2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class

THE SUBJECT S-CLASS VEHICLES CONTAIN A COMPRESSED AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT USES AIR STRUTS ON EACH OF THE FOUR WHEELS IN LIEU OF TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS.THESE AIR STRUTS USE COMPRESSED AIR TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL RIDE HEIGHT.IN THE EVENT OF THE LOSS OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, AN ALERT WILL FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING THE DRIVER TO EITHER DRIVE CAREFULLY OR TO STOP THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT CAN BE REDUCED BY AS MUCH AS 105 MM BELOW NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT BEFORE THE FULL LOAD OF THE VEHICLE FOR THAT WHEEL COMES TO REST ON A STEEL ROD, WITH A RUBBER STOP ON THE END, LOCATED IN THE SHOCK ABSORBER.THIS REST-STOP CONDITION IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT THERE IS NO IMPACT ON VEHICLE CONTROL.MERCEDES-BENZ (MBUSA) SUPPLIED VIDEO SHOWING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION OPERATING UNDER SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITUATIONS INCLUDING EVASIVE MANEUVERS DEMONSTRATING THE ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE TO BE CONTROLLED EFFECTIVELY WITH A RIDE HEIGHT REDUCED TO THE MINIMUM.ONLY THOSE COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND MBUSA THAT ALLEGED A STEERING INTERFERENCE DURING A REDUCED RIDE HEIGHT CONDITION WERE COUNTED IN THIS RESUME FAILURE REPORT.SOME COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT WITH A REDUCED RIDE HEIGHT AND A STOP NOW WARNING MESSAGE THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE WHEN TURNING, BUT THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPROMISED.A SAMPLING OF WARRANTY CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY MBUSA DID NOT REVEAL ANY INDICATING A LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO AN AIRMATIC SYSTEM FAILURE.THERE WAS ONE CRASH REPORTED BY MBUSA TO ODI BUT THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE INDICATED THAT IT RELATED TO SUSPENSION SYSTEMS AND IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO VERIFY THAT THE INCIDENT WAS RELATED TO AN AIRMATIC SYSTEM FAILURE. FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IN THIS MATTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.

THE SRS SYSTEM (AIRBAGS) HAVE BEEN DEEMED INOPERABLE BY THE DEALER AND MAY EITHER DEPLOY AT ANY TIME OR NOT DEPLOY AT ALL IN A COLLISION. THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER RECOGNITION SENSOR PAD LOCATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHICH DISABLES/ENABLES THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONALITY. BOTH A VERY COMMON DEFECT IN THE 2000 TO 2006 MODEL YEAR MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS VEHICLES. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE CONTAINS A SENSOR THAT EVENTUALLY FAILS FOR NO APPARENT REASON OR WARNING WHICH COMPROMISES THE AIR BAG'S FUNCTIONALITY. THE PASSENGER RECOGNITION SENSOR PAD LOCATED IN THE SEAT EVENTUALLY MALFUNCTIONS DUE TO FATIGUE.THIS ALSO DISABLES THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SRS SYSTEM.THIS MALFUNCTION HAS RECENTLY BEEN ADDRESSED AND RECALLED BY BMW FOR THE SAME ISSUES BUT MERCEDES BENZ HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL CAMPAIGN ALSO THE GEAR SHIFTER IS STUCK IN PARK AND CAN NOT BE SHIFTED IN REVERSE. THIS IS DUE TO A SMALL PLASTIC PART LOCATED IN THE SHIFTING MECHANISM WHICH IS RELEASED BY A SOLENOID WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE PLASTIC PART EVENTUALLY CRACKS AND RENDERS THE CAR INOPERABLE.THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE NOR PRODUCED BY MERCEDES BENZ AND THE ENTIRE MECHANISM MUST BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CRACKED PART CAN ALSO AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PEDESTRIANS. IF IT CRACKS WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVE, THE SHIFTER CAN NOT BE MOVED FORWARD TO NEUTRAL OR PARK AND WILL REMAIN STUCK IN DRIVE DUE TO A BROKEN PIECE OF PLASTIC BLOCKING THE SHIFTER FROM MOVING.THIS IS ANOTHER EXTREMELY COMMON AND DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE MODEL YEAR 2000 TO 2006 S CLASS AND HAS AFFECTED AND LEFT THOUSANDS OF MOTORISTS STRANDED. MERCEDES BENZ HAS THE LOWEST RECALL RATE IN THE UNITED STATES ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING HTTP://WWW.REUTERS.COM/ARTICLE/2014/03/27/US-AUTOS-RECALLS-STUDY-IDUSBREA2Q1ZQ20140327. THEY SHOULD NOT IGNORE SAFETY ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576261

