2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Safety Report

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class exhibits a relatively low volume of safety complaints, with only 22 total complaints reported to NHTSA. Notably, there are no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths associated with these complaints, suggesting a generally robust safety performance in severe incidents. However, the vehicle lacks formal NHTSA safety ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover are all N/A), which means its crashworthiness hasn't been independently assessed by the agency. Despite the low complaint count, several recurring issues emerge, particularly concerning interior component failures and steering system anomalies. The absence of any recalls for this model year is a positive indicator regarding widespread manufacturing defects requiring mandatory fixes. Common complaint patterns include issues with the STEERING system (3 complaints), POWER TRAIN (2 complaints), and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints). Specific examples highlight problems like a stuck steering wheel, power steering failure, and engine stalling. Interior quality issues are also prominent, with multiple reports of the leather dashboard separating, potentially exposing airbags. This suggests a potential quality control concern with interior materials that could have safety implications if an airbag were to deploy. While the overall complaint volume is low, the nature of some issues, such as power steering failure or engine stalling, could pose immediate safety risks. The lack of NHTSA crash test data makes it difficult to fully assess its passive safety performance. However, the absence of severe incident reports (crashes, injuries, deaths) from the 22 complaints is reassuring. The recurring dashboard separation issue, while not directly a crash safety concern, raises questions about long-term material integrity and potential interference with airbag function. In summary, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class appears to have a decent safety record based on the low number of severe incident reports. However, the absence of official crash test ratings and the presence of several complaints regarding critical systems like steering and powertrain, alongside significant interior quality issues, warrant careful consideration for potential buyers.

Our recommendation: Given the low complaint volume and absence of recalls, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class appears generally reliable, but potential buyers should be aware of recurring steering, powertrain, and dashboard separation issues, and consider a thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on these areas.