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2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

7 safety recalls for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Foundation components (service brakes)

    NHTSA 25V116000 Reported 20,339 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 S 500, Maybach S 580 4MATIC, 2021-2023 S 580 4MATIC, 2022 S 680 4MATIC, and 2023 S 580e 4MATIC vehicles. The front brake hoses may rupture and leak brake fluid.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is…

  2. Auto crash notification (communication) and software (electrical system)

    NHTSA 24V807000 Reported 21 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Maybach S 580 4MATIC, S 500 4MATIC, and S 580 4MATIC vehicles. The emergency call system may fail to place an automatic or manual call and may not provide the vehicle location as intended.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the communication module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 6, 2024. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this…

  3. Display function (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 22V493000 Reported 8,530 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 AMG EQS53, EQS580, EQS450, 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error in the MBUX multimedia system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the MBUX multimedia system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 19, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number…

  4. Auto crash notification (communication) and software (electrical system)

    NHTSA 22V365000 Reported 242,722 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2022 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, AMG GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL-Class, GLC-Class, CLS-Class, GLB-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. An error in the communication…

    Remedy: The communication module software will be updated through an Over-the-Air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2022. Owner notification letters will be mailed in…

  5. Column (steering)

    NHTSA 22V214000 Reported 4 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 4Matic and S500 4Matic vehicles. The electrical connector to the steering column module may not be secured properly, which can disable gear shifts and/or safety features including the electronic stability program, the driver's air bag, and turn signal indicators.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the cover for the electrical connector, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.…

  6. Hazard flashing warning lights (exterior lighting) and 2 other components

    NHTSA 22V167000 Reported 9,156 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 EQS 450, EQS 580, and 2021 S500 and S580 vehicles. A software error may disable the rear turn signals, hazard lights, and reverse lights.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the rear signal software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040013.

  7. Air bags: front passenger and software (air bags)

    NHTSA 21V789000 Reported 1,311 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The air bag control unit software may deactivate the occupant recognition control unit, resulting in a deactivated front passenger air bag.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021100010. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at…

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 20,700 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2021 Mercedes-Benz. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle stalls until the contact engages the vehicle in sport mode. The vehicle was not taken to an independent m”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 4, 2024 · Engine and engine cooling

Compare Mercedes-Benz S 500 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz S 500 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2021 Mercedes-Benz S 50071
2023 Mercedes-Benz S 50031

Checking a specific 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500

How do I know if my 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V789000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.