2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Safety Report

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz S-Class exhibits a mixed safety profile based on the available NHTSA data. With a total of 29 complaints, the vehicle has not been associated with any reported crashes, fires, or fatalities, though one injury has been noted. A significant portion of complaints, 7 out of 29, fall under 'UNKNOWN OR OTHER,' making it challenging to pinpoint specific widespread issues without further detail. However, recurring themes emerge from the more specific complaints, particularly concerning structural integrity and advanced driver-assistance systems. Several complaints highlight issues with the vehicle's structure, including multiple instances of panoramic sunroofs spontaneously cracking or shattering (e.g., 'sunroof exploded,' 'panoramic sunroof cracked with no known cause'), and windshields cracking without impact. Tire and wheel issues are also notable, with reports of tires blowing out and rims cracking, sometimes repeatedly, suggesting potential design or material weaknesses given the vehicle's load. Furthermore, there are multiple detailed complaints regarding the malfunction of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) such as 'Collision Prevention Assist Plus' and 'Intelligent Drive,' with owners stating these systems fail to recognize obstacles or maintain proper distances, directly impacting active safety features. The recall history for the 2016 S-Class is officially listed as zero, which is unusual given the nature of some complaints, such as the mention of a 'Takata recall' by one complainant (NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V010000, which was for air bags). This discrepancy suggests that while a recall might exist for a component, it may not be directly tied to the 2016 S-Class in the provided data, or the complainant's vehicle might have been misidentified. NHTSA crash test ratings are not available for this model year, making it impossible to assess its performance in controlled crash scenarios. Overall, while direct crash data is absent, the pattern of structural failures and ADAS malfunctions raises concerns about passive and active safety systems.

Our recommendation: Prospective buyers should be aware of reported structural issues like sunroof and wheel cracking, and potential malfunctions of advanced driver-assistance systems. Given the lack of official crash test data and some critical safety complaints, a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on these areas is highly recommended.