The 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 54 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
MERCEDES BENZ IS RECALLING 54 MY 2009 S-CLASS, W221 VEHICLES. DURING PRODUCTION THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCKS MAY HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY INTERCHANGED DURING PRODUCTION. THE EXCHANGE OF A FRONT AND A REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD RESULT IN A PASSENGER SIDE DOOR THAT CANNOT BE OPENED BY MERELY…
Consequence
THIS SITUATION COULD AFFECT THE SAFE EXITING OF A VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM INADVERTENT OPENING OF THE REAR DOOR.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL CHECK THE PART NUMBER ON ALL DOOR LOCKS AND REPLACE ANY INCORRECTLY INSTALLED DOOR LOCK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
1crashes
Total complaints3
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“There are no child safety locks on the rear doors. The manufacturer seems to think the fact that the door locks once the car is moving over a specific speed is good enough, the problem is a child can still pull the handle twice to open the door while it's moving, or simply lift the rear lock latch…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz s class. The contact was driving 55 mph when a vehicle ahead of him abruptly stopped. The contact applied the brakes as the pedal was applied down to the floorboard and remained. The contact was unable to release the brake pedal and crashed into the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 mercedes benz s class. The contact was driving 55 mph when a vehicle ahead of him abruptly stopped. The contact applied the brakes as the pedal was applied down to the floorboard and remained. The contact was unable to release the brake pedal and crashed into the…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S-Class as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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