Most common 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600 problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz S600 complaints by model year
Best S600 years: 2015, 2016, 2017. Years to avoid: 2001. Compare all years →
2002 Mercedes-Benz S600 recalls (1)
Suspension
On certain passenger vehicles, corrosion May occur in the inner steel portions of the active body control's (abc) high-pressure distribution hose due to extensive exposure to heat and humidity. Over time, corrosion May deteriorate the inner steel portions of the hose.
Remedy: Dealers will install new, corrosion resistant abc high-pressure distribution hoses. The recall began August 31, 2004. Owners should contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600:
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 S600 owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the active body control warning light illuminated, after which the front suspension lowered to the ground, preventing the vehicle from being driven. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the hydro-pneumatic suspension pump and high-pressure hose. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V263000 (Suspension, Engine, and Engine Cooling) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.
The Mercedes S600 has a design flaw that causes a major oil leak from the oil cooler that is embedded inside the engine. This requires the intake and heads to be removed to replace the oil cooler at a cost of approximately $5K. Special care must be taken to clean the oil from the wiring harness, transmission and areas that has been soaked by the oil leak. This problem seems to re-occur every 50-100K miles. As a known problem, Mercedes has not assumed any responsibility for this problem.
Electrical system
While driving vehicle suddenly car began to lose all power, check engine light came on, car began running rough. Took to dealership and they reported that the oxygen sensor was faulty and both right and left coil packs and that they need to replace the spark plugs again, at a total cost of $3875.00 this seems very disturbing considering they already replaced the spark plugs and wires because they were defective parts from the factory under warranty but now refuse to take resposibility for the coil packs even though they admit there is an issue with these high ignition systems. Only 14275 miles on vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600. While driving various speeds, the lights, gauges, and meters on the instrument cluster failed to function. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Suspension
The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the active body control warning light illuminated, after which the front suspension lowered to the ground, preventing the vehicle from being driven. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the hydro-pneumatic suspension pump and high-pressure hose. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V263000 (Suspension, Engine, and Engine Cooling) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 98,000.
Abc line started leaking second time in 4 years exactly replaced it back in 2013 almost cost me 1500 and now its back doing the same problems the car is to low on the ground and can't not drive whats so ever
2002 Mercedes-Benz S600 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.8L 12-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 21 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600 a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 S600 rates average: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the S600 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 S600?
The engine & cooling — 6 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (3) and suspension (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600, the most recent from May 13, 2004 (suspension). 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 S600?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2016 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001. See the full Mercedes-Benz S600 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Mercedes-Benz S600 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 98,000 miles; 25% 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.