Incident

Jun 28, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WHENEVER THERE WERE WARMER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID WOULD EITHER BECOME RESISTANT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE HATCH, OR IT WOULD CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. ON ONE OCCASION, THE TRUNK LID CLOSED UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE CONTACT AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK AREA. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONTUSION TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO ENGAGE THE TRUNK LID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V285000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES: TRUNK LID SPRINGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10509561

Incident

Apr 1, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING HOT WEATHER. MORE PARTICULARLY, THE BELT WILL NOT EXTEND. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL THE BELT OUT ENOUGH TO FASTEN IT. THUS, THE ONLY WAY THE CAR CAN BE DRIVEN IN HOT WEATHER IS WITHOUT THE DRIVER WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE BELT WORKS PROPERLY IN THE MORNING WHEN LEAVING OUR AIR-CONDITIONED GARAGE, BUT WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR WHILE IT HAS BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE IN HOT WEATHER THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. *JS

NHTSA ID

10464097

Incident

Jul 3, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHEN VEHICLE GETS COLD( OUTSIDE TEMP BELOW 17 F), THE CAR WILL LOWER, AND AIROMATIC WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON SAYING AIROMATIC VEHICLE TOO LOW STOP VISIT SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380786

Incident

Dec 18, 2010

WHEN TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 17 DEGREES F, THE VEHICLE DROP TO UNSAFE LEVEL, AND MESSAGE SAYS AIRMATIC STOP CAR VEHICLE TOO LOW. THE TIRES WILL START RUBBING ON LINER. CALLED DEALER THEY SAID TEMPERATURE IN GERMANY DOES NOT GO THAT LOW, WELL THIS CAR IS SOLD IN US, AND THEY NEED TO MAKE IT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10378528

Incident

Jan 21, 2011

AIR BAG-DRIVERS SIDE, STEERING WHEEL. I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF YOUR SITE AND THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO INFORM YOU OF THIS ISSUE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER CLEARED THE FAULT CODE. THIS LASTED ONE WEEK AND THEN THE WARNING REAPPEARED. THEY DID NOT KNOW IF THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN A DEPLOYMENT WHETHER WARRANTED OR NOT. IT SEEMED TO US THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE REGARDLESS. THEN, DESPITE THE 7 YEAR ,100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THEY SAID AIR BAGS ARE NOT COVERED. WE THEN INCURRED AN EXPENSE OF $1,841 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE UNIT. IT SEEMED THE MANUFACTURER TRIED TO AVOID ANY AND ALL COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIR BAGS BEING PROBLEMATIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373607

Incident

Apr 27, 2010

Mileage

61,499 mi

SHIFTER STUCK IN PARK. THERE ARE PROBABLY HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY EVEN THOUSANDS OF MERCEDES OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE SHIFTER LOCKS IN PARK. YOU TURN THE CAR ON AND IT WILL NOT MOVE EVEN IF USING A 16 POUND RUBBER MALLET TO BANG THE SHIFTER. I WOULD CONSIDER THIS AS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE PERSON WAS OUT IN THE WILDERNESS OR A MOTHER TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AT HTTP://WWW.MBWORLD.ORG THIS PARTICULAR FORUM IS A GREAT SOURCE FOR PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MERCEDES BENZ. IT IS CAUSED BY A $4 PIECE OF PLASTIC LOCATED INSIDE THE SHIFTER BOX THAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH TO ACTIVATE THE SOLENOID.. ONCE THE PLASTIC PIECE BREAKS IT LOCKS THE SHIFTER IN PLACE. MERCEDES COULD EASILY FIX THIS PROBLEM BY USING MORE DURABLE MATERIALS. INSTEAD, THEY CHARGE YOU UP TO $1500 TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER BOX. I KNOW BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO ME AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE I PERSONALLY KNOW. THE CAR LITERALLY CAN NOT BE MOVED AND HAS TO BE DRAGGED ON A FLAT BED TRUCK AND TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP. FOR A CAR THIS EXPENSIVE, IT IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366571

Incident

Sep 29, 2003

Mileage

93,939 mi

SHIFTER STUCK IN PARK DUE TO THE ONLY PLASTIC PART ( SHIFTER MODULE) IN THE SHIFTER BOX. MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE FIX WHEN PLASTIC PART BREAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326942

Incident

Apr 4, 2010

Mileage

68,000 mi

Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper

MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE

MERCEDES BENZ: WATER IN TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON EITHER RIGHT SIDE OR LEFT SIDE. *PE

HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR FOG LAMP IS ALWAYS EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. *TT

SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT