazard - nails or other potential punctures but none were present but the tire had a hole just below the wheel that had blown out. The tire is a Pirelli P Zero 245/40R20 Run Flat. Was able to drive it to Tire Discount the next day to replace the tire. Manager checked tire and could not find any other issue with the tire. They were supposed to hold the tire but it was removed by the recycling company. I have pictures and the managers examination. Our safety any others if the split in the tire would have blown at speed in traffic. Called and emailed Pirelli and they could care less about a safety issue. Just told me it was out of warranty because it was over 1 year old. The tire has approximately 5,000 miles on it.
I got this certified car from Mercedes Benz dealer. I have driven it sparingly for less than 10K miles without really any hitting any bumps or potholes . After a recent service [redacted] 2024 at a MB dealer, I was told that 2 wheels were cracked 1 front & 1 back . I took it to another MB dealer (MB Morristown, NJ) to change the wheels & they advised that all 4 wheels were cracked, & one wheel had 3 cracks. These are premium AMG staggered wheels & without a doubt there is genuine design issue or defect to wheels which at high-speed could crack & crumble causing major injury & destruction to property. I have all the service records regarding this issue
Body & structure
My vehicle is listed in this Mercedes recall campaign bulletin, and it is also experiencing the safety issue that is discussed in this recall campaign bulletin: Campaign No.2021070010, August 2021 Revision A 09/03/2021 When I contact Mercedes to have the issue addressed, they stated my Vin is not a part of this recall campaign, and to contact you about it.
I woke up one morning and was astounded to find a long diagonal crack across the panoramic sunroof of my 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550. I contacted Mercedes and was told to bring the car to a dealership for evaluation to determine whether this was due to outside influence or a manufacturer's defect. They determined that it was a "stress crack" and stuck me with a bill for $13,000. This is a 2016 model car with 50K miles on it with a sunroof that spontaneously cracked. What if my wife and young children were in the car when it started to crack? The response from Mercedes is unacceptable. This is a very dangerous manufacturer's defect which must be addressed before someone gets seriously hurt.
2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7L 8-cyl turbo | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 a good car?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 S550 rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the S550 at the same age. It is one of the S550 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 4 complaints, 15% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sun/moon roof assembly. Next are the wheels & tires (4) and body & structure (3).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550, the most recent from December 15, 2023 (roof and pillars). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz S550?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2011 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2015, 2007, 2016, 2014 and 2017. See the full Mercedes-Benz S550 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 26,000 miles; 77% 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.