2001 Mercedes-Benz S500 electrical system problems
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the electrical system on the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500 — 62% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“When driving my car makes noises like I'm pulling a trailer and I'm not.. In july my right shock went out so I repaired it.. Then prior to that the alternator was detected so I repaired that and just last week my instrument cluster went out. My suspension is really messed up and I can't shift at all”
filed Oct 22, 2020
“We purchased our 2001 mercedes s-500 used. Everything ran fine. After running it through an auto carwash with a under body spray, the electrical system went haywire. I noticed that the front passenger floor was soaked. Electrical malfunctions included non functioning locks, windows, air, all lights…”
filed May 7, 2020
“Takata recall. I was riding my vehicle when all of a sudden the instrument cluster went haywire. I thought it was battery but it wasn't the cause it drained 4 batteries I had on warranty and 1 I had to purchase. I found out the instrument cluster drains the battery and loss of power. I reached to a mechanic and he let…”
filed Sep 5, 2018
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related service bulletins
Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly…
LI82.70-P-077433 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 5, 2025Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly…
LI82.70-P-077433 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 28, 2024
Electrical System problems in other S500 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 S500 | 14 | 56% |
| 2000 S500 | 31 | 56% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S500
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.