The 2021 S580 with the M176 4.0L twin-turbo V8 is a technological masterpiece with equally impressive repair bills. While the platform is relatively new, early adopters are already seeing expensive powertrain issues that echo Mercedes' troubled hot-V turbo era, plus the usual electrical gremlins from overly complex systems.
M176 Engine Bearing Failure and Catastrophic Internal Damage
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic knocking or ticking from engine bay especially on cold start, Low oil pressure warning, Metal shavings in oil during change, Sudden loss of power or engine seizure
Fix: Mercedes' hot-V turbo design runs bearings hot and tight tolerances don't forgive oil starvation. Once bearings go, you're looking at complete engine rebuild or replacement. Connecting rod bearings fail first, then mains. Short block replacement takes 35-45 hours including trans drop and reinstallation. Many shops won't touch it—you're going to the dealer.
Estimated cost: $25,000-45,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under vehicle, Burnt transmission fluid smell, Slipping or delayed shifts, Low transmission fluid warning on dash
Fix: The 9G-TRONIC's external oil cooler develops leaks at connection points and through the cooler core itself. Requires dropping the undertray and sometimes the transmission crossmember for access. 4-6 hours labor. Catch it early or you'll cook the transmission.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Transmission Mount Failures
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive, Excessive vibration at idle, Drivetrain shudder during acceleration, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount inspection
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mounts fail prematurely on these heavy V8 models, especially with spirited driving. Front mount goes first. Requires lifting engine/trans slightly for access. 3-4 hours labor for both mounts, which you should do together.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Fuel Pump and Fuel System Failures
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: No-start condition with crank but no fire, Intermittent stalling especially when fuel level below half, Extended cranking before start, Fuel pressure fault codes
Fix: High-pressure fuel pump failures (covered by recall for some VINs) leave you stranded. Low-pressure pump in tank can also fail. High-pressure pump is easier—6-8 hours including fuel system depressurization and programming. Tank pump requires dropping the tank, 8-10 hours.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,500
MBUX Infotainment and Software Glitches
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Black screen on startup requiring reboot, CarPlay/Android Auto disconnection issues, Navigation freezing or crashing, Climate control not responding to inputs, Backup camera failure or delay
Fix: The MBUX system is brilliant when working but prone to software crashes. Multiple recalls address this. Dealer updates take 1-2 hours and often don't permanently fix issues. Some cases require head unit replacement (8-12 hours with dash disassembly), which Mercedes sometimes covers under goodwill.
Estimated cost: $200-500 for updates, $4,000-7,000 for head unit replacement
Air Suspension Compressor and Strut Failures
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Vehicle sagging on one corner overnight, Air suspension fault warning, Compressor running constantly, Rough ride quality, Hissing sound from suspension area
Fix: AIRMATIC suspension struts develop leaks at the rubber bellows. Compressor overworks and burns out. Front struts are 3-4 hours each, rears 2-3 hours. Compressor replacement is 4-5 hours. Do all four struts if one fails—the others are close behind. OEM only; aftermarket is garbage on this platform.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,500 per strut, $2,500-3,500 for compressor
Owner tips
Change engine oil every 5,000 miles maximum—ignore the 10k interval. Use only MB 229.71 spec oil to give those bearings a fighting chance.
Keep transmission fluid changed every 40,000 miles despite 'lifetime fill' claims. 9G-TRONIC longevity depends on it.
Get a pre-purchase inspection with oil analysis if buying used. Metal in oil means walk away immediately—no negotiation saves you from a grenade.
Budget $3,000-5,000/year for maintenance and repairs after warranty. This is not a Toyota.
Only buy with remaining factory warranty or a bulletproof extended warranty that covers engine internals—these are six-figure cars with six-figure repair potential, and the M176 bearing issues are a ticking time bomb.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 Maybach S580 and S580 vehicles. The bulkhead that separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment may not have been properly sealed, causing water to drain into the passenger compartment. Water intrusion into the foot wells may cause corrosion and/or short circuits to electrical components, disabling safety features, including seat belt tightening and seat adjustments (PreSafe system).
Consequence: Disabled safety features, including seat belt tightening and seat adjustments, can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the bulkhead front wall sealing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 12, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023040009.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling one 2021 S 580 4Matic vehicle. The fixed front glass panel between the windshield and the panoramic sunroof may not be properly secured and may detach.
Consequence: A detached glass panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front fixed glass panel, free of charge. The owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2023. The owner may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2023020008.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · 22V493000
2022-07-11
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 AMG EQS53, EQS580, EQS450, 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error in the MBUX multimedia system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the MBUX multimedia system software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 19, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022080002.
STEERING:COLUMN · 22V214000
2022-04-01
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 4Matic and S500 4Matic vehicles. The electrical connector to the steering column module may not be secured properly, which can disable gear shifts and/or safety features including the electronic stability program, the driver's air bag, and turn signal indicators.
Consequence: Disabled safety features or the inability to shift gears can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the cover for the electrical connector, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040006.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR · 22V189000
2022-03-25
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, SL, EClass Coupe/Convertible, CLS, AMG GT 4-doors Coupe, and EQS vehicles with a heated leather steering wheel. Due to a software error in the hand detection control unit, the hands-off detection might not detect when the driver's hands are away from the steering wheel when using the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC system.
Consequence: Deactivated hands-off detection will prevent DISTRONIC system features from functioning, including warnings to grab the steering
wheel and calling first responders as part of the Active Emergency Stop Assist, which can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the hand detection control unit software for the DISTRONIC system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 6, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040010.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS · 22V167000
2022-03-18
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2022 EQS 450, EQS 580, and 2021 S500 and S580 vehicles. A software error may disable the rear turn signals, hazard lights, and reverse lights.
Consequence: Disabled rear turn signals, hazard lights, and reverse lights can reduce the vehicle's visibility to other driver's, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the rear signal software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022040013.
AIR BAGS:CRITICAL FASTENERS · 22V124000
2022-03-04
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 4Matic vehicles. The air bag control unit may be improperly secured and may result in an unintentional air bag or seat belt deployment, or an improper deployment in the event of a crash.
Consequence: Unintentional or improper deployment of air bags and/or seat belts can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the air bag control unit fastening nuts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-637-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2022030024.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · 21V931000
2021-11-29
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580, 2022 EQS450, EQS580, and S500 vehicles with an active and connected Mercedes me connect account. The MBUX infotainment system might allow activation of the television and internet display while driving, causing a distraction for the driver.
Consequence: Driver distraction can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA has updated their computer server to correct the issue for most vehicles, free of charge. For vehicles that were not able to be updated remotely, dealers will provide the software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 25, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM):SOFTWARE · 21V843000
2021-10-29
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 and Maybach S580 vehicles. An engine control unit software error may cause a sudden engine stall, without the ability to restart the vehicle.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed on January 28, 2022. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER · 21V789000
2021-10-11
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S500, S580, and Maybach S580 vehicles. The air bag control unit software may deactivate the occupant recognition control unit, resulting in a deactivated front passenger air bag.
Consequence: A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2021. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2021100010. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2021 S580 vehicles. The suction jet pump in the fuel tank may have a loose or missing nozzle, which can cause the pump to fail and result in an engine stall.
Consequence: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the fuel tank including the suction jet pump, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 26, 2021. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
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