2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 problems & reliability
33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580, alongside 16 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
3 complaints report injuries (3 injured, 1 deaths reported).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System → | 10 | 30% |
| Wheels | 6 | 18% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 15% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 12% |
| Unknown / Other | 4 | 12% |
| Engine | 3 | 9% |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 9% |
| Communication | 2 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 18 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Shock air leaking front right side. The car has 31,000 miles and is 5 years old. Is this to be expected?”
Suspension · filed Aug 19, 2026
“The vehicle lost acceleration and the check engine light came on. I took the vehicle to Mercedes dealership. They quoted that the Camtronic actuator has failed and needs to be replaced. Cost $9000. I have now seen online a recall for 2021 mercedes s580's for CAMTRONIC actuator failure issue. However- my VIN is not…”
Engine · filed May 8, 2026
“Three wheels had rim a total of eight cracks that lead to one tire unable to hold air. Loss of air in tire can lead to crash. Mercedes service inspected car after first crack was noticed by Discount Tire when they diagnosed deflation in tire. Mercedes service reported that two additional wheel rims were cracked…”
Wheels · filed Jan 13, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
295 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580. The 10 most recent:
Complaint During part of the steering movement, it feels heavier or more difficult to steer in the same spot every time. OR Rattling, humming, dry sliding/gravel noise from the electric steering system when steering…
LI46.35-P-067339 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 28, 2026
Complaint Tailgate opens unintentionally. Cause Accidental or unnoticed activation of the button to open the tailgate on the vehicle key. EXAMPLE: when stored in trouser pocket, handbag etc. Remedy As of the 6th…
LI72.20-P-075746 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 24, 2026
Complaint Traffic sign symbol for "Traffic Sign Assist" is blinking in instrument cluster without obvious cause usually with one of the following scenarios: • Flashing without a speed limit ("‑ ‑"). • Flashing when…
LI54.71-P-079104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 22, 2026
Dear Mercedes-Benz Owner: In our continuing efforts to ensure the proper performance of Mercedes-Benz products and to enhance the satisfaction of our customers, Mercedes-Benz USA is extending the warranty coverage for…
CL - Tank Leak Detection · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Aug 15, 2026
Complaint The following most common complaints may be observed: • Brief connectivity interruptions when using Apple CarPlay over Wi-Fi • Audio cuts out • Device not recognized • No operation possible Cause There are…
LI82.85-P-079088 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 14, 2026
Complaint Oil leaks found on M176 or M177 engines diagnosed to be from the cylinder head cover area Cause Unknown (under investigation) Remedy If oil leaks are found at left or right cylinder head cover area please…
LI01.20-P-080884 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 12, 2026
Complaint 1. General Diagnostic Tips 2. One or More PARK Sensor Activations 3. Red Ring Around Vehicle 4. "Active Parking and Parking Assist Inoperative" on Instrument Cluster 5. Cameras 6. Other Park Topics. Cause…
LI54.65-P-080132 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 12, 2026
Complaint Clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. Cause Under analysis. Remedy To narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • If the noise continues to occur even with the door trim…
LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2026
Complaint This document is intended as a pre-case diagnostic reference for transmission related concerns. It will also ensure that if a case is necessary, all supporting documentation is available. This should not be…
LI27.00-P-075630 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2026
Complaint Mercedes-Benz USA is currently experiencing limited availability of transmission fluid specification ATF 236.17 due to a global supply constraint. 236.17 ATF 1L and 5L (PNs: A002989060312 and A002989060313)…
LI27.00-P-080840 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 4, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.