The 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a compact car that came with a choice of 3.2L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl and 6.0L 12-cyl engines. At 30 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Compact Cars, Large Cars |
|---|---|
| Engines | 3.2L 6-cyl, 4.2L 8-cyl, 5.0L 8-cyl, 6.0L 12-cyl |
| Transmissions | Automatic 5-spd |
| Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
| Fuel economy | 11–15 city / 17–22 highway / 14–18 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $4,550–$5,850 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 494–635 grams per mile |
| Versions tested by EPA | 7 configurations: S500 Coupe, S600 Coupe, S320, S420, S500, S600 |
| Age | 30 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall covering the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
The drive belt pulley on the engine can develop fatigue cracks in the metal and break. If the drive pulley breaks, the car would not have engine cooling, battery charging, and/or power steering.
Risk: Loss of these systems can cause the car to over heat, lose power from the battery, and loss of control of the car increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Owners have filed 9 complaints about the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with NHTSA.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
Manufacturers have filed 11 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
Touch pad: Search lighting does not dim or does not turn on.
NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock
Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R
Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D
Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper
Mercedes: parktronic intermittently not functioning. The function works again after a short time or distance. When the foot operated parking brake is applied, the parktro
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. Its parts make up much of its value. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 1996 S-Classs that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1996 Mercedes-Benz S-Class; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
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