1999 Mercedes-Benz E430 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 1999 Mercedes-Benz E430, 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
- Suspension1035.7%
- Airbags621.4%
- Body & structure310.7%
- Electrical310.7%
- Visibility27.1%
- Powertrain (other)13.6%
- Seat belts13.6%
- Other / unspecified13.6%
- Interior & seats13.6%
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
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN SPRING CAME OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF CAR PUT CAR IN SHOP COST ME 1400 FOR REPAIRS SOMEONE NEED TO HELP PAY FOR IT AND THIS SHOULD BE S RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A SUSPENSION SPRING FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPRING COIL TOWER FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THEY RELATE THAT THEY HAVE SENT PICTURES AND INFORMATION TO "MERCEDES" AND AFTER 1 WEEK I AM ONLY TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE. LONGER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT OCCUPANT SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V256000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,829.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS IN REGARDS TO 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 CONCERNING FRONT SPRING PERCHES. DATE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED 9/22/2009. FAILURE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT SPRING PERCH RESULTING IN THE SPRING TO DISLOCATE. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT OCCUR AT DRIVING SPEED RATHER OCCURRED IN A PARKING LOT. HOWEVER, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST INCIDENT UNFORTUNATELY THE SECOND INCIDENT WITHIN 5 YEARS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPRING PERCH DISLOCATED AND THE SPRING EJECTED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE FRONT END DROPPED TO THE WHEEL. NO INJURIES OR CASUALTIES OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SIDE PERCH WAS REPAIRED AND A VISUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND NO APPARENT DAMAGE WAS NOTED, HOWEVER, NOW THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I BELIEVE A 10 YEAR OLD VEHICLE MANUFACTURED BY A PRESTIGE AUTOMOBILE COMPANY SHOULD NOT FAIL IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEVELOPED CRACKS ALL AROUND AND SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THIS ALSO OCCURRED AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE SPEAKER. I AM WORRIED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND WILL CREATE A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. I WROTE SEVERAL TIMES TO THE MECEDES-BENS HEADQUARTERS AND NOT ONLY DID THEY DENY THIS MASSIVE MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP DEFECT BUT THEY REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE OR PROPOSE A CORRECTIVE MEASURE. I AM PLANING TO TAKE THIS TO THE MEDIA AND COURT. THIS IS A $55,000 FOUR-YEAR-OLD LUXURY CAR AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE CHEAP AND DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. *MR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. THEY RELATE THAT THEY HAVE SENT PICTURES AND INFORMATION TO "MERCEDES" AND AFTER 1 WEEK I AM ONLY TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE. LONGER. *TR
SAFETY ISSUES: SRS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. AC BLOWING WARM AIR, SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE., FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CANNOT ADJUST-SENSOR FAULT INDICATED L/ VALVE COVER BREATHER NIPPLE BROKEN -REPLACED L/SIDE VALVE COVER -($1524.89). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
SAFETY ISSUES: SRS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. AC BLOWING WARM AIR, SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE., FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CANNOT ADJUST-SENSOR FAULT INDICATED L/ VALVE COVER BREATHER NIPPLE BROKEN -REPLACED L/SIDE VALVE COVER -($1524.89). *TR
1. EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: ON DECEMBER 24, 2005, I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E430 ON INTERSTATE 95 TRAVELING TO CHARLOTTE, NC FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC. 2. FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: WITHOUT ANY APPARENT CAUSE, THE REAR WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR COMPLETELY SHATTERED AS I WAS DRIVING ON I-95. SHARDS OF GLASS BEGAN FLYING OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE CAR AND THE ROAD, AS WELL AS INTO THE CAR. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR OF THE CAR WERE DAMAGED. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: I NOTIFIED MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR WILL BE REPAIRED. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IS ORDERING A MANUFACTURER/OEM REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD. I CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE TO INQUIRE WHETHER THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER SIMILAR MODELS AND TO FIND OUT THE MANUFACTURER OF THE GLASS. THE MERCEDES REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT SUCH INFORMATION WAS PROPRIETARY AND THAT SHE COULD NOT GIVE ME ANY OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 30-40MPH ENTERING THE FREEWAY THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT, WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTED IT LOST ALL DRIVE. THE ENGINE CAN FREELY REV BUT NO MOVEMENT WHATSOEVER. HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE FREEWAY AND PUT IT INTO THE PARK AND RESTART THE CAR. ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL BE LOCKED INTO 3RD GEAR AND WON'T SHIFT, THERE IS NOT WARNING LIGHT OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON. 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ALSO HAS HARSH ENGAGEMENTS.
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
SAFETY ISSUES: SRS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. AC BLOWING WARM AIR, SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE., FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CANNOT ADJUST-SENSOR FAULT INDICATED L/ VALVE COVER BREATHER NIPPLE BROKEN -REPLACED L/SIDE VALVE COVER -($1524.89). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY WAS HEAVY AND EVERYONE WAS STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION, CONVERTER AND RADIATOR WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 65,600 MILES. THE CAR HAD SCHEDULED SERVICES AT THE AUTHORIZED MBZ DEALERS SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 11/98. THE MOST CURRENT MAINTENANCE WAS ONE ON 11/28/03 AT 61,290 MILES. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS FROM THE DEALERS ABOUT THE DEFICIENCIES OF THE TRANSMISSION. MBZ DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY EXPLAINATIONS AS TO WHY A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED AT 65,600 MILES. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA AND RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM THEM.
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
SAFETY ISSUES: SRS WARNING LIGHT IS ON. AC BLOWING WARM AIR, SIDE POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE., FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CANNOT ADJUST-SENSOR FAULT INDICATED L/ VALVE COVER BREATHER NIPPLE BROKEN -REPLACED L/SIDE VALVE COVER -($1524.89). *TR
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 .