Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system1
- Air bags1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 5 2005 S-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed the safety check 1.72% of the time — 25% less often than the average 2005 passenger car (2.30%). Median odometer at inspection: 114,281 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2005 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 5.5 petrol (285 kW, 382 hp), 3.5 petrol (200 kW, 268 hp) and 3.7 petrol (180 kW, 241 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 petrol | 285 kW 382 hp | 113 |
| 3.5 petrol | 200 kW 268 hp | 104 |
| 3.7 petrol | 180 kW 241 hp | 21 |
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
276 first registered in 2005 are on Dutch roads; 61% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €124,025.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde109
- Band onvoldoende profiel84
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm75
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen58
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm54
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling52
- Remslang beschadigd, wapeningsmateriaal zichtbaar42
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld41
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
341 cars built in 2005 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 337 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, 621 of these cars first registered in 2005 took their annual MOT test. 74% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2005 the figure was 56%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2005 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.0% | 21.5% |
| Suspension | 8.9% | 17.3% |
| Brakes | 6.8% | 13.7% |
| Tyres | 4.8% | 7.0% |
| Visibility | 3.2% | 7.5% |
| Steering | 2.4% | 4.0% |
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
90 of these cars first registered in 2005 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 266,000 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
12 2005 cars are on the New Zealand register; 92% 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
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2005 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 … |
| 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… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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 2005 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)