2000 Mercedes-Benz S Class Electrical Problems

MY 2000 MERCEDES S500 CLUSTER ,BACK LIGHTING , SPEEDOMETER FAILED (UNABLE TO SEE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON APRIL ,3 2011 MILEAGE AT TIME OF DEFECT 24,568 I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY CAR CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND , I WAS INFORM THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (RECALL). SO I CALLED THE MERCEDES1-800-367-6372 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME I WAS COVERED BUT EXPIRED. SO I CALLED NHTSA 1800 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD STILL BE COVERED BECAUSE THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2006 AND IT IS 10 YEARS BEFORE IT EXPIRES SO UNTIL 2016. SO I WILL APPRECIATE SOME HELP CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. V.I,N [XXX] NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10408760

Incident

Apr 3, 2011

Mileage

24,568 mi

MY 2000 MERCEDES S500 CLUSTER BACK LIGHTING IS GOING IN AND OUT ALSO SPEEDOMETER I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY CAR CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WENT IN ON MAY 28 TO SEE THEM PENSKE MERCEDES(626) 859-1200 , I WAS INFORM THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (RECALL). SO I CALLED THE MERCEDES1-800-367-6372 ([XXX], CASE MANAGER) NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME I WAS COVERED BUT EXPIRED. SO I CALLED NHTSA 1800 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD STILL BE COVERED BECAUSE THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2006 AND IT IS 10 YEARS BEFORE IT EXPIRES SO UNTIL 2016. SO I WILL APPRECIATE SOME HELP CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. V.I,N [XXX] NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

NHTSA ID

10405368

Incident

May 1, 2011

Mileage

137,437 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S-500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10396628

Incident

Apr 15, 2011

Mileage

180,000 mi

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN NO 2006080004, SEPTEMEBER 2006 FOR MERCEDES S500 (MODEL 220), MODEL YEAR 2000. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS COMPLETELY FAILED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF ILLUMINATION, SPEEDOMETER, AND FUEL GAUGE. MY CHASSIS END NUMBER IS A123394 AND THIS DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE NARROW SERIAL NUMBER RANGE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL RECAL CAMPAIGN. I UNDERSTAND ALL PARTS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE RECALLED AND AND REQUESTING THAT THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE BE WIDENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370851

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

33,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS TOO BRIGHT. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FUEL GAUGE ADJUSTED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10366557

Incident

Nov 16, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430.THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. SHE STATED THAT WHEN THE DOOR WAS AJAR AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, SHE COULD NOT SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS BUT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10351936

Incident

May 23, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2000 MY MERCEDES BENZ S500 ILLUMINATION FAILED. CANNOT SEE GAUGES NOR ODOMETER. AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. BOTH DEALER AND M-B USA DENY COVERAGE UNDER THEIR 10-YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. THE CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE IN 12/99 AND WAITED FOR 10 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS BEFORE FAILURE. FORMERLY KNOWN FOR DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY OVER MANY YEARS, THE COMPANY IS NOW UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY WOULD THERE BE ANY TIME LIMIT ON A KNOWN SAFETY FAILURE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10339519

Incident

Jun 18, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SEPTEMBER 2009 AIR BLOWER TO HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUSE. AIR BLOWER WORKED FOR 2 DAYS. RETURNED NOVEMBER 2009 AND WAS TOLD AIR BLOWER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FEBRUARY 2010 AUTOMATIC TRUNK LOCKS QUIT WORKING. NOW TRUNK LOCK ONLY WORKS WITH KEY, NO LONGER AUTOMATIC. MARCH 2010 AIR BLOWER REPLACED. WORKED ONE WEEK, THEN BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING UNTIL IT NO LONGER WORKS. MARCH 2010 DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER, THEN ENTIRE DASH WENT OUT. DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER AUTOMATIC, NO INDICATORS FOR SPEEDOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, TEMPERATURE CONTROLS ETC. MECHANIC CHECKED AND REPLACED FUSE. NO RESULTS. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. INTERNET RESEARCH RESULTED IN IDENTIFYING RECALL OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR 2000 "S" SERIES, BUT THAT MY VIN #[XXX] IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT ALL THESE MALFUNCTIONS ARE COMMON AMONG THE 2000 "S" SERIES ALONG WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION AND DOES APPEAR TO BE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE HAS REPLACED HUNDREDS OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS FOR SPECIFICALLY THE "S" SERIES, PRIMARILY YEAR 2000 AND HAS SEEN MANY OF THE ISSUES WITH MY S430 CORRELATING TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10322512

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

199,264 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 MERCEDES S500

NHTSA ID

10320221

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

Mileage

134,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS SUDDENLY BEGAN FLASHING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,200.

