Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags3
- Suspension2
- Seat belts2
- Visibility1
- Power train1
- Tires1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed the safety check 1.21% of the time — 31% less often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 128,546 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 5.0 petrol (225 kW, 302 hp), 3.2 petrol (165 kW, 221 hp) and 4.3 petrol (205 kW, 275 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 116 |
| 3.2 petrol | 165 kW 221 hp | 106 |
| 4.3 petrol | 205 kW 275 hp | 36 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
284 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 50% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €114,353.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm124
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen120
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect61
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde55
- Band onvoldoende profiel53
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm42
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af33
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan30
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
97 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 424 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 219 of these cars first registered in 1999 took their annual MOT test. 73% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1999 the figure was 63%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 12.8% | 16.6% |
| Suspension | 8.2% | 13.1% |
| Visibility | 7.8% | 6.9% |
| Brakes | 5.9% | 12.2% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 5.0% | 3.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.2% | 9.3% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
92 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 251,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
15 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 80% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 1999 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10136035 | Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper |
| 10030939 | MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030929 | MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE |
| 10014583 | SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)