2021 Mercedes-Benz S450L

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S450L is a luxury sedan renowned for its opulent interior, advanced technology, and smooth ride. The S450L is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine with mild hybrid assist, producing 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Other engine options available for the 2021 S-Class include a more powerful version of the same inline-6 engine in the S500, and a V8 in the S580. All engines are paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Owners typically praise the S-Class for its comfortable seats, quiet cabin, and cutting-edge features, but some have expressed concerns about the complexity of the infotainment system and the potential for electronic glitches.

Electrical

• MBUX Infotainment System Freezing/Crashing
  • Description/Symptoms: The MBUX infotainment system occasionally freezes, crashes, or becomes unresponsive. This can affect navigation, audio, climate control, and other vehicle functions controlled through the system.
  • Solution: A software update from Mercedes-Benz can resolve the issue.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty.
  • Recalls: None Found
• Center Console Black Screen
  • Description/Symptoms: The entire center console screen goes black while the vehicle is in operation. The screen could remain black for a short period of time, or it could be persistent until the vehicle is turned off.
  • Solution: If the vehicle is turned off and then turned back on, the screen will return. A software update from Mercedes-Benz can resolve the issue.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty.
  • Recalls: None Found
• Ambient Lighting Malfunction
  • Description/Symptoms: The ambient lighting system may malfunction, with lights flickering, changing colors randomly, or turning off completely.
  • Solution: Diagnosis and replacement of faulty lighting components or control modules.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty.
  • Recalls: None Found

Interior

• Driver Assistance Features Malfunction
  • Description/Symptoms: Multiple driver assistance features such as lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control suddenly being unavailable for use.
  • Solution: Diagnosis and replacement of faulty sensors, camera, radar or control modules.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty.
  • Recalls: None Found
• Seat Massage Function Failure
  • Description/Symptoms: The multi-contour seat massage function may stop working or exhibit erratic behavior.
  • Solution: Replacement of the seat control module or massage actuators.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty.
  • Recalls: None Found

Suspension

• Air Suspension Failure (Airmatic)
  • Description/Symptoms: The air suspension system may fail, causing the vehicle to sag on one or more corners, resulting in a harsh or uneven ride. Warning messages related to the suspension system may also appear.
  • Solution: Replacement of faulty air struts, air compressor, or suspension control module.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty.
  • Recalls: None Found

Exterior

• Automatic Trunk Malfunction
  • Description/Symptoms: The automatic trunk may fail to open or close, or may become stuck.
  • Solution: Replacement of trunk struts, trunk motor, trunk latch, trunk position sensor, or reprogramming the trunk control module.
  • Estimated Cost to Fix: Covered under warranty
  • Recalls: None Found

Summary:

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S450L, while lauded for its luxury and technology, has exhibited issues primarily related to its complex electrical systems and air suspension. The most prevalent complaints revolve around the MBUX infotainment system freezing or malfunctioning. While many of these issues are covered under warranty, they can still be frustrating for owners. The severity of these issues varies, but most are considered minor annoyances rather than major mechanical failures. The estimated cost to fix these problems out-of-warranty can be significant, especially for the air suspension and infotainment system components.