2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class Electrical Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF UPDATED 07/31/12

NHTSA ID

10460306

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ILLUMINATION CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,976.

NHTSA ID

10450266

Incident

Mar 2, 2012

Mileage

108,976 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10436898

Incident

May 1, 2011

Mileage

160,000 mi

MERCEDES BENZ NEVER INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR AN S500 WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL TO CHANGE THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTING, NOW THAT IT FAILED THE MIAMI MERCEDES DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO FIX MY CAR ALLEGING THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALL, THAT IT WAS ONLY A WARRANTY EXTENSION BEGINNING IN 2001 FOR 10 YEARS LEAVING ME OUT OF COVERAGE SINCE MY CAR IS 2001. I THINK THIS IS UNFAIR TO THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND DESIRE TO DO LITTLE FOR THE USERS OF THEIR CARS MY CAR IS WITHIN THE 10 YEARS AND REFUSE TO FIX IT THAT IS MY COMPLAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418230

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

101,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 MERCEDESS430 WHICH HAS A FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED IN 2006 BUT IT WAS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VIN# AND DOES NOT COVER THE WIDESPREAD ISSUES I HAVE UNCOVERED VIA MY RESEARCH. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS THE LIGHTS GO OUT, NO GAUGES WORK, AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN E.G. YOU COULD ACCIDENTALLY REVERSE, ETC. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ ALONG WITH SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY INDICATE THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS AND THE COST IS EXORBITANT. THIS IS A FATAL ERROR AND CAN NOT BE CORRECTED TO WORK OR FUNCTION AT ALL WITHOUT FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ID

10414781

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

121,987 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND MY WHOLE DASH BOARD WENT OUT..COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, CALLED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD THIS WASN'T ON RECALL AND WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY..I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE GOING TO GET HURT WHEN THIS HAPPEN. *TT

NHTSA ID

10407546

Incident

Jun 18, 2011

Mileage

102,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CONSTANTLY DIMMED AND NONE OF THE GAUGES COULD BE READ. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLUSTER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF UPDATED 05/20/08

NHTSA ID

10226678

Incident

Feb 2, 2008

Mileage

105,000 mi

ON THE 11TH OF AUG, 2007. I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY ORINGAL OWNED 2001 MECEDS BENZ S 500, ON THE FREEWAY HERE IN CALIFORNIA. WITHOUT ANY OF WARNING THE LIGHTING (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF COMPLETELY. I HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST THAT I WAS TRAVELING, THEREFORE I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT OFF OF THE FREEWAY, EVEN THE SPEEDOMTER IS SITTING @ 75 MILES PER HOUR EVEN I HAD MY S500 COMPLETLY STOP, ON TOP OF THAT NOTHING IS WORKING IN MY INSTURMENT AT ALL!!!(FUEL, TEMPERTURE, AND RPM). I PERSONAL TRUELY BELIEVE THIS, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, WHAT IF IT HAPPENS DURING AT NITE? BECAUSE YOU AIN'T GOING TO SEE ANYTHING!!! I CALLED THE LOCAL M.B. DEALER AS SOON AS I GOT HOME, AND A SALES ASSOICATE TOLD ME THAT, YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR CAR IN ON MONDAY, BECAUSE NO ONE WORKS AT SERVICE DEPT DURING THE WEEKEND... *TR

NHTSA ID

10199313

Incident

Aug 11, 2007

Mileage

56,100 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NUMBER 04V227000 FOR HIS 2001 MERCEDES S CLASS' ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND FUSES. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED HE BELIEVES THAT DUE TO THIS FAILURE, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS DISABLED. THEREFORE, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THE SOS SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE CONTACT. THE DEALER HAS STATED TO THE CONSUMER THEY WILL INVESTIGATE, BUT AT THIS TIME THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM UNDER THE RECALL. *NM UPDATED 02/22/07.*JB

NHTSA ID

10178846

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

LIGHTING (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500[XXX] FLICKERED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY. IT AFFECTED MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AND SIDE MIRROR SIGNAL INDICATORS. I CANNOT VIEW THE GAUGES/SPEEDOMETER AND USE THE PRESET BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012*JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10170717

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

60,100 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - INTERMITTENTLY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DIMMED THEN SURGED TO FULL STRENGTH. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168989

Incident

Sep 22, 2006

Mileage

96,000 mi

I OWN A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON FRIDAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT. IT FRIGHTENED ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING AND IT HAMPERED ME FROM BEING AS ALERT AS I NEEDED TO BE BY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THESE LIGHTS NEED TO BE FUNCTIONAL WHENEVER YOU ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE OF THE TIME, THE DEALERSHIPS HAD CLOSED AND I COULDN'T DRIVE IT TO THEM WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY HAVING AN ACCIDENT AND HURTING AND/OR POSSIBLY KILLING MYSELF AND/OR SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO OTHERS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168546

Incident

Sep 15, 2006

Mileage

35 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS DARKENED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL, 06V028000 REGARDING INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID

