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2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: problems, recalls and fuel economy

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Owners have filed 33 complaints about the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with NHTSA, and it has 14 recalls. We don't rate it yet: a rating needs sales figures to turn complaints into rates.

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Owner complaints

filed with NHTSA

Recalls

on record

Fuel economy

22 mpg

best version, EPA combined

Fuel, 5 years

$9,273

12,000 mi a year, $3.40/gal

What owners complain about most

Brakes5

Steering4

Suspension4

Transmission & drivetrain4

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Drive	Combined
Automatic 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L	Rear-Wheel Drive	22 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	22 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	21 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	21 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	Front-Wheel Drive	21 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	20 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	Front-Wheel Drive	20 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	20 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	19 mpg
Automatic 9-spd, 8 cyl, 4.0 L	4-Wheel Drive	18 mpg
Automatic 7-spd, 12 cyl, 6.0 L	Rear-Wheel Drive	16 mpg
Automatic 7-spd, 12 cyl, 6.0 L	Rear-Wheel Drive	16 mpg

Recalls

Power Train › Driveline › Universal JointApr 3, 2026 · campaign 26V216000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 E 400 4MATIC Sedan, E 400 4MATIC Wagon, E 400 4MATIC Cabriolet, E 400 4MATIC Coupe, 2018-2020 Maybach S 560 4MATIC, S 560 4MATIC Coupe, S 450 4MATIC, 2019-2020 E 450 4MATIC Sedan, E 450 4MATIC Wagon, E 450 4MATIC Coupe, and E 450 4MATIC Cabriolet vehicles. The drive shaft universal joint may break, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
Structure › Body › Roof And PillarsMar 19, 2021 · campaign 21V197000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Co
CommunicationFeb 12, 2021 · campaign 21V072000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles. On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA25
Communication › Auto Crash NotificationFeb 5, 2021 · campaign 21V058000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehic
Electrical System › SoftwareJul 31, 2020 · campaign 20V449000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2019 C300, C300 Coupe, CLS450, E450 Coupe and S450, 2017-2019 E300, 2018 E400 Coupe, E400 Stationwagon, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles that have previously had the instrument cluster replaced. The software in the replaced instrument cluster may cause the seat belt warning system to not operate properly, only displaying a solid warning light if eith
EngineMar 20, 2020 · campaign 20V173000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 S560 and Maybach S560 vehicles equipped with 4.0L 8-cylinder gasoline-engines. Two engine oil plugs may not withstand high engine loads while driving, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak.
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/SuperchargerJan 27, 2020 · campaign 20V048000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 E63 AMG 4MATIC, E63S AMG 4MATIC Wagon, S63 AMG Cabrio 4MATIC, S63 AMG Coupe 4MATIC, and S63 AMG 4MATIC and 2019 G63 AMG 4MATIC, AMG GT63 4MATIC, AMG GT63S 4MATIC vehicles equipped with 4.0L 8-cylinder gasoline turbocharged engines. The oil feed line to the turbocharger may leak.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › PadsDec 20, 2019 · campaign 19V915000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 S560 and S450 vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with front brake components (brake discs, calipers, and pads) with different dimensions than specified for the vehicle.
Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineNov 15, 2019 · campaign 19V821000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 S560, S560 Cabriolet, and S560 4MATIC vehicles equipped with 8-cylinder gasoline engines. The threaded connection between the camshaft idler gear and the crankcase may be improperly tightened, possibly causing the idler gear to detach from the crankcase.
Lane Departure › Lane Keep › Steering AssistDec 19, 2018 · campaign 18V910000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (Mercedes) is recalling certain 2018 S450 4MATIC, S560 4MATIC Coupe, S63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe, Maybach S560 4MATIC, S560 4MATIC, S63 AMG and S63 AMG 4MATIC Cabrio vehicles. The Hands-off-Detection system may malfunction, causing the Active Steering Assist system to remain engaged despite the driver's hands not being on the steering wheel for a prolonged period of time.
Lane Departure › Lane Keep › Steering AssistDec 19, 2018 · campaign 18V908000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 AMG S63 4MATIC coupe, AMG S63 4MATIC sedan, AMG S63 4MATIC Cabriolet, S450 4MATIC sedan, S560 4MATIC coupe, S560 4MATIC sedan, and Maybach S560 4MATIC vehicles. Due to an incorrect steering boot installation, the Active Steering Assist system may remain engaged despite the driver's hands not being on the steering wheel for a prolonged perio
Lane Departure › Sensing System › CameraSep 11, 2018 · campaign 18V607000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes Benz S63 AMG 4MATIC and S65 AMG vehicles. The software calibration for the Active Lane Keeping Assist may be incorrect, and as a result, the system may not intervene in the event of an unintended lane departure while traveling faster than 65 miles an hour.
Electrical SystemJun 15, 2018 · campaign 18V407000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2018 Mercedes-Maybach S560 and S560 4Matic and Mercedes S450 4Matic, S450, S560, S560 4Matic, and S560 Coupe 4Matic vehicles. The electrical power bars inside the pre-fuse box in the trunk may not have been secured properly.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › LatchDec 18, 2017 · campaign 17V816000
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017 GLE400 4Matic, GLE350 4Matic, GLE350, GLE550e 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic, GLE63 AMG 4Matic, GLS450, GLE63S 4Matic, GLS63 4Matic, S550e, S600, S63 AMG 4Matic, S65 AMG, S550, Mercedes-Maybach S600, Mercedes-Maybach S550 4Matic, GLE43 AMG 4Matic Coupe, GLE63S 4Matic Coupe, 2017-2018 GLS550 4Matic, S550 4Matic, 2018 S450, and S63 AMG 4Matic vehicl

Check whether a specific car still has open recalls with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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Other years of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Year	Reliability
2027	Not rated yet
2026	Not rated yet
2025	Not rated yet
2024	Not rated yet
2023	Not rated yet
2022	Not rated yet
2021	Not rated yet
2020	Not rated yet
2019	Not rated yet
2018	Not rated yet
2017	Not rated yet
2016	Not rated yet
2015	Not rated yet

Questions people ask

What problems does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class have?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA: brakes (5), steering (4), suspension (4). We don't rate it yet, so this count isn't a reliability score: popular cars get more complaints.

How many recalls does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class have?

14 recalls on record with NHTSA.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class get?

Up to 22 mpg combined (EPA), depending on the engine.