Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S 500. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 34 · page 1 of 2
WHEN DRIVING MY CAR MAKES NOISES LIKE I'M PULLING A TRAILER AND I'M NOT.. IN JULY MY RIGHT SHOCK WENT OUT SO I REPAIRED IT.. THEN PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DETECTED SO I REPAIRED THAT AND JUST LAST WEEK MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT OUT. MY SUSPENSION IS REALLY MESSED UP AND I CAN'T SHIFT AT ALL
WE PURCHASED OUR 2001 MERCEDES S-500 USED. EVERYTHING RAN FINE. AFTER RUNNING IT THROUGH AN AUTO CARWASH WITH A UNDER BODY SPRAY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT HAYWIRE. I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WAS SOAKED. ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDED NON FUNCTIONING LOCKS, WINDOWS, AIR, ALL LIGHTS FLICKERING, SEAT CONTROLS, HORN, HAZARD LIGHTS, SUNROOF, DASH CONTROL, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL. THESE MALFUNCTIONS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND WHILE PARKED. WHEN WE TURNED THE KEY OFF AND REMOVED THEM, THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. WE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN STILL FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5 MINUTES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, WE HAVE DISCOVERED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME SITUATIONS INCLUDING PASSENGER FLOOR BEING SOAKED RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FAULTING. (SEE ATTACHED PICTURE) COMPLAINT BELOW MENTIONS A STUPID REPAIR KIT AT OWNERS COST MEANING MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS POSSIBLY DEADLY FAULT IN THEIR VEHICLES. *TR
INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER LIGHT NOT WORKING
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS RIDING MY VEHICLE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT HAYWIRE. I THOUGHT IT WAS BATTERY BUT IT WASN'T THE CAUSE IT DRAINED 4 BATTERIES I HAD ON WARRANTY AND 1 I HAD TO PURCHASE. I FOUND OUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DRAINS THE BATTERY AND LOSS OF POWER. I REACHED TO A MECHANIC AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS CAUSING THE POWER LOSS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZE THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THIS DEFECT. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE A SERIOUS INCIDENT IF WASN'T PROPERLY AWARE. I WOULD TO HAVE A RECALL IF POSSIBLE.
MBUSA PARTIALLY COVERED ($2400) COST FOR $5800 TOTAL REPAIR TO REMOVE RUST IN 2011 BUT RUST HAS RETURNED TO BOTH REAR QUARTER PANELS AND DOORS. DOCUMENTATION THAT PAINT WAS NOT PREPPED PROPERLY FOR ALL 2001 S500 MODELS, HOWEVER, NOT COVERED FOR COST TO REPAIR, REIMBURSE FOR COSTS INCURRED OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE FINISH. CURRENT QUOTE FOR REPAIRS ESTIMATED OVER $7500.00
I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT ON 225 AND CHAMBERS AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AS SOON AS A HIT THE GAS MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT BLANK. I NO LONGER HAD LIGHT AND MY GAUGES WERE NOT RESPONDING EITHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEEN SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE RECALL SO I CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH ACKNOWLEDGED AS A SAFETY CONCERN THE RECALL WAS CLOSED JUNE 2011. I PURCHASED THE CAR JUNE 2010 AND NO ONE REACHED OUT. I HAVE ONLY ONE CAR AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I CANT SEE THE SPEED OR IF I EVEN HAVE GAS. I HAVE KIDS AND LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I WORK BUT I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY $1800.00 TO FIX THIS AND I SHOULDNT HAVE TO. I CANT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY RECALL CAN EXPIRE. SEEMS AS IF THERE IS NO TRUE REGARD TO SAFETY.