10165228

Incident

Aug 11, 2006

Mileage

102,000 mi

DEFECT IN MERCEDES BENZ 2001 S500 WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER YOU LOOSE ALL YOUR IN DASH LIGHTS, GAUGES THE WHOLE PANEL GOES DEAD YOU CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOUR GOING, HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE ,OR IF YOUR CAR IS OVERHEATED, NOTHING WORKS, NO MILES,NOTHING THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MERCEDES IS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM,THERE DROPPING THE BALL I WENT IN TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT COST 2300.00 TO REPAIR THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE ,THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD A RECALL IS VERY MUCH NEEDED THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE MERCEDES DO THE RIGHT THING AND PROTECT IT CUSTOMER FROM A DEALER MALFUNCTION, WE SPEND TOO MUCH MONEY ON MERCEDES CARS TO HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. PLEASE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING FOR IT'S TO LATE AND SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10163785

Incident

Jul 24, 2006

Mileage

77,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE ENGINE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DARKENED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED; FUSES BECAME BLOWN, THE HIGH BEAMS, RADIO AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER DECLARED THERE IS A RECALL FOR S MODELS AND PROVIDED THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER 06V08000. THE VEHICLE'S VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. UPDATED 8/17/2006 - THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE FUSES TO BLOW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163101

Incident

Jul 17, 2006

Mileage

103,200 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. ONCE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS, THE GAS GAUGE, CHECK ENGINE, ODOMETER, INSIDE INDICATORS FOR TURN SIGNALS, PARKING ASSIST LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. EVERYTHING IS LINKED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ONE DAY THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM. MERCEDES CHARGES AROUND $1800 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (SEPTEMBER 23, 05): NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLACKOUT. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT HE COULDN'T SEE THE GAUGES AND WAS TOLD BY M-B ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE RESPONDER THAT THE GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING.

NHTSA ID

10136503

Incident

Sep 4, 2005

Mileage

79,500 mi

VEHICLE IS A 2001 S-500. ALMOST WORD FOR WORD THE SAME ISSUE(S) AS ODI ID NUMBER : 10100807. SAME CAR, SAME PROBLEMS, SAME SENTIMENT. REPLACING FUSES ONLY RESULTS IN FLICKERING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING, AND EVEN THEN THE BACKLIGHT IS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. GAUGE NEEDLES FLICKER AS WELL, UNTIL THEY TOO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FUSES LAST ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WHEREUPON THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMAINS ENTIRELY BLACK. PROBLEM COULD BE REMEDIED SIMPLY BY REPLACING FAULTY TRANSISTORS, OR REDESIGNING AN IMPROPERLY LAID-OUT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, IE COOLING THE TRANSISTORS MUCH MORE ADEQUATELY. THIS CREATES A TREMENDOUS SAFETY RISK BY ESSENTIALLY CREATING AN INFORMATION BLACK HOLE: THE OPERATOR DOES NOT KNOW HIS/HER OWN SPEED, FUEL LEVEL, IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS STILL ON, IF THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ARE OPERATIONAL, IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT MERCEDES IS SO KEEN ON RELAYING ONLY TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS NOT YET CREATED AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL ONE OF THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF S-CLASS OWNERS RUNS OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY, AND GETS INTO A COLLISION ALL BECAUSE HE/SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL THEY HAD.

NHTSA ID

10133955

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

Mileage

49,700 mi

MERCEDES S-CLASS W220 (2000 AND UP)INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED INCLUDING SPEDOMETER, FLASHERS, SIGNAL CONTROL, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AND OTHER INFORMATION CRITICAL TO SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION. UPON INVESTIGATING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A SERIES OF DEFECTIVE TRANSISTORS WHICH THE MANUAFACTURER HAS SINCE DISCONTINUED AND REPLACED WITH A SIMILAR MODEL. INADEQUATE HEATSEAKING FOR THE TRANSISTORS COUDL ALSO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. THIS IS PARTICULARLY ODD BECAUSE THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN IN PRODUCTION SINCE 2000 AND PRODUCTION IS CONTINUING STRONG. THE CLUSTER HAS 5 OF THESE TRANSISTORS, 3 OF WHICH ARE IN SERIES AND GO BAD CAUSING THE DESCRIBED FAILURE. THE TRANSISTORS COST ABOUT 50 CENTS EACH WHEN PURCHASED IN BULK... HARDLY JUSTIFYING A $1600 REPAIR. THE SIEMENS MODEL: BUZ102S SIPMOS POWER TRANSISTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE SPD50N06S2-14 POWER TRANSISTOR. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSES THE CARS DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER AND DASH BOARD CONTROLS TO STOP FUNCTIONING. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. NOT KNOWING CAR SPEED COULDL ALSO BE VERY DANGEROUS. VISITATION (SEPTEMBER 23, 05) UPDATE: THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE AND THAT HE COULDN'T SEE THE GAUGES. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CLUSTER HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10100807

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi