Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train3
- Electrical system3
- Suspension2
- Air bags2
- Structure1
- Tires1
- Seat belts1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Steering1
- Visibility1
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 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed the safety check 2.02% of the time — 8% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 117,691 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.7 petrol (180 kW, 241 hp) and 3.2 diesel (150 kW, 201 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7 petrol | 180 kW 241 hp | 54 |
| 3.2 diesel | 150 kW 201 hp | 31 |
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
137 first registered in 2004 are on Dutch roads; 43% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €129,273.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde53
- Band onvoldoende profiel44
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm42
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen37
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm24
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect21
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld18
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling18
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
443 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 429 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, 731 of these cars first registered in 2004 took their annual MOT test. 73% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2004 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.1% | 21.8% |
| Suspension | 8.8% | 17.2% |
| Brakes | 7.8% | 13.8% |
| Tyres | 5.5% | 6.7% |
| Visibility | 3.3% | 7.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.0% | 3.2% |
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
87 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 265,000 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
17 2004 cars are on the New Zealand register; 94% 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 in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
| 2008290 15 Aug 2008 | Other Certain vehicles equipped with Active Body Control (ABC) the sensors on the front struts may not operate within tolerances. As such, the sensor signal may not … |
| 2007195 14 Jun 2007 | Steering On certain vehicles equipped with an 8-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution … |
| 2006031 7 Feb 2006 | Electrical Certain vehicles may experience instrument cluster backlighting malfunction. There are three distinct failure modes. (1) Vehicles built between 06/2000 and 11… |
| 2004184 3 Jun 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the trunk lid springs could fail in the closed trunk lid position due to extensive exposure to very high temperatures. This failure only o… |
| 2004153 6 May 2004 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with a 12-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION.
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 2004 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 |
| 10025845 | MERCEDES BENZ: WATER IN TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON EITHER RIGHT SIDE OR LEFT SIDE. *PE |
| 10019822 | INSPECT TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING AT ELECTROCHYDRAULIC UNIT AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY. THE TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE CONTROL UNITS WITH NON-TEMPERED SEALING RINGS WHICH MAY CAUSE A SMALL LEAK TO OCCUR. *TT UPDATED 04-11-07. *KB |
| 10018931 | LEARNING IN SELECTION RANGE SENSOR NOT POSSIBLE AFTER EHS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 10018833 | INSPECT CATALYTIC CONVERTER, REPLACE IF NECESSARY, DUE TO THE STEEL MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HOUSING DID NOT MEET DIN SPECIFICATIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A NOISE COMPLAINT. *TT |
| 10014593 | COMAND HEAD UNIT DISC DRIVE MALFUNCTIONS AT LOW TEMPERATURES. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES-BENZ MODEL 215, AND 220 2004 AND 2005. *TT |
| 10014583 | SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT |
| 10014548 | ROUGH DOWNSHIFTING WHEN ACCELERATING. *TT VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ 219 AND 220. *TT |
| 10014547 | HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE HEARD ON TELEPHONE/VCS/TELE AID CALLS. *TT |
| 10012832 | SD FLASH TELEMATICS CD STUCK IN COMAND HEAD UNIT WHEN PERFORMING A SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TT |
| 10012831 | COMAND HEAD UNIT HANGS AT THE STAR SYMBOL WHEN BOOTING UP. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 10010134 | NOISES FROM PARKING BRAKE CABLE. *TT |
| 10010129 | DIAGNOSTIC ENHANCEMENT. 220/215 COMAND ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC ASSISTANCE CENTER EDAC. *TT |
| 10009985 | THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION HOSE OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) (12 CYLINDER ONLY). *NM |
| 10009891 | THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN. COVER LETTER, RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN AND LETTER TO OWNERS. *TT LITERATURE FROM WARRANTY SERVICES GROUP REGARDING LABOR TIME INFORMATION. *TT |
| 10009820 | REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT |
| 10007590 | TELE AID NOT ACTIVE DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation