What are the common problems with the 2015 Mercedes S-Class?

NHTSA lists 49 complaints. Unknown or other (9) and seat belts (8) are the largest groups.

How many recalls does the 2015 S-Class have?

Nine recalls are on file for the model year. They cover roof panels, software, steering, seat belts and hybrid parts.

What is the gas mileage of a 2015 S550?

The rear-wheel-drive S550 is rated 17 city, 26 highway and 20 combined MPG. The 4matic is rated 19 combined.

How much horsepower does the 2015 S-Class have?

EPA lists 429 to 449 hp for the 4.7L V8 and 577 hp for the 5.5L.

Is 2015 a good year for the S-Class?

It has the most complaints since 2008. Check recall work by VIN before buying.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Problems and Recalls

NHTSA has 49 owner complaints on file for the 2015 S-Class^[1], and 9 recalls are listed for this model year^[2]. Check every recall against your VIN before you buy.

49owner complaints^[1]

9recalls^[2]

15–20MPG combined (EPA)^[3]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed 49 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. Six mention a crash and three a fire. The complaints report 8 injuries in total. No deaths were reported^[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts.

The biggest groups by count:

Unknown or other: 9 complaints, with 1 fire^[4]
Seat belts: 8 complaints, with 2 crashes and 5 injuries^[5]
Electrical system: 6 complaints, with 2 crashes and 2 fires^[6]
Structure: 6 complaints, with 1 crash and 4 injuries^[7]
Air bags: 5 complaints, with 4 crashes and 6 injuries^[8]
Wheels: 5 complaints, with no crashes, fires or injuries^[9]
Brakes: 4 complaints, with 2 crashes and 1 fire^[10]
Steering: 4 complaints, with no crashes, fires or injuries^[11]

In a sample of seat belt complaints we read, owners describe rear belts that will not retract or that jam locked^[5]. In a sample of air bag complaints, owners describe air bags that did not deploy or deployed only partly in a crash^[8]. In a sample of electrical complaints, two owners describe a fire, one near a brake caliper and one in the engine compartment^[6]. In a sample of structure complaints, two owners describe a problem with the front roof panel by the sunroof, one a failed panel and one hairline cracks, on cars they say were outside the recall^[7].

These samples are small. They show what some owners wrote, not how often a problem happens.

Recalls

Nine recalls are on file for this model year^[2]. Each one lists only certain vehicles, so match your VIN with Mercedes-Benz USA or NHTSA. Newest first:

Roof panel (23V854). Dec. 2023, 2,976 vehicles^[12]. The front roof panel between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may have been bonded badly during an earlier repair and could come off. A loose panel on the road raises crash risk. Dealers replace the panel free. It expands recall 21V197^[12].
Roof panel (21V197). March 2021, 15,096 vehicles^[13]. Same bonding problem. The glue may weaken and the panel could detach. Dealers fit a new panel with approved adhesive, free^[13].
Emergency call software (19V787). Nov. 2019, 24,226 vehicles^[14]. A software fault can give the emergency call system the wrong date and time, which may send an inaccurate location and delay responders. The fix is an over-the-air update or a dealer software update, free^[14].
Air bag software (17V177). March 2017, 51 vehicles^[15]. Control units may have the wrong software, which could affect air bag deployment. Dealers update the software, free. The list includes 2015 S550 and S550 4Matic^[15].
Power steering (16V899). Dec. 2016, 70 vehicles^[16]. A badly soldered contact in the steering control unit may cut power assist while driving. It can also raise fire risk, even when parked. Dealers replace the unit, free. The list includes 2014 to 2015 S550^[16].
Hybrid charger (15V796). Nov. 2015, 52 vehicles^[17]. On certain 2015 S550 Hybrid cars, the onboard charger may wrongly detect a charging cable while driving^[17]. The car could shift to park unexpectedly^[17]. Dealers replace the charger, free^[17].
Front seat belts (15V657). Oct. 2015, 2,580 vehicles^[18]. Left and right front belts may be swapped, which can affect locking and means the passenger child seat function is not available. Dealers inspect and correct the installation, free. It lists the S550 4Matic Coupe, AMG S63 4Matic Coupe and AMG S65^[18].
Engine stall (15V652). Oct. 2015, 3,177 vehicles^[19]. A software error in certain S63 AMG cars may stall the engine when coasting to a stop^[19]. The engine will not restart on its own after you release the brake. Dealers update the software, free^[19].
Hybrid fuel pump (15V647). Oct. 2015, 4 vehicles^[20]. On certain 2015 S550 Hybrid cars, the fuel pump may not restart the gasoline engine after electric driving, and the car stalls^[20]. Dealers update the software, free^[20].

Fuel economy

All gasoline models in the EPA listings use premium fuel. The S550e plug-in is rated 26 MPGe combined with 450 miles of range^[21].

Model	Drive	City / hwy / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
S550^[3]	Rear-Wheel	17 / 26 / 20	$4,100
S550 4matic^[22]	4-Wheel	16 / 26 / 19	$4,350
S550 4matic Coupe^[23]	4-Wheel	16 / 24 / 19	$4,350
S63 AMG 4matic^[24]	4-Wheel	15 / 23 / 18	$4,550
S63 AMG 4matic Coupe^[25]	4-Wheel	15 / 23 / 18	$4,550
S600^[26]	Rear-Wheel	13 / 21 / 16	$5,150
S65 AMG^[27]	Rear-Wheel	13 / 20 / 15	$5,500
S65 AMG Coupe^[28]	Rear-Wheel	13 / 20 / 15	$5,500

EPA fuel cost uses current EPA fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Engine power

EPA lists these power ratings for the 2015 S-Class:

3.0L 6-cylinder: 436 hp^[29]
4.7L 8-cylinder: 429 to 449 hp, depending on version^[30]
5.5L 8-cylinder: 577 hp^[31]
6.0L 12-cylinder: 523 to 621 hp, depending on version^[32]

How 2015 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each S-Class model year. The 2015 is highlighted^[2].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	44	0
1996	9	1
1997	9	0
1998	3	0
1999	15	0
2000	159	5
2001	183	6
2002	115	3
2003	70	3
2004	49	5
2005	26	1
2006	30	0
2007	63	0
2008	19	0
2009	2	1
2010	16	0
2011	9	2
2012	13	3
2013	8	0
2014	24	5
2015	49	9
2016	28	7
2017	18	10
2018	24	13
2019	14	12
2020	8	6
2021	1	8
2022	46	10
2023	4	5
2024	5	3
2025	2	2
2026	1	0

NHTSA lists 49 complaints and 9 recalls for 2015^[2]. The year before had 24 complaints and 5 recalls, and the year after had 28 complaints and 7 recalls^[2].

From 2008 onward, no S-Class model year has more complaints than 2015. The closest is 2022 with 46^[2]. Recalls tell a different story. Model years 2017 (10), 2018 (13), 2019 (12) and 2022 (10) each have more than 2015^[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales, so read them as a rough guide for this model only.

Should you buy a used 2015 S-Class?

The 2015 S-Class has more complaints than any other year of the same model since 2008^[2]. Seat belt, air bag and roof panel reports appear in the samples we read^[5]^[7]^[8]. The recalls are free to fix, so ask for proof that the ones covering the car were done^[12]^[13]^[18]. Fuel costs depend a lot on the engine, from $4,100 to $5,500 a year in EPA estimates^[3]^[27]. Our data does not cover repair costs, reliability scores or crash test ratings, so add a pre-purchase inspection.

Frequently asked questions

What are the common problems with the 2015 Mercedes S-Class?: NHTSA lists 49 complaints^[1]. Unknown or other (9) and seat belts (8) are the largest groups^[1]^[4]^[5].
How many recalls does the 2015 S-Class have?: Nine recalls are on file for the model year^[2]. They cover roof panels, software, steering, seat belts and hybrid parts^[12]^[20].
What is the gas mileage of a 2015 S550?: The rear-wheel-drive S550 is rated 17 city, 26 highway and 20 combined MPG^[3]. The 4matic is rated 19 combined^[22].
How much horsepower does the 2015 S-Class have?: EPA lists 429 to 449 hp for the 4.7L V8^[30] and 577 hp for the 5.5L^[31].
Is 2015 a good year for the S-Class?: It has the most complaints since 2008^[2]. Check recall work by VIN before buying^[12]^[18].

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 49 owner complaints on file for the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (6 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 8 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Mercedes-Benz S-Class model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for S550, 4.7L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
9 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
8 complaints name the seat belts component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the air bags component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
5 complaints name the wheels component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
4 complaints name the steering component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V854, filed December 15, 2023: Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V197, filed March 19, 2021: Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V787, filed November 1, 2019: Communication. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V177, filed March 14, 2017: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V899, filed December 14, 2016: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V796, filed November 24, 2015: Hybrid Propulsion System. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V657, filed October 14, 2015: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V652, filed October 14, 2015: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V647, filed October 13, 2015: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for S550e, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium and Electricity: 26 MPGe combined, 450 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S550 4matic, 4.7L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 26 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S550 4matic Coupe, 4.7L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S63 AMG 4matic, 5.5L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S63 AMG 4matic Coupe, 5.5L 8-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S600, 6.0L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 21 highway / 16 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S65 AMG, 6.0L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 20 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for S65 AMG Coupe, 6.0L 12-cyl turbo, Automatic 7-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 13 city / 20 highway / 15 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with 3.0L 6-cylinder: rated 436 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with 4.7L 8-cylinder: rated 429 to 449 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with 5.5L 8-cylinder: rated 577 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with 6.0L 12-cylinder: rated 523 to 621 hp depending on version. www.epa.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.

2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: problems, recalls and fuel economy