2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class S550
WDDNG71X48A168645
Vehicle history report for the 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class S550 (VIN WDDNG71X48A168645). Black, sedan/saloon, 5.5L 8-cyl, gasoline. 86,634 mi reported. Registered in Ca. No open recalls. Unlock full title, salvage, lien & accident history.
At a glance
Vehicle identity & specifications
What's a 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class worth?
What comparable 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.
Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.
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What a full report checks for VIN WDDNG71X48A168645
A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.
Safety recalls None found
No open NHTSA recall campaigns were found for this 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
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Common problems & what to inspect
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.
💥 1 involved a crash 🚑 2 reported injuries
🔍 Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
🔍 Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
🔍 Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
🔍 Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
🔍 Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
🔍 Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Pre-purchase checklist
- Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
- Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
- Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
- Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
- Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
- Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
- Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.
Owner complaints 24
Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class.
ENGINE
I’m reporting a serious safety issue with the balance shaft sprocket in my Mercedes-Benz S550 (M273 engine, 273.968). This is a known defect that causes the sprocket to wear out far too early due to poor material design. When it wears, it throws off the engine timing, leading to check engine lights, rough idling, reduced power, and even stalling. In some cas…
NHTSA ODI #11659570FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
About 2 to 3 weeks ago I suddenly started smelling faint gas outside the vehicle on the driver side. Over 2 weeks it got stronger and finally I was able to smell it inside and immediately investigated. I discovered the fuel filter underneath the rear seat behind the driver was leaking and the foam under the seat was soaked in gasoline. I did not find my veh…
NHTSA ODI #11608765ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering intermittently. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
NHTSA ODI #11577423TIRES
We were traveling home and our TPMS indicated a tire failure. The PSI starting dropping rapidly. We took the tire off and found that only 4 " of rubber holding the back sidewall together on the tire. I then inspected the other tires on the car (which were purchased and installed at the same time) are showing signs of failure as well. All of the tires are…
NHTSA ODI #11547224POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2008 Mercedes-Benz S550. The contact stated while driving 35-40 MPH, the message "SAFETY" was temporarily displayed on the instrument panel. Additionally, the contact stated while starting the vehicle on several occasions, the message " SAFETY " was displayed on the infotainment system screen. The check engine warning light was illuminated…
NHTSA ODI #11541256POWER TRAIN
SUNROOF DON'T WANT TO CLOSE. NEED TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER
NHTSA ODI #11366385AIR BAGS,SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCEDES-BENZ S550. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WAS SUDDENLY REAR-ENDED CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEAT HEAD REST AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED BROKEN BONES IN HIS NECK AS WELL AS INJURIES TO HIS LEFT ELBOW AND BACK AREA. THE FRONT PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES …
Crash · 2 injured · NHTSA ODI #11329607VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
P-RC-200808004 BODY CONTROL ACCELERATION SENSORS...MODELS 2001-2008 11/4/2008 - 200807001 RE-CODE THE SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) …
NHTSA ODI #11324288+ 16 more complaints on record.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I find out who owns this vehicle from the VIN?
No — and no legitimate service can. Linking a VIN or plate to a named owner is restricted by the U.S. Driver's Privacy Protection Act, the EU GDPR and equivalent laws. CarLogs shows the vehicle only — specs, recalls, problems and value — never the person.
Is the VIN WDDNG71X48A168645 valid?
WDDNG71X48A168645 is a structurally valid 17-character VIN with a correct ISO 3779 check digit, assigned to a manufacturer in Germany. It decodes to the 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class.
Does the 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class have any open safety recalls?
No open NHTSA safety-recall campaigns were found for the 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class. CarLogs checks this against official NHTSA data on every lookup.
What is a fair price for a 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class?
Comparable 2008 Mercedes-benz S-Class listings run roughly $14,750–$29,200, typically around $22,463 (from 152 comparable vehicles). The full report shows this exact VIN's valuation.
Data last checked 5 Sep 2026 · Sources: NHTSA (recalls & complaints), U.S. EPA (fuel economy), NHTSA vPIC (specifications). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.