Home · 2011 Mercedes-benz S-class Phev · Complaints

What 18 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mercedes-benz S-class Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (18)Crash / fire / injury (3)Fuel system (6)Electrical system (4)Engine (4)Suspension (2)Body & structure (1)Brakes (1)Hybrid Propulsion System (1)Speed control (1)Wheels (1)

4 of 18 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

Mar 25, 2021EngineHybrid Propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE HYBRID BATTERY WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF TAMPA (4400 N DALE MABRY HWY, TAMPA, FL 33614, (813)543-8419) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER ELECTRONIC MODULE FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11404876

Nov 28, 2018Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S400. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FLASHING INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL RELATED TO THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING. A SECOND UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (PARK PLACE MOTORCARS MERCEDES-BENZ ARLINGTON, 4201 BELTWAY PL, ARLINGTON, TX 76018, 817-807-4800) DIAGNOSED THAT OIL LEAKED INTO A MODULE AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ODI 11154579

Aug 22, 2018EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WHICH STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS LEADING TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HOUSE OF IMPORTS (6862 AUTO CENTER DR, BUENA PARK, CA 90621, (714) 627-5553) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OVER A MONTH AGO WHERE IT WAS STILL AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE MANGER WAS ASSIGNED. THE CONTACT SENT PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND FAILED PARTS TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11121753

Dec 29, 2016Electrical systemEngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MERCEDES-BENZ S63. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. ...UPDATED 03/13/17 *BF UPDATED 08/17/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10938438

Working with the data? Download all 18 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Mercedes-benz S-class Phev verdict →