CarBrief

NHTSA has 63 owner complaints for the 2007 S-Class and lists no recalls for this model year[1][2]. Power train, engine, electrical and suspension reports lead the list, and fuel economy varies by version[3][4][5][6][7][8].

63owner complaints[1]
13–17MPG combined (EPA)[7]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 63 owner complaints on file for the 2007 S-Class[1]. None mention a crash, an injury or a death, and 4 mention a fire[1]. These are owner reports that nobody has verified, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Component group Complaints Median mileage at failure
Power train[3] 17 64,122
Engine[4] 14 66,000
Electrical system[5] 12 64,061
Suspension[6] 12 120,000
Speed control[9] 11 57,650
Unknown or other[10] 7 73,000
Steering[11] 3 not given
Structure[12] 3 not given

We also read a small sample of the complaint texts. Here is what owners describe.

The sample is small and some texts look alike, so read these themes as examples, not as a ranking of what goes wrong.

Speed control has 11 complaints[9]. We did not read a sample for it, so we cannot say what owners describe.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2007 S-Class model year[2]. That does not mean nothing ever failed. It means no recall is filed under this model year in the data we used.

Fuel economy

EPA lists four versions of the 2007 S-Class. All use premium fuel. The estimated annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Version Engine City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
S550, rear-wheel drive[7] 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd 14 / 22 / 17 $4,850
S550 4matic, all-wheel drive[13] 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd 14 / 21 / 16 $5,150
S65 AMG, rear-wheel drive[14] 6.0L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5) 11 / 18 / 14 $5,850
S600, rear-wheel drive[8] 5.5L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic 5-spd 11 / 17 / 13 $6,300

The S550 is the most economical of the four at 17 MPG combined[7]. The S600 is the thirstiest at 13 MPG combined[8]. The gap in yearly fuel cost between those two is $1,450[7][8].

How 2007 compares with other years

1995: 44 complaints, 0 recalls19951996: 9 complaints, 1 recalls1997: 9 complaints, 0 recalls1998: 3 complaints, 0 recalls1999: 15 complaints, 0 recalls19992000: 159 complaints, 5 recalls2001: 183 complaints, 6 recalls2002: 115 complaints, 3 recalls2003: 70 complaints, 3 recalls20032004: 49 complaints, 5 recalls2005: 26 complaints, 1 recalls2006: 30 complaints, 0 recalls2007: 63 complaints, 0 recalls6320072008: 19 complaints, 0 recalls2009: 2 complaints, 1 recalls2010: 16 complaints, 0 recalls2011: 9 complaints, 2 recalls20112012: 13 complaints, 3 recalls2013: 8 complaints, 0 recalls2014: 24 complaints, 5 recalls2015: 49 complaints, 9 recalls20152016: 28 complaints, 7 recalls2017: 18 complaints, 10 recalls2018: 24 complaints, 13 recalls2019: 14 complaints, 12 recalls20192020: 8 complaints, 6 recalls2021: 1 complaints, 8 recalls2022: 46 complaints, 10 recalls2023: 4 complaints, 5 recalls20232024: 5 complaints, 3 recalls2025: 2 complaints, 2 recalls2026: 1 complaints, 0 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each S-Class model year. The 2007 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
1995440
199691
199790
199830
1999150
20001595
20011836
20021153
2003703
2004495
2005261
2006300
2007630
2008190
200921
2010160
201192
2012133
201380
2014245
2015499
2016287
20171810
20182413
20191412
202086
202118
20224610
202345
202453
202522
202610

With 63 complaints[2], 2007 has the fifth highest count among the S-Class model years we have data for. Only 2001 (183), 2000 (159), 2002 (115) and 2003 (70) are higher[2]. The neighbors are much lower, with 30 complaints for 2006 and 19 for 2008[2]. 2007 has 0 recalls, like 2006 and 2008[2].

Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so treat the comparison as a rough guide.

Should you buy a used 2007 S-Class?

The record is mixed. There are no recalls on file and no injuries or deaths among the 63 complaints[1][2]. On the other side, the count is high for this model line, and the complaint groups point to the power train, engine, electrical system and suspension[3][4][5][6][2]. In the sample we read, owners describe the car not responding to the accelerator and failures that dealers struggled to diagnose[3][4]. Fuel costs are also high, from $4,850 to $6,300 a year depending on the version[7][8], so if you are considering one, a pre-purchase inspection that checks the transmission behavior, suspension and headlight wiring is a sensible step.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Power train has the most complaints at 17, followed by engine at 14, and electrical and suspension at 12 each[3][4][5][6].
Does the 2007 S-Class have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2007 model year[2].
What is the gas mileage of the 2007 S-Class?
EPA combined ratings are 17 MPG for the S550, 16 for the S550 4matic, 14 for the S65 AMG and 13 for the S600[7][13][14][8].
Is the 2007 S-Class reliable?
It has 63 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on file[1][2]. That is the fifth highest complaint count among the model years listed[2].
Is 2007 a good year for the S-Class?
Its 63 complaints are more than 2006 with 30 and 2008 with 19, though none of the three has a recall[2].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 63 owner complaints on file for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (0 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercedes-Benz S-Class model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. 17 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,122). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. 14 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 66,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 12 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 64,061). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 12 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 120,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. EPA rating for S550, 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 22 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  8. EPA rating for S600, 5.5L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 11 city / 17 highway / 13 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $6,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  9. 11 complaints name the speed control component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,650). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 7 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 73,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 3 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 3 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA rating for S550 4matic, 5.5L 8-cyl, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 21 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  14. EPA rating for S65 AMG, 6.0L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic (S5), Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 11 city / 18 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.