2001 Mercedes-Benz S500 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 6%of 34 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 173,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500, 6% of the 34 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 173,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While operating the vehicle on a two lane divided highway, the vehicle would not up-shift gears and got stuck in third gear while I was attempting to pass a tractor trailer with other vehicles behind me attempting to do the same. Subsequently, I managed to maneuver the vehicle to a parking lot to examine the issue. I could not find anything externally wrong with the vehicle that would stand out in a visual inspection. Next, I turned the ignition off and turned it back on, forcefully put the car in gear, and found that it would not shift out of first gear. …”
NHTSA complaint #10632278, filed 2014-09, 113,000 miles“When backing up in reverse the car begins to smoke from tail pipe. Once in drive it begins to shake and moves slowly in traffic then slowly picks up speed after an unusually long duration. Dashboard is almost totally blacked out cannot read gauges (gas level,speed odometer, engine temperature, mileage). Finally, the air conditioning suddenly stopped blowing.”
NHTSA complaint #10706624, filed 2015-04, 234,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11025648Nov 15, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11019018May 21, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11013298Jan 16, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse…
- 11013332Jan 15, 2025Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing…
- 10181124Sep 30, 2020Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
- 10181123Sep 22, 2020Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D
- 10176661May 1, 20205 to 4 coasting downshift - shift quality concern with cold trans- mission oil on MODEL 217 or 222 in combination with ENGI- NE 278 and TRANSMISSION 722.9 without code 835/498
- 10165839Jul 14, 2014Shift quality complaints on TRANSMISSION 722.9 (7G-TRONIC and 7G-TRONIC PLUS)
- 10165844Jul 10, 2014Possible minor leakage at described components or oil transfer from assembly plant.
- 10166982Feb 19, 2014During disengagement from D to N and/or from R to N some slight jolting could be experienced.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500
21 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsInterior lighting
6 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology