2000 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 2000 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
- Airbags526.3%
- Electrical315.8%
- Other / unspecified210.5%
- Suspension210.5%
- Transmission210.5%
- Visibility15.3%
- Brakes15.3%
- Exterior lighting15.3%
- Powertrain (other)15.3%
- Seat belts15.3%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG EXPLOSION WHILE I AM ON THE FREEWAY ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE ONLY ON A SUNNY DAY WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC WITHOUT A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT AND A SMOOTH ROAD AND OCCURRED ON 10 OCTOBER 2018 AND I WAS TRAVELING ON THE SLOWER LANE ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THE SANTA PAULA FREEWAY FROM VENTURA CA GOING EAST
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ E430. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V256000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
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
AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS WENT OUT. I COULD NO LONGER GET A READING ON THE SPEED I WAS DRIVING, THE GAS LEVEL, ETC. OR ANYTHING ELSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED DURING THE DAY AS THERE WAS STILL DAYLIGHT. HAD IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM AS I WAS MORE THAN 45 MINUTES FROM HOME. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL OF CERTAIN 2000 S430 VEHICLES DUE TO THIS "CLUSTER LIGHT "MALFUNCTION." I CHECKED MY VIN AND APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THOUGH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. *TR
I HAVE A 2000 MERCEDES E430. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SHOWS SCRAMBLED TIME DISPLAY AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY. THE CLUSTER WAS REPLACED BY MERCEDES UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2003 AND THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM RE-APPEARED AGAIN IN 2006 ON THE NEW CLUSTER. *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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E430. WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES, THE JACK THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH THE VEHICLE FELL OVER ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED FIVE FLAT TIRES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, THE SERVICE ADVISOR EXPLAINED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE NEW 17 INCH TIRES HAVE LESS SIDEWALL AND MAKES THE TIRE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLATS AND RECOMMENDED GOING TO 16 INCH TIRES, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE MANUFACTURER REPLACES THE WHEELS AND TIRES. NLM
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
MOUNTING FOR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILED, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION SPRING TO FALL OUT. I WAS GOING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AND IT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY. HAD I BEEN CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *TR
MOUNTING FOR SUSPENSION SPRING FAILED, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION SPRING TO FALL OUT. I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, AND IT HAPPENED AT THE END OF MY DRIVEWAY. HAD I BEEN CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
2000 E430 SPORT. NO NEED TO PRESS THE BRAKE TO MOVE THE SHIFT GEAR OR TO REMOVE THE KEY WHILE THE CAR IS OFF. THE SHIFT FEAR MOVES FREELY FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OFF. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONSUMER SPILLED COFFEE INTO THE SHIFTER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER HOW TO LOOSEN THE SHIFTER. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. *AK *SC
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
I OWN A 2000 E430 MERCEDES AND BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS. THE CAR HAS 39,000 ON THE ODOMETER. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM BECAUSE I TRANSPORT MY GRANDCHILDREN IN CHILD SEATS IN THE REAR AND WHEN THE WINDOW FAILS, IT FAILS IN THE DOWN OR OPEN POSITION. IN EACH INSTANCE, I COULD NOT LOCK OR SECURE THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS THE CONTACT PULLED OUT AGAIN, THE BRAKES FAILED A SECOND TIME WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH AND GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO BOTH INCIDENTS. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE IT IS AWAITING INSPECTION.
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
AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, ALL OF THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS WENT OUT. I COULD NO LONGER GET A READING ON THE SPEED I WAS DRIVING, THE GAS LEVEL, ETC. OR ANYTHING ELSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS HAPPENED DURING THE DAY AS THERE WAS STILL DAYLIGHT. HAD IT HAPPENED AT NIGHT, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM AS I WAS MORE THAN 45 MINUTES FROM HOME. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL OF CERTAIN 2000 S430 VEHICLES DUE TO THIS "CLUSTER LIGHT "MALFUNCTION." I CHECKED MY VIN AND APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, THOUGH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES E430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INSTEAD. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR SEVERAL TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
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
2000 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONSUMER WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED AN OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE HIT THE RIGHT FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. THE OTHER DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MB STATED THE SRS FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED; IT DIDN'T DEPLOY BECAUSE THE IMPACT WAS BELOW DEPLOYMENT THRESHOLD. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO REACH AN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE CONSUMER IF IT WAS WORN PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER PROPERLY. UPDATED 05/12/10 *BF UPDATED 07/06/10*JB
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 .