⌘K
Federal filingsHome›Bulletins›Mercedes-Benz› 2021120008
Manufacturer communication · Service campaign · 2 brands

Mercedes-Benz service campaign 2021120008

What it saysMercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain MY 2019 S-Class (217 & 222 platform), the software for the engine control unit does not correspond to the current series… NHTSA’s full summary ↓

Mercedes-Benz filed this with NHTSA as a service campaign dated Nov 24, 2024, received Dec 2, 2024, about the engine. It names 4 model years across Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach (2019). A service campaign is not a safety recall — there is no NHTSA campaign number and no federal requirement — but it is usually work the manufacturer pays for on the vehicles it names; the dealer checks the VIN against the manufacturer’s list.

One page for every brand it was filed under. Each brand’s bulletins: Mercedes-Benz · Mercedes-Maybach.

Get the next Mercedes-Benz S-Class bulletin by email Weekly, only when something new is filed. Nothing else; one-click unsubscribe.

What the bulletin says

Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communication
What the dealer does An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will perform the engine control unit software update.

Picked out of NHTSA’s summary below, word for word. The document itself is the record, and the dealer checks the VIN.

Mercedes-Benz AG, the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, has determined that on certain MY 2019 S-Class (217 & 222 platform), the software for the engine control unit does not correspond to the current series production configuration and may cause misfire, resulting in the activation of Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL). An authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer will perform the engine control unit software update. Prior to performing this Campaign: • VMI must always be checked before performing campaigns to verify that the campaign is required on a specific vehicle. Always check for any other open campaigns and perform accordingly. • Please review the entire Campaign bulletin and follow the repair procedure exactly as described. Update Engine Control Unit Software Models 217 and 222 • Always use the latest XENTRY Diagnosis software release with all available add-ons. • Follow the operation steps exactly as described in XENTRY Diagnosis. • Use a charger to ensure sufficient power supply to the vehicle’s on-board electrical system battery (greater than 12.5 V). • If XENTRY Diagnosis is already connected to the vehicle, start with Work Procedure Step 2. If two or more software updates or SCN codings are performed during a single workshop visit, operation items 02-4762 and 02-5058 may be invoiced only on one of the workshop orders. Work Procedure 1. Connect XENTRY Diagnosis. 2. Update Engine Control Unit software. To do this, select menu item "Quick test view – N3/10 - Motor electronics ‘MED1775’ for combustion engine ‘M176’ (ME) – Adaptations – Control unit update – Updating of the control unit software." Then follow the user guidance in XENTRY Diagnosis. 3. Disconnect XENTRY Diagnosis.

Manufacturer campaign id 2021120008 Kind Service campaign Manufacturer date Nov 24, 2024 Received by NHTSA Dec 2, 2024 Components Engine

Document filed under this number

DocumentKindDatedNHTSA idAt NHTSA
2021120008Service campaignNov 24, 202411010918PDF, 234 KB

The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.

Model years it names

Source: as the manufacturer filed them

Mercedes-Benz 2 model years

Also filed against model years this site has no page for: 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 550.

Mercedes-Maybach 2 model years

Also filed against: 2019 Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC; 2019 Mercedes-Maybach S 650.

A vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.

Email me new Mercedes-Benz bulletins for the S-Class

A weekly email, sent only in a week when Mercedes-Benz files something new with NHTSA for the model you pick — service bulletins, campaigns, warranty extensions, over-the-air notices, every model year. Nothing else is sent; one-click unsubscribe in every message. Separate from recall alerts.

Advertisement

What owners reported

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Owners of the 1 model year this bulletin names have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA since 2015.

The contact owns a 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 560 E. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the vehicle vibrated abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced.

2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class · Engine · filed with NHTSA Jun 9, 2025 · ODI 11665748

A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.

More bulletins about the engine

Source: same model, same component group

26 other manufacturer communications filed against these Mercedes-Benz models under the same component group (engine), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Mercedes-Benz list.

NumberKindDatedNHTSA’s summary
LI18.00-P-073137Service bulletinSep 26, 2026Complaint Sporadic warning message in instrument cluster "Engine oil pressure stop switch off vehicle" (or similar) is shown in red on vehi…
LI20.10-P-075374Service bulletinSep 17, 2026Complaint Red coolant warning in instrument cluster. Fault codes U019F00 or U019F87 current/stored in MRG1 control unit. Cause Various cause…
LI01.20-P-080884Service bulletinAug 12, 2026Complaint Oil leaks found on M176 or M177 engines diagnosed to be from the cylinder head cover area Cause Unknown (under investigation) Reme…
LI07.10-P-080384Service bulletinAug 7, 2026Complaint Customer reports Check Engine Light with possible loss of power concern. The Following DTC's are present • P210185 - The throttle…
LI20.10-P-072886Service bulletinJul 24, 2026Complaint Check Engine Light ON with DTC P012800 "The Coolant Temperature is Below the Specified Temperature" active and/or stored in the ME…
Emissions - 2024100016EmissionsJul 24, 2026Mercedes-Benz AG (“MBAG”), the manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz, has determined that on certain MY 2019-2021 C-Class, G-Class, GLC, GT, S-Class…
LI07.61-P-080241Service bulletinJun 11, 2026Complaint CEL ON with DTC P061197 "the control unit fuel injector has a malfunction output stage fault of control unit is restricted" active…
PSL-NCU Return Parts 6/05OtherJun 5, 2026Dear Mercedes-Benz USA Dealers, The part numbers listed in the chart below should no longer be installed, and any existing stock must be ret…

Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.

Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach, by the number printed on the letter.

Photo: Christian Buehner / Unsplash

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5

Is Mercedes-Benz 2021120008 a recall?

No. A service campaign is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.

Is the 2021120008 repair free?

A service campaign is usually paid by the manufacturer on the vehicles it names, within the terms and time limit the document sets; the dealer checks the VIN against the manufacturer’s list.

Which vehicles does 2021120008 cover?

The manufacturer filed it against 4 model years across 2 brands (Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach): 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, 2019 Mercedes-Benz S 550, 2019 Mercedes-Maybach S 560 4MATIC, 2019 Mercedes-Maybach S 650. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.