What are the best years of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

The 2018, 2019 and 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are its newest years that came out Worthy, away from any Maybe or Skip year, judged on their owner complaints to NHTSA against a typical year of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at the same age. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Which Mercedes-Benz S-Class years should I avoid?

The 2002, 2003 and 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class came out Skip, so these are the years to avoid: the most owner complaints to NHTSA against a typical year at the same age. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold. Have any car inspected before you buy.

How do you decide which Mercedes-Benz S-Class years are best?

Each model year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA are held up against a typical year of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class at the same age, never against another model. The typical year leaves out years that were high themselves, so a run of bad years cannot set its own bar. A year with at least 5 complaints and under 2 times a typical year (1.2 times when most are about costly parts such as the engine) is Worthy, unless its complaints about costly parts alone reach 2.5 times a typical year's, or the years on both sides of it came out Maybe or Skip. A Maybe or Skip on its complaints needs enough more of them to rule out chance. The best years named are the newest Worthy years, never right next to a Maybe or Skip year, and the years to avoid are the Skip years, or the Maybe years when no year came out Skip. The newest 2 model years are too new to judge. Complaints are unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Best and worst Mercedes-Benz S-Class years

Which S-Class years to buy and which to skip, each judged against the others.

Best and worst S-Class years

Look for 2018, 2019 and 2024. Other Worthy years are fine too, but 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2020 and 2023 sit right next to a problem year, so have those inspected with extra care. Skip 2002, 2003 and 2022. Maybe, only with records and an inspection: 2007, 2010 and 2021.

Each year is set against a typical S-Class year at the same age. 2× means twice the complaints.

Best years to look for

Each came out Worthy and is not next to a problem year. These are the newest such years, so you can still find one.

Years to skip

The years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the federal car safety agency. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

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Every year at a glance

16Worthy
3Maybe
3Skip
1Not judged

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so we compare every year at the same age, not by these totals. Each judged year shows that first: 2× is twice the complaints of a typical S-Class year at its age. Skip counts all complaints. Complaints about costly parts (engine, transmission, body and frame, hybrid and EV system) can make a year Maybe, never Skip, and each Maybe or Skip names the rule that made it. A year between two Maybe or Skip years is a Maybe too. The small marks by each year show how sure its verdict is: three for high, one for low. How sure is the verdict?

Newest Worthy years

The most recent judged years that came out Worthy, none right next to a Maybe or Skip year. Each count below is taken at the same age as the typical year it is set against, so it can be lower than the year's full total in the list above.

Worthy

Fewest complaints for their age

Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age, none right next to a Maybe or Skip year. A year that sold few cars can also show few complaints, so check how sure its verdict is (the small marks by each year above).

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

How we judge a year

Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the S-Class at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model. The typical year leaves out years that were high themselves, so a run of bad years cannot set its own bar.

Worthy: Under twice the complaints of a typical year of this model, and costly parts complaints not out of line. In numbers: under 2 times the complaints of a typical year, or under 1.2 times when half or more of them are about costly parts such as the engine. Years with under 5 complaints are not judged: too little to go on.
Maybe: 2 times a typical year or more, with at least 15 complaints. Or 2.5 times a typical year’s complaints about costly parts, with at least 25 of them. Or 1.2 times, with at least 25, half or more about costly parts. More than bad luck would explain each time. A year with a Maybe or Skip year on each side is Maybe too: it sits inside a run of problem years.
Skip: 3 times a typical year or more, with at least 25 complaints, more than bad luck would explain.
Not judged

Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.

Best and worst S-Class years

Each year is set against a typical S-Class year at the same age. 2× means twice the complaints.

Best years to look for

Each came out Worthy and is not next to a problem year. These are the newest such years, so you can still find one.

Years to skip

The years with the most owner complaints against a typical year at the same age.

From owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the federal car safety agency. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.

Year	Verdict	Owner complaints	Top problem area
2024	Worthy	7	Transmission and drivetrain
2023	Worthy	12	Driver assist and cameras
2022	Skip	48	Driver assist and cameras
2021	Maybe	35	Electrical
2020	Worthy	7	Cruise and speed control
2019	Worthy	16	Brakes
2018	Worthy	29	Engine
2017	Worthy	22	Windows, wipers and visibility
2016	Worthy	29	Wheels and tires
2015	Worthy	51	Seat belts
2014	Worthy	25	Windows, wipers and visibility
2013	Worthy	9	Electrical
2012	Worthy	14	Engine
2011	Worthy	19	Fuel system
2010	Maybe	34	Electrical
2009	Worthy	13	Brakes
2008	Worthy	24	Wheels and tires
2007	Maybe	66	Transmission and drivetrain
2006	Not judged	32	Electrical
2005	Worthy	26	Electrical
2004	Worthy	50	Electrical
2003	Skip	80	Electrical
2002	Skip	133	Electrical

Best and worst S-Class years

Best years to look for

Years to skip

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Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Fewest complaints for their age

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Best and worst S-Class years

Best years to look for

Years to skip

Add WhipWorthy to this device

Every year at a glance

Newest Worthy years

Fewest complaints for their age

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