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Mercedes-Benz S ClassModel year report

1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
121,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system (1) and equipment (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 121,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Just came back from vacation. Check engine light was on before. Stopping at the gas station we noticed the smoke coming out the hood. Temperature was rising to a 100 c. Since then even in local driving temperature goes over normal. I am very concerned. Did not check with service yet.”

NHTSA complaint #10237453, filed 2008-08, 121,000 miles

Equipment: “I heard a click and then AC stopped blowing air. It had been blowing fine before this audible click. Research I did says it is a faulty blower regulator which seems to be a common occurrence for this model.”

NHTSA complaint #10238986, filed 2008-08, 202,000 miles

Steering: “The contact owns a 1996 mercedes s420. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned causing the vehicle to steer to the left. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that a connector from the transmission to the electronic control module had failed causing transmission fluid to flood the control module. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the defect. The failure mileage was 143,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10586858, filed 2014-05, 143,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 90,000 and 143,000 miles.

0%0–1020%10–250%25–500%50–7520%75–10040%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 121,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

200620072008220112014
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz S Class

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20041538,3884———Stable
20032855,0002——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20024878,1392——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20013696,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20008184,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1999996,5000———Not enough data
19966121,0001———Not enough data
199527130,5000——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199412129,7500———Not enough data

All Mercedes-Benz S Class model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system with 1.

Has the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S Class reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 121,000 miles and the middle half falls between 90,000 and 143,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.