There are 2 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE STARTED TO SMELL BURNING BRAKE PAD ODOR INSIDE OF THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARK BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK AT A NEAR CAR WASH PARKING LOT AND WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE NEAR THE REAR DRIVER CALIPER. THE CONTACT STATED AN EMPLOYEE FROM THE CAR WASH WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE OR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF TAMPA (4400 N DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614) AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR END DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED ON MARCH 16 2019, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AND ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED IN DECEMBER 2018, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATION STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, AND HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MAKING AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TAKE A VIDEO OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT UPON SEEING THE VIDEO THEY DECIDED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THAT WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT BRUSH WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,387.
AFTER WATCHING THE KOREAN OWNER'S PROTEST ON THE SAFETY CONCERN ON THE NEW S63, I FELT THE NEED TO RECALL MY VEHICLE ON THE ECU FILED BY NHTSA ON DECEMBER 6TH. AFTER THE RECALL ON DECEMBER 22ND. I DROVE MY CAR FOR 80MILES. WHENEVER I SLOW THE CAR DOWN FROM TRAFFIC, THE CAR JERKS FOWARD WHEN IT IS DOWNSHIFTING (AUTOMATIC) FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD GEAR AND 3RD TO 2ND GEAR. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY ASK MY PERMISSION FOR EXTRA 60 MILES OF DIAGNOSTICS BECAUSE THEY THINK THERE IS AN "ADAPTATION" PERIOD FOR THE "MECHANICAL" TO ADAPT TO THE "NEW ECU SOFTWARE RECALL", AND I AGREED AS LONG AS THE CAR CAN BE FIXED. TWO DAYS LATER, DEALER CALLED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION BROKE (CAN NO LONGER SHIFT AND NOT DRIVABLE WITH ENGINE LIGHTS ON). I REQUEST A REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION SINCE THE CAR IS NEW (LESS THAN 2000 MILES DRIVEN); THEY TOLD ME IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE BUT TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION (CRAKE OPEN MY TRANSMISSION). I CANNOT ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THE NEW ECU UPDATE FILED ON DEC 6TH BROKE MY TRANSMISSION. I CAN NO LONGER TRUST THE MANUFACTURE RECALL BECAUSE IT BREAKS MY NEW VEHICLE. I CAN'T UPLOAD ANY PROVES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE DEALER HAS THE HOLD OF MY VEHICLE
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026