Most common 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 problems
Share of the 6 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 →
2003 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 2003 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 owners say
Suspension
While my daughter driving my car abc light came on and suddenly lost control and had accident. Car went over the center line, climbed over barricade and destroyed the car. Insurance company totlaled the car because it was too expensive to repair. While driving a high pressure hose blew up and car went all the way down to bottom of the suspension, Mercedes does not take any responsibilty for this problem and when I searched the internet I found there are hundreds of complains for the incidents like this.
Mercedes Benz, s-600 (model 2003), it was very difficult to control the car in the highway and the car almost lost control after it's active body control (abc) light flashed on suddenly in the dashboard and the car body came down grinding against the wheel/tires on 11/16/2009. The car was sent to mb dealer in edison, nj for repairs that same day and they found that the abc hydraulic fluid had leaked out due to corrosion that had occurred in the inner steel portions of the abc high pressure distribution hose already. There was a burning smell; leaking abc fluid May have come into contact with hot engine components which could have caused a fire. But, the car dealer mentioned this problem was not related to mb recall (id # 07V263000) issues. However, I feel this abc quality problem issue is exactly the same as description of the related recall. …
2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5L 12-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 a good car?
Based on 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 S600 rates few complaints: 1.5× 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600?
The suspension — 4 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and electrical system (1).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2003 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz S600 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 0% 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.