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2018 Mercedes-benz S-class
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
29 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Mercedes-benz S-class, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (7) · Steering (5) · Brakes (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
24%7 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“Excessive engine oil lead from the back seal. Also, slow coolant leak. The car has a low mileage of 46k.”
Steering
17%5 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Steering wheel became extremely stiff to turn and a message that read “steering malfunction increase physical effort” appeared while driving at around 30 mph while in …”
Brakes
17%5 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2018 Mercedes-Benz S450. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact attempted to depress the brake; however, the vehicle …”
Suspension
10%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Vehicle Check Engine Light turned on a Vehicle Lost power. Vehicle often hesitates upon acceleration. Convertible Top does not close as well intermittently.”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Mercedes-benz S-CLASS beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every S-class model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Mercedes-benz S-class against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.