| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| S450 | 3L 6-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 19 MPG | 28 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $3,450 / yr |
| S450 4matic | 3L 6-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 18 MPG | 28 MPG | 22 MPG | — | $3,450 / yr |
| S560 4matic | 4L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 27 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $3,600 / yr |
| CLS550 | 4.7L 8-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 18 MPG | 26 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $3,600 / yr |
| S560 4matic Coupe | 4L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 27 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $3,600 / yr |
| S560 | 4L 8-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 27 MPG | 21 MPG | — | $3,600 / yr |
| AMG S63 4matic | 4L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 26 MPG | 20 MPG | — | $3,800 / yr |
| CLS550 4matic | 4.7L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 25 MPG | 20 MPG | — | $3,800 / yr |
| S560 Convertible | 4L 8-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 26 MPG | 20 MPG | — | $3,800 / yr |
| AMG S63 4matic Coupe | 4L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 27 MPG | 20 MPG | — | $3,800 / yr |
| GLS450 4matic | 3L 6-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 17 MPG | 22 MPG | 19 MPG | — | $4,000 / yr |
| Maybach S560 4matic | 4L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 16 MPG | 25 MPG | 19 MPG | — | $4,000 / yr |
| AMG S63 4matic Convertible | 4L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 15 MPG | 24 MPG | 18 MPG | — | $4,200 / yr |
| GLS550 4matic | 4.7L 8-Cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 14 MPG | 19 MPG | 16 MPG | — | $4,750 / yr |
| Maybach S650 | 6L 12-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 7-spd | 13 MPG | 21 MPG | 16 MPG | — | $4,750 / yr |
| AMG S65 | 6L 12-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 7-spd | 13 MPG | 22 MPG | 16 MPG | — | $4,750 / yr |
| AMG S65 Convertible | 6L 12-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 7-spd | 14 MPG | 21 MPG | 16 MPG | — | $4,750 / yr |
| AMG S65 Coupe | 6L 12-Cyl | Rear-Wheel Drive | Automatic 7-spd | 13 MPG | 21 MPG | 16 MPG | — | $4,750 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| Coupe 2 DR 2WD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| C 4WD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| 4 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| Coupe 2 DR 4WD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| C RWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
| 4 DR RWD | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | Not Rated | — |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Optional in official NHTSA records for tested 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class models.
View complete 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class problems & component breakdown (16 categories) →
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Defect Summary: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 C300 Coupe, C43 Coupe AMG, C43 AMG, 2015-2020 C300, GLA250, 2016-2018 C350e, CLA45 Coupe AMG, 2015 C400, S65 AMG, 2015-2019 C63 AMG, 2016 C450, 2015-2016 GLA45 AMG, S600, 2016-2020 GLC300, 2017-2019 GLC43 AMG, GLE43 Coupe AMG, 2014-2019 CLA250 Coupe, 2014-2015 CLA45 AMG, 2018 GLC63 AMG, 2014-2017 S550, 2018-2020 S450, 2016-2019 GLE63 Coupe AMG, 2016 GLE450 Coupe, 2014-2020 S63 AMG, 2018-2019 S560, and 2019 GLC350e vehicles equipped with a panoramic sunroof. The front roof panel located between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not have been bonded correctly to the vehicle during a prior repair.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Mercedes-Benz dealer will remove the bonded panel and will install a new front panel by following the detailed repair instructions and using the approved primer, cleaner and adhesive, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021 and October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Affected Component: COMMUNICATION
Defect Summary: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 C300, E300, 2018-2020 CLA250, 2020 CLS450, AMG E53, AMG GT53, GLE450, 2018 AMG E63, AMG GTA, 2017-2020 GLA250, GLC300, 2019 GLC350, AMG GLC43, 2017-2018 GLE350, 2019 AMG GLC 43, GLC350, GLE400, 2017 GLS450, S550, C300 Cabrio, and 2018-2019 S560 vehicles.
On June 18, 2021, an additional 9 vehicles were added, including certain 2021 GLA250, GLC300, 2018 S450, E400, and 2017 CLA250 vehicles.
The communication module might have been inadvertently deactivated during a service visit, which could have disabled the Emergency Call (eCall) function.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the communication module and activate it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Letters for the owners of the 9 additional vehicles were mailed July 9, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021030005.
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Defect Summary: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2016 - 2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles. Please refer to the Part 573 report for specific vehicle model details. The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in the event of a crash.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-762-8267. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021020025.
View all 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class recalls & campaign history (12 campaigns) →