Is air suspension (abc) and strut failure a known issue with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

11 NHTSA complaints have been filed about air suspension (abc) and strut failure on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2013-05 → 2026-09). Reported component: SUSPENSION. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11523291): "The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side and front driver’s side air suspension had failed, and the vehicle was leaning and was unstable" Source: NHTSA.

Is fuel odor and fuel system leaks a known issue with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

4 NHTSA complaints have been filed about fuel odor and fuel system leaks on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2013-03 → 2019-10). Reported component: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11163543): "WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE" Source: NHTSA.

Is transmission valve body/conductor plate failure and stalling a known issue with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

22 NHTSA complaints have been filed about transmission valve body/conductor plate failure and stalling on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2007-12 → 2019-04). Reported component: POWER TRAIN. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11204093): "MY 2007 MB S550 BASE MODEL STALLED AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC" Source: NHTSA.

Is balance shaft/timing chain wear causing engine stall a known issue with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

3 NHTSA complaints have been filed about balance shaft/timing chain wear causing engine stall on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2014-11 → 2018-10). Reported component: ENGINE. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11144132): "ERROR CODE P0019 CAM SENSOR BANK B, MANUFACTURERS USED DEFECTIVE PART THAT TIMING SPROCKET TEETH HAVE ERODED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS USED WHICH HAVE AND WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO STAHL WHILE RUNNING" Source: NHTSA.

Is engine compartment fire a known issue with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

3 NHTSA complaints have been filed about engine compartment fire on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2010-08 → 2016-11). Reported component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #10926827): "TWO DAYS AFTER TAKING CAR INTO SERVICE IT STARTED ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED. NO INDICATION WHEN DRIVING FOR DAY AND HALF AFTER SERVICE. INSURANCE HAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS" Source: NHTSA.

2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

Q: Is headlight wiring harness failure a known issue with the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

3 NHTSA complaints have been filed about headlight wiring harness failure on the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (2013-01 → 2024-09). Reported component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. From an owner report (NHTSA ODI #11616129): "I went to replace my low beam and high beam bulbs on the passenger side and found that the wiring for the low beam had 0 insulation on it and I installed the new high beam bulb and the wires starting arcing causing the car to turn off the high beams and start smoking from the" Source: NHTSA.

The 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Air suspension (ABC) and strut failure.” Mercedes-Benz alternates two service events: Service A (oil, filter, inspection) at roughly 10,000 miles or 1 year, then Service B (Service A plus brake fluid, cabin filter, and deeper checks) at roughly 20,000 miles or 2 years — the ASSYST Plus counter in the cluster tells you which is due. Oil must carry the MB-Approval number your engine specifies (commonly 229.5, or 229.71 for newer 0W-20 engines); 'meets or exceeds' marketing language is not an approval. Electric EQB and EQS models keep the A/B rhythm for inspections, brake fluid, and cabin filters — just without oil.

Save this car as:

No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Reported to NHTSA

Air suspension (ABC) and strut failure

SUSPENSION

11 NHTSA complaints · 2013-05 → 2026-09

“The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side and front driver’s side air suspension had failed, and the vehicle was leaning and was unstable”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11523291

“The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle was bouncing and pulling to the left and the right”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11506273

“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10759923

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel odor and fuel system leaks

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

4 NHTSA complaints · 2013-03 → 2019-10

“WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11163543

“WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ODOR OF FUMES EMITTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE CONTACT NAUSEOUS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11265870

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10960040

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission valve body/conductor plate failure and stalling

POWER TRAIN

22 NHTSA complaints · 2007-12 → 2019-04

“MY 2007 MB S550 BASE MODEL STALLED AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE EXPRESSWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11204093

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10817117

“VEHICLE BECOMES STUCK IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WILL NOT SHIFT, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO MOVE QUICKLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10783867

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Balance shaft/timing chain wear causing engine stall

ENGINE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-11 → 2018-10

“ERROR CODE P0019 CAM SENSOR BANK B, MANUFACTURERS USED DEFECTIVE PART THAT TIMING SPROCKET TEETH HAVE ERODED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS USED WHICH HAVE AND WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO STAHL WHILE RUNNING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11144132

“BALANCE SHAFT/IDLE GEAR MATERIAL WORE OUT CAUSING TIMING CHAIN TO BECOME LOOSE AND ENGINE TO JUMP TIMING WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11118429

“WORN TIMING SPROCKET AND BALANCE SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IN 2011”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10653045

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight wiring harness failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2013-01 → 2024-09

“I went to replace my low beam and high beam bulbs on the passenger side and found that the wiring for the low beam had 0 insulation on it and I installed the new high beam bulb and the wires starting arcing causing the car to turn off the high beams and start smoking from the”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11616129

“THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CRACKS CAUSING A SHORT, WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO STOP WORKING. THIS HAPPENED TO US DURING A LONG DISTANCE TRIP AT NIGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10824673

“THE CONTACT STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED FLAMES WERE INSIDE THE GRILL AND BEHIND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE YARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10491444

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine compartment fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2010-08 → 2016-11

“TWO DAYS AFTER TAKING CAR INTO SERVICE IT STARTED ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE PARKED. NO INDICATION WHEN DRIVING FOR DAY AND HALF AFTER SERVICE. INSURANCE HAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10926827

“OIL LEAKS FROM REAR OF ENGINE CAUSING OIL TO BURN UNDERNEATH CAR AND CAUSE SMALL FIRES & LOTS OF SMOKE!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10519532

“I WAS JUST DRIVING ALONG, WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, AND DECIDED TO PULL OVER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10347258

Combination / Dust Filter

Every 20,000 mi

Replaced with every Service B. Models with the ENERGIZING air package use a higher-grade filter — priced accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Engine Coolant

On condition / lifetime

MB-spec coolant is long-life (typically ~10 years / 150,000 miles on the sheet). Refresh only with MB 325/326-spec coolant — the wrong chemistry attacks aluminum and head gaskets.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

12V & Auxiliary Battery

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Most modern Mercedes carry a second auxiliary battery; a weak one triggers cascading warning messages long before a no-start. EQ models also depend on the 12V system to boot.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

24 crashes 1990–2024

How the 24 occupant deaths break down

driver deaths

passenger deaths

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2006 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

complaints mentioning a crash

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class reflects Mercedes-Benz's published service intervals and the ASSYST Plus (Service A / Service B) system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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