2004 Mercedes-Benz S Class recalls and problems

The 2004 Mercedes-Benz S Class has 4 recalls and 15 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2004 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 8 S Class model years — 5th most.

4recalls

15complaints

1crashes

1fires

1injuries

38,954median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Electrical System

Jul 7, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V303000 · 404 vehicles

Problem: Mercedes-Benz is recalling my 2006-2008 m-class, r-class, my 2005-2009 slk-class, my 2005-2008 c-class, my 2003-2004 and 2006-2008 clk-class, my 2003-2008 e-class, my 2004 and 2008 cl-class, my 2008 cls-class, my 2004 and 2007-2008 s-class, my 2003 g-class, and my 2003-2004, 2006 and 2009 sl-class vehicles. A software calibration number (scn) coding received on the affected vehicles during a recent workshop visit was incorrect. Depending on the model year and model affected, the results of an incorrect scn coding can affect a number of vehicle safety and emission functions including the following types of functions: (1) the fuel gauge readings May be incorrect; (2) a stuck fuel-level sensor May not be displayed in the instrument cluster; (3) the obd system May cause the check engine light to illuminate incorrectly; and, (4) the speedometer May be out of tolerance.

Original NHTSA wording

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the electrical fuel pump May not receive a crash signal that is required for the fuel pump to disconnect and prevent future fuel delivery as designed.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will recode the scn free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2008. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2008 070001.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Jun 12, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V263000 · 19,924 vehicles

Problem: On certain 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 humidity causing deterioration of the hose.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN 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 HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.

Risk: This May result in abc hydraulic fluid leakage near the catalytic converter. Leaking fluid May come in contact with hot engine components and lead to a possible fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install new corrosion resistant abc high pressure distribution hose. The recall began on July 2, 2007. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 207060002.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Interior Lighting

Feb 2, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V028000 · 36,911 vehicles

Problem: On certain vehicles, the instrument cluster is experiencing electrical malfunctions. The instrument cluster contains gauges and indicators that must be illuminated whenever the vehicle is in operation.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.

Risk: Due to inadequate illumination, the driver will be unable to read the gauges and indicators, such as the speedometer, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the instrument cluster modules. The recall will be conducted in phases. Phase i was mailed out to approximately 7,500 owners on September 29, 2006. Phase II and phase III is scheduled for December 2006. Owners May contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Latches/locks/linkages

Jun 9, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V285000 · 16,690 vehicles

Problem: On certain vehicles, the trunk lid springs could fail in the closed trunk lid position.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION.

Risk: If the trunk lid is manually lifted, it May not remain in the up position and could cause injury if it comes down while someone is reaching into the trunk.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE TRUNK LID IS MANUALLY LIFTED, IT MAY NOT REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION AND COULD CAUSE INJURY IF IT COMES DOWN WHILE SOMEONE IS REACHING INTO THE TRUNK.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace both trunk lid springs. The recall began August 17, 2004. Owners should contact Mercedes- benz at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz recall no. 2004 050015.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE

PE07042 · opened Aug 14, 2007 · closed Nov 20, 2007

Summary

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 THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT CAN BE REDUCED BY AS MUCH AS 105 MM BELOW NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT BEFORE THE FULL LOAD OF THE VEHICLE FOR THAT WHEEL COMES TO REST ON A STEEL ROD, WITH A RUBBER STOP ON THE END, LOCATED IN THE SHOCK ABSORBER.THIS REST-STOP CONDITION IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT THERE IS NO IMPACT ON VEHICLE CONTROL.MERCEDES-BENZ (MBUSA) SUPPLIED VIDEO SHOWING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION OPERATING UNDER SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITUATIONS INCLUDING EVASIVE MANEUVERS DEMONSTRATING THE ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO BE CONTROLLED EFFECTIVELY WITH A RIDE HEIGHT REDUCED TO THE MINIMUM.ONLY THOSE COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MBUSA THAT ALLEGED A STEERING INTERFERENCE DURING A REDUCED RIDE HEIGHT CONDITION WERE COUNTED IN THIS RESUME FAILURE REPORT.SOME COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT WITH A REDUCED RIDE HEIGHT AND A STOP NOW WARNING MESSAGE THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING, BUT THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPROMISED.A SAMPLING OF WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY MBUSA DID NOT REVEAL ANY INDICATING A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO AN AIRMATIC SYSTEM FAILURE.THERE WAS ONE CRASH REPORT…

2004 vs. other Mercedes-Benz S Class years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S Class have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S Class, the latest from Jul 7, 2008 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S Class?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (3), power train (3), air bags (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.