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Mercedes-Benz S550Model year report

2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 Problems

Complaints
9filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,440miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 5.5L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550. The part named most often is fuel system, with 2 complaints (22% of the total), followed by other or unknown (2) and electrical system (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,440 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 72 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin 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

Fuel system: “My driver side Rear seat underneath is leaking gasoline. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE If the fuel filter flange cracks, it will leak fuel which may lead to a fire if an external ignition source is present. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 12V557000”

NHTSA complaint #11587642, filed 2024-05

Other or unknown: “I have 20 inch wheels on the car and in three years I have had three wheels crack. To date no accidents have occurred but I am afraid of a catastrophic wheel failure at 75 miles per hour”

NHTSA complaint #10715467, filed 2015-05, 10,000 miles

Electrical system: “The contact owns a 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle accelerated up to 110 MPH on its own. The rear of the vehicle rattled without warning. On another occasion, all the warning indicators failed to illuminate and the GPS provided incorrect information. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”

NHTSA complaint #10914797, filed 2016-10

Mileage when problems were reported

25% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 67,000 and 67,879 miles.

0%0–1025%10–250%25–5050%50–750%75–10025%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,440 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

201512016120171201812020120221202412025120261
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
S550 RWD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic152318$4,550
S550 4matic 4WD5.5L 8-cyl7-speed automatic142117$4,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 → · 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. 72 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 72 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mercedes-Benz S550

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20171623,00010—21—Rising
20161557,2285—20—Rising
20154122,3005—20Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Rising
20142430,7505—20—Stable
2013732,4200—19—Not enough data
2012586,0002—19—Not enough data
2011967,4402—18—Not enough data
20101682,0000—18—Falling
20081970,0000—16—Rising
20075470,0000—17Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mercedes-Benz S550 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 have?

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 2 complaints (22% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 2.

Has the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 (S550, 5.5L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S550 reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,440 miles and the middle half falls between 67,000 and 67,879 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.