NHTSA ID

10222590

Incident

Mar 27, 2008

Mileage

54,200 mi

ON FEBRUARY 16, 2008 THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, INSTEAD DASH READ SOMETHING LIKE CLUSTER FAILURE WITH A LIGHTNING BOLT IN THE CENTER. THERE WERE NO TURN SIGNALS EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHEN THE LEVER WAS PUSHED. WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR THE DASH READ 1 MALFUNCTION. I HAVE NOTICED IT WORKING AGAIN, HOWEVER NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I BROUGHT THIS UP WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL, BUT MY VIN IS OUT OF RANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219026

Incident

Feb 16, 2008

Mileage

3 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINING THE SPEEDOMETER, GAUGES FOR GAS, ETC. WENT OFF AND THE STEERING COLUMN MOVED DOWN ALMOST TOUCHING MY LEGS BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION ON MY MERCEDES S CLASS 2000 MODEL. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND HAVE A PRINTOUT DATED 4/22-07 THAT SHOWS THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED. I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NUMBER 06V028000 FROM MERCEDES AND ALERTED TO THE PROBLEM AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. THE LOCAL DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THAT PRINTOUT AND SAID THAT IT HAD TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND SHOW UP ON THEIR COMPUTER IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I COULD BE 500 MILES MORE OR LESS FROM THIS DEALERSHIP WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I COULD NOT TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING, HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD IN THE VEHICLE, ETC. WHEN A RECALL IS ISSUED, I THOUGHT IT WAS MANDATORY THAT THE PROBLEM BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192099

Incident

Apr 22, 2007

Mileage

100,989 mi

ATTN: ALI MOTAMEDAMIN, SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATOR/INSPECTOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN#: 06V-028. ON APPROXIMATELY OCTOBER 14, 2005 WHILE DRIVING MY MERCEDES BENZ 2000 S430 ON INTERSTATE 285 IN ATLANTA, GA., THE DASHBOARD DIGITAL INSTRUMENTS TOTALLY FAILED AND I WAS UNABLE TO READ ANY GAUGES AND INDICATORS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT APPROX. 65 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH ATLANTA WHO DETERMINED IT TO BE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEING INOPERABLE AND I WAS CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT ON OCTOBER 19, 2005. RECENTLY I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL, NHSTA CAMPAIGN#:06V-028 AND WHEN I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN#/VMI WAS OUT OF THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. AT WHICH TIME I EXPRESSED THAT RECALL PART 573 AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF FAILURE APPLIED TO MY MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND I HAD DOCUMENTED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE REPAIR INVOICE SUPPORTING THAT FACT. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY COMPLAINT/CONCERN WOULD BE DOCUMENTED BUT NO ACTION/REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE TAKEN AND IF I ELECTED, I COULD ADDRESS MY COMPLAINT VIA MAIL TO ERNST LEIB, PRESIDENT OF MBUSA BUT HE COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY OTHER POINT OF CONTACT REGARDING RECALL MATTER AND THE CONVERSATION WAS CONCLUDED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174389

Incident

Oct 14, 2005

Mileage

91,600 mi

2000 MERCEDES BENZ S-430 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPLETE FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174001

Incident

Jul 15, 2006

Mileage

44,200 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY CAR WENT BLANK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ ANY OF THE GAUGES AT NIGHT. IT IS VERY UNSAFE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173610

Incident

Nov 8, 2005

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOT WORKING, BLACKED OUT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173080

Incident

Jul 6, 2006

Mileage

88,424 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, WHO DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD FAILED. THE DEALER EXPRESSED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY VEHICLES UNDER A RECALL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALLS #06V028000 ABOUT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING AFFECTING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10172824

Incident

Oct 5, 2006

Mileage

47,000 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL ON MY S500 2000 MERCEDES BENZ LOST ITS LIGHTING AND THEN LOST ALL ITS FUNCTIONS. MERCEDES HAS RECALLED 36,000 S500 2000 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION, THIS PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A SAFETY ISSUE AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY 2000 DOLLARS TO CORRECT. I HAD TO PAY THE MONEY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT SHOULD BE. I HAD THE CLUSTER REPLACED AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNDER THE CONDITIONS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171331

Incident

Oct 7, 2006

Mileage

89,400 mi

MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS FLICKERING AND I WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES WEST SPRINGFIELD I NEEDED A NEW CLUSTER AT $1710. I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON NEWER S CLASS CARS LIKE MINE, AND MANY COMPLAINTS OF NON-ACTION ON OLDER (2000-2002) CARS ON THE PART OF MERCEDES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171309

Incident

Oct 15, 2006

Mileage

28,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT WARNING. EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT ALL. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHICH VIN NUMBERS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10169219

Incident

Sep 25, 2006

Mileage

96,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10166239

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10165770

Incident

Aug 17, 2006

Mileage

50,123 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR LIGHTING OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. A RECALL WAS FOUND ON THE MANUFACTURER'S WEBSITE THAT MATCHED THE SAME PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE HAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10164366

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS OVERHEATING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AS RELATED TO RECALL #00V141000. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BLOW MOTOR AND THE REGULATOR NEEDED REPAIRS HOWEVER THE PROBLEMS WERE NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE DEALER DID NOT CHECK THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER TO CONFIRM THE ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO ALERTED WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STILL PERSIST. THE DEALER STATED A BLOWER MOTOR WAS NEEDED FOR THE AIR CONDITION. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161986

Incident

Jun 29, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED WHO DETERMINED THE DASHBOARD PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. ALSO THE KEY SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. THE SENSOR PREVENTED THE KEY FROM TURNING THE ENGINE ON AND OFF. AS A RESULT OF THE MALFUNCTION THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED AND THE KEY SENSOR WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MODEL IS A S430.THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10161499

Incident

Jun 15, 2006

Mileage

112,000 mi