2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 Recalls, Problems & Safety Rating

2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 recalls

No safety recalls on file for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550.

Most common 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 problems

Problem areas named in the 19 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.

Problem area	Reports
Electrical System	4
Tires	4
Fuel System, Gasoline	2
Power Train	2
Suspension	2
Engine	2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1
Equipment	1
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility	1
Fuel/Propulsion System	1

What owners report

2025-05-07, Engine
I’m reporting a serious safety issue with the balance shaft sprocket in my Mercedes-Benz S550 (M273 engine, 273.968). This is a known defect that causes the sprocket to wear out far too early due to poor material design. When it wears, it throws off the engine timing, leading to check engine lights, rough idling, reduced power, and even stalling. In some cases, the engine can shut down while driving, which is a major safety risk. Thousands of people have experienced this exact problem, and it’s all over Mercedes forums, Reddit, and technical bulletins. Mercedes quietly updated the part in later models, which shows they knew the early ones were defective. Some people got repairs under wa

2024-03-14, Electrical System
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering intermittently. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the wiring harness was causing an engine misfire. The mechanic related the failure to an unknown recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

2023-09-28, Tires
We were traveling home and our TPMS indicated a tire failure. The PSI starting dropping rapidly. We took the tire off and found that only 4 " of rubber holding the back sidewall together on the tire. I then inspected the other tires on the car (which were purchased and installed at the same time) are showing signs of failure as well. All of the tires are 255-40-r19 We had a family of 4 in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

2023-08-28, Power Train
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the message "SAFETY" was temporarily displayed on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated while starting the vehicle on several occasions, the message " SAFETY " was displayed on the infotainment system screen. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the messages "Active Head Lamp Inoperative" and "Service Required. Do Not Shift Gears" were displayed. The contact also stated that upon shifting into drive (D), the gear shift indicator displayed that the transmission was in park (P). The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into the intended gear and had become undrivab

2020-06-18, Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WAS SUDDENLY REAR-ENDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT HEAD REST AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED BROKEN BONES IN HIS NECK AS WELL AS INJURIES TO HIS LEFT ELBOW AND BACK AREA. THE FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK AREA AND WAS TRANSPORTED THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE WHILE THE DRIVER DROVE HIS VEHICLE TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL A BODY SHOP POST INCIDENT WHO REPAIRED THE BUMPER AMONGST OTHER PARTS OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF

2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 questions

Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 have any recalls?

No. NHTSA has no safety recalls on file for the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 at this time.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550?

Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (4), Tires (4), Fuel System, Gasoline (2).

How do I check if a recall on my 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550 has been fixed?

Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.