2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 Frame Recall (23V200)

Recall 23V200 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 in recall 23V200?

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.

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).

Is it safe to drive a 2021 S 580 with recall 23V200?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Disabled safety features, including seat belt tightening and seat adjustments, can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Disabled safety features, including seat belt tightening and seat adjustments, can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your S 580 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the frame and members, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V200?

Recall 23V200 covers 6 vehicles: 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580.

NHTSA lists 6 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the S 580 frame recall?

Yes. Dealers will repair the bulkhead front wall sealing, free of charge.

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.

When was recall 23V200 announced?

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC reported recall 23V200 to NHTSA on March 24, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 12, 2023.

This recall was filed 42 months ago. If your S 580 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my S 580 is part of recall 23V200?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V200 is open on your S 580, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V200000 is open on your S 580, it will be listed there, along with Mercedes-Benz recall number 2023040009. You can also ask any Mercedes-Benz dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should S 580 owners do about recall 23V200?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 23V200000 applies to your S 580.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the frame and members happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are S 580 owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 23V200 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 33 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the body, doors and seats. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580: 33 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Can recall 23V200 make my S 580 a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Body and latch defects on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong in your records.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S 580 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V200