MajorCommonSuspension

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Airmatic failures - struts sagging overnight, level sensors and compressor (W221)

Airmatic failures - struts sagging overnight, level sensors and compressor (W221) is a common suspension fault on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class on the 2006–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,000 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 20 documented faults on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Years: 2006–2013
System: Suspension

This page covers the Mercedes-Benz S-Class as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mercedes-Benz S-Class faults20 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut or Shock absorber / strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Buyer's guides consistently rank Airmatic as the W221's most common failure. Air springs perish and the car sags - typically overnight or after sitting - while compressors burn out trying to keep up with slow leaks, and level sensors and valve blocks add smaller faults. AMG and long-wheelbase cars are no different. Aftermarket struts have brought per-corner costs down, but a car needing all four corners plus a compressor is a large bill, so ride-height behaviour is one of the most important checks on any W221.

What you would notice

One corner or the whole car sitting low after parking
Compressor running constantly or loudly
'AIRMATIC visit workshop' warning
Uneven ride height side to side

How to check it

Where to look. Air struts at each corner, compressor and valve block at the front of the car

Inspect the car cold and check it is sitting level. After starting, confirm it rises promptly and the compressor shuts off within a couple of minutes. Cycle the ride height button through all levels. Ask which struts and whether the compressor have been replaced - on a car this age, no Airmatic invoices at all means the bills are still coming.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut, Shock absorber / strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,000 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Which air struts have been replaced and when?”
“Does the car sit level after a week parked?”
“Has the compressor ever been replaced?”

Now check the Mercedes-Benz S-Class you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

CarWikiHub 'Mercedes S-Class W221 Review & Buyer's Guide'
TheTopCarList 'Buying a Pre-Owned W221 S-Class'

Mercedes-Benz S-Class buyer questions

Is airmatic failures - struts sagging overnight, level sensors and compressor (w221) serious on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

We rate it major and common on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Buyer's guides consistently rank Airmatic as the W221's most common failure. Air springs perish and the car sags - typically overnight or after sitting - while compressors burn out trying to keep up with slow leaks, and level sensors and valve blocks add smaller faults. AMG and long-wheelbase cars are no different. Aftermarket struts have brought per-corner costs down, but a car needing all four corners plus a compressor is a large bill, so ride-height behaviour is one of the most important checks on any W221.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mercedes-Benz S-Class?

$1,000 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mercedes-Benz S-Class years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.