I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2010 IN JUNE AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE BALL BEARING AND JOINTS AND THEY HAVE STOPPED WORKING ONCE AGAIN I WAS DRIVING LAST WEEK IN TRAFFIC AT AROUND 5 PM WHEN MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT OUT NONE OF THE GAUGES ARE WORKING I COULDNT SEE ANYTHING. *TR
FOR THE SECOND TIME THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING HAD TO BE REPLACE BY THE DEALER. IT DID THE SAME THING IT DID UNDER THE ORIGINAL RECALL. NO LIGHTING IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING BECAME VERY DIM AND SHUT OFF. THE ELECTRICAL FUSE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED, BUT EVENTUALLY RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. ...UPDATED 06/03/15 *BF UPDATED 06/17/15.*JB
WHEN BACKING UP IN REVERSE THE CAR BEGINS TO SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. ONCE IN DRIVE IT BEGINS TO SHAKE AND MOVES SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC THEN SLOWLY PICKS UP SPEED AFTER AN UNUSUALLY LONG DURATION. DASHBOARD IS ALMOST TOTALLY BLACKED OUT CANNOT READ GAUGES (GAS LEVEL,SPEED ODOMETER, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, MILEAGE). FINALLY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SUDDENLY STOPPED BLOWING. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE BACK LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT ILLUMINATE THE SPEED MARKINGS STARTED TO FLICKER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TURNED OFF AND WENT DARK. THEN AFTER A FEW MINUETS, THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK AND THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING AT. *TR
RIGHT FRONT END CONTINUOUSLY LOWERING FOR MONTHS. TRIED FILTERING ABC FLUID AND CHANGING FILTERS SEVERAL TIMES, FINALLY PUMP FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACING AT $4,000. OEM PUMP ONLY AVAILABLE. AFTER REPAIR, ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BLOCK MAY STILL NEED REPLACING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4,000. ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING CONTROL ARM RUBBER MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND GRINDING AGAINST THE FRONT SUBFRAME. SERVICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED BOTH ARMS AND SUBFRAME REPLACED AT A COST OF AROUND $3,000. SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER VALUED AT THIS TOTAL EXPENSE, I ORDERED PARTS ON-LINE AND MET A FRIEND TO REPAIR BOTH FRONT CONTROL ARMS AS RECOMMENDED. JUST PRIOR TO MAKING THIS REPAIR, MY FRIEND IDENTIFIED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (ORDER # P-B-33. 15/12C/12D, DATED 4 SEPT 2008) ISSUED BY MERCEDES TO REPAIR THIS CONTROL ARM AND RECOMMENDED TO CONTACT MERCEDES TO FIX AT NO CHARGE. TWO MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE TSB, TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO CURRENT OUTSTANDING RECALLS OR WARRANTY ISSUES, AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOT A COVERED REPAIR. HOPING SOMEONE CAN ADVISE IF THIS CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT IS COVERED BY MERCEDES. *TR
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON A TWO LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UP-SHIFT GEARS AND GOT STUCK IN THIRD GEAR WHILE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PASS A TRACTOR TRAILER WITH OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME ATTEMPTING TO DO THE SAME. SUBSEQUENTLY, I MANAGED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING EXTERNALLY WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD STAND OUT IN A VISUAL INSPECTION. NEXT, I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON, FORCEFULLY PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED OVER 150 MILES TO A SHOP. THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE DESIGN AND MATERIALS USED FOR THE TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS THAT ENABLES TRANSMISSION FLUID TO WICK UP THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE UP INTO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT THAT IS ENCASED IN PLASTIC AND LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. AS IMPOSSIBLE AS IT SOUNDS, TRANSMISSION FLUID TRAVELS UP THIS BUNDLE OF WIRES AND POOLS IN THE ENCASEMENT DISRUPTING THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION. EQUALLY CONFUSING, THE ELECTRIC CURRENT FROM THE WIRES PULLS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID UP THE WIRING HARNESS. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY THIS DESIGN OR MATERIALS WOULD BE UTILIZED ON THIS OR ANY OTHER CAR KNOWING WHAT THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME WOULD BE FOR CONSUMERS, $$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE GAUGES AND WARNING INDICATORS TO STOP WORKING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/03/14*LJ UPDATED 05/12/2015 *JS
WHILE DRIVING ON A 400 MILE TRIP HOME IN THE DARK, THE ENTIRE CLUSTER LIGHTING TURNED OFF AND SPEEDOMETER BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE. THE SITUATION WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. AS NO FUSES OR RELAYS WERE BLOWN OUT, I HAD TO USE A SMALL FLASHLIGHT TO ILLUMINATE THE CLUSTER TO GET HOME. *TR
WAS DRIVING AND DASH BOARD AND GAUGES WENT OUT CAN NOT SEE TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER OR ANY VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES. *TR
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE DASH GAUGE CLUSTER FLICKERED AND WENT TOTALLY DARK AND STOPPED WORKING. I WAS SO DISTRACTED THAT I ALMOST RAN INTO THE CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WENT OUT AS WELL. NOW, THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE OR OF SEEING ANY OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT GAUGES INCLUDING GEAR SELECTION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY. THE MERCEDES DEALER IN MANHATTAN AND NORTH AMERICA MERCEDES CENTER IN NJ SAYS THE CAR IS NOT COVERED AND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE HAS EXPIRED. THEY HAVE BASICALLY SAID" TOO BAD" FOR ME IN A VERY ARROGANT AND COLD MANNER. ALMOST LIKE I SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR ASKING THEM TO FIX IT. THIS IS A LOW MILES WELL CARED FOR VEHICLE THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PAMPERED AND GARAGED. IT BELONGED TO MY FATHER. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR PRICE FROM THE DEALER FOR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS OVER $4,000.00. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY GARAGE UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. FRANKLY, I AM SURPRISED AT MERCEDES' REFUSAL TO FIX THE CAR CONSIDERING THAT THERE WAS A NATIONAL RECALL CONCERNING THIS VERY ISSUE AND THAT ALSO THERE WAS A NEED FOR A MB EXTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX THIS VERY SAME LIGHTING/CLUSTER ISSUE. NOT TO MENTION THE EXORBITANT PRICE FOR THE S500 BOTH RETAIL AND WHEN IT WAS NEW. I EXPECTED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THAT IT WOULD PROVIDE THE TYPE OF RELIABILITY AND ENGINEERING THAT MERCEDES CLAIMS TO HAVE BUILT IT'S REPUTATION ON. *TR
THE AIR SUSPENSION PARTS FAIL (DISBALANCING HEIGHT OF VEHICLE AT FRONT AND REAR ALSO AT EACH SIDE). AS WELL BODY OF THE CAR FELT ON ITS WHEELS. THAT CAUSED IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER CAR, WHICH COULD'VE MAKE AN ACCIDENT, POSSIBLE BODY INJURY OR FATALITY. *TR
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL HAS BEEN SHUTDOWN, I AM UNABLE TO SEE MY SPEED OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION, WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES 500S. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF UPDATED 11/04/11
MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS (DASH BOARD) WENT OUT ON MY 2001 S500 MERCEDES BENZ CAR. THE LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON OCCASIONALLY AND GO BACK OUT. I WAS ABLE TO RECOVER THE SIGNAL LIGHTS BY CHANGING THE FUSES. WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP MY KIDS NOTICED A SMELL AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD. WE EXITED THE CAR AND FLAGGED DOWN A POLICE OFFICER. WE WERE TOLD TO GET AS MUCH AS WE COULD OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH FIRE. WITHIN IN SECONDS MY DASH BOARD WAS IN FLAMES. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND IGNITED INTO FLAMES. I CONTACTED MERCEDES TO FIND OUT ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL AND TO REPORT THAT THERE IS A MORE SERIOUS DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I WAS ASKED WHAT DID I EXPECT FOR THEM TO DO? THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE CLUSTER FROM THE DASH BOARD TO ASSURE THE FIRE WOULD NOT RESTART AND IDENTIFIED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS AS THE CAUSE OF FIRE. *TR
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 S500 CLASS MERCEDES. IT APPEARS THAT OTHER HIGH PRESSURED HOSES ARE LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID FROM THE PUMP TO THE SYSTEM. MERCEDES BENZ IS INFORMING ME THAT THE RECALL #2007060002 COVERS ONLY ONE HOSE. MERCEDES CAN NOT GIVE ME A SPECIFIC HOSE AND TELLS ME THERE IS ONLY ON HOSE IN THE RECALL. THERE ARE HOSES ATTACHED TO THE ABC SYSTEM AND PER DANIEL C. SMITH IN HIS LETTER DATED 07/06/2007 TO MERCEDES BENZ, IT PERTAINS TO HYDRAULIC HOSES, PART 573 DEFECT INF. REPORT. *TR
MERCEDES W200 OR S500 MODEL AIRMATIC SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, LEAKING SEALS, STRUTS AND AIR COMPRESSOR. DEALER REPAIRS CAN TOTAL OVER $7000. ALL MERCEDES CARS WITH THIS SUSPENSION FAIL AND MAKE THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THE TIRES RUB HARSHLY WHEN SUSPENSION FAILS, CAR DROPS TO GROUND. *TR
MY WIFE WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHERS, ENDED IN A CORNFIELD. SHE PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF. THE GAS PEDDLE WENT TO EXTREME RPM. NOW WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT ALL OF US ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE COULD HARM US,OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR
I RECENTLY AM HEARING KNOCKING SOUNDS IN THE REAR END OF MY 2001 S500 MB. I AM AFRAID TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING BUT IT SOUNDS MAJOR. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 77K MILES AND HAS GIVEN ME SO MANY PROBLEMS. I'VE JUST SPENT 2K TO REPLACE A STRUT A WEEK AGO AND AM WONDERING IF THE VEHICLE IS JUST DEFECTIVE IN THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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