2001 Mercedes-Benz 430 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Mercedes-Benz 430, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical433.3%
- Interior & seats433.3%
- Airbags18.3%
- Exterior lighting18.3%
- Seat belts18.3%
- Suspension18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAS, SPEED GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND THE LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES AND INSTRUMENTS WENT OUT. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
GAUGE ILLUMINATION FAILURE. VEHICLE IS A 2001 MERCEDES E430 WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL-CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V028000. THE TERMS OF THE RECALL REQUIRED MERCEDES TO REPLACE THE GAUGES WITH A PART NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME FAILURE MODE WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. MY VEHICLES HAD THE GAUGES REPLACED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL, BUT WE HAVE HAD A SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THESE GAUGES, FAILING WITH THE IDENTICAL FAILURE MODE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I HAVE NOTIFIED MERCEDES AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART, EVEN THOUGH IT FAILED WITH THE SAME FAILURE MODE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAUGE ILLUMINATION FAILURE. VEHICLE IS A 2001 MERCEDES E430 WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL-CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V028000. THE TERMS OF THE RECALL REQUIRED MERCEDES TO REPLACE THE GAUGES WITH A PART NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME FAILURE MODE WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. MY VEHICLES HAD THE GAUGES REPLACED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL, BUT WE HAVE HAD A SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THESE GAUGES, FAILING WITH THE IDENTICAL FAILURE MODE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I HAVE NOTIFIED MERCEDES AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART, EVEN THOUGH IT FAILED WITH THE SAME FAILURE MODE. *TR
GAUGE ILLUMINATION FAILURE. VEHICLE IS A 2001 MERCEDES S430. THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL - CAMPAIGN NUMBER; 06V028000. THE TERMS OF THE RECALL REQUIRED MERCEDES TO REPLACE THE GAUGES WITH A PART NOT SUBJECT TO THE SAME FAILURE MODE WHICH WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE RECALL. MY VEHICLE HAD THE GAUGES REPLACED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE RECALL, BUT WE HAVE HAD A SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE GAUGES, FAILING WITH THE IDENTICAL FAILURE MODE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THIS PART, EVEN THOUGH IT FAILED WITH THE SAME FAILURE MODE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MERCEDES HAS PLACED A SENSOR FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INSIDE THE SEATS OF THE E430. IF THE SENSOR GOES BAD A DASHBOARD LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING AN SRS ERROR. THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA INSPECTION PROCEDURE REQUIRES THIS TO BE REMEDIED FOR THE ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION TO BE PASSED. THE ONLY SOLUTION MERCEDES OFFERS IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT AT A COST OF OVER $900.00. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAS, SPEED GAUGES STOPPED WORKING AND THE LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE THE GAUGES AND INSTRUMENTS WENT OUT. VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
MERCEDES HAS PLACED A SENSOR FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INSIDE THE SEATS OF THE E430. IF THE SENSOR GOES BAD A DASHBOARD LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING AN SRS ERROR. THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA INSPECTION PROCEDURE REQUIRES THIS TO BE REMEDIED FOR THE ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION TO BE PASSED. THE ONLY SOLUTION MERCEDES OFFERS IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT AT A COST OF OVER $900.00. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 2001 MERCEDES S430. IT HAS 110 ,000 MILES. SUDDENLY MY CAR WENT VERY LOW AND A WARNING SHOWED UP ON THE DASH BOARD SCREEN I.E. CAR TOO LOW AND I FELT THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO TURN THE CAR WITHOUT TIRES TOUCHING THE FENDERS. I AM TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE AIR SUSPENSION PUMP, RELAY, AND POSSIBALY ALL AIR BAGS. MINIMUM COST OF $1000 PLUS TO $2000 PLUS. I THINK THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN TO MERCEDES AND ARE INTENTIONALLY IGNORING A RECALL. YOU SURELY EXPECTS THE SO CALLED WORLD'S BEST AUTO MANUFACTURER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, WHEN THEY CHARGE $70,000 FOR THESE MACHINES. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .