RoadVitals

1999 Mercedes-Benz S420

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Sep 3, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Mercedes-Benz S420, most frequently naming the electrical, airbags and driver assistance categories. 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical342.9%
  • Airbags114.3%
  • Driver assistance114.3%
  • Interior & seats114.3%
  • Seat belts114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MERCEDES BENZ S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE ELECTRICAL AND VACUUM SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE AND HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXITED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF DANBURY (100 FEDERAL RD, DANBURY, CT 06810) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER HAD REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP WITH A USED PUMP HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT VEHICLE TRUNK OPENED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE SECURELY SHUT. THE CONTACT TAPED THE TRUNK SHUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000.

NHTSA ID
11352984
Incident
Aug 25, 2020
Mileage
121,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSeat belts
Filed Aug 31, 2017

THE AREA THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEEPS MELTING I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE , SEAT BELTS LAG AND DOT WORK I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH STABILIZATION

NHTSA ID
11020717
Incident
Feb 7, 2012
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 8, 2007

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS ALMOST TOTALLY FAILED CREATING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALER STATED VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM ARE BEING RECALLED. HOW DO I RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10211214
Incident
Mar 10, 2006
Mileage
30,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 29, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT STATED EXACTLY WHERE VEHICLE WAS HIT, SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES.*JB

NHTSA ID
562887
Incident
Nov 16, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI8220P073063

INTERIOR LIGHTING

Touch pad: Search lighting does not dim or does not turn on.

LI54.30-P-072145

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

NTG5.5: Incorrect time shown on instrument cluster, COMAND display, and analog clock

LI27.50-P-071658

POWER TRAIN

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D or R

LI27.50-P-049281

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Harsh engagement when changing gear range from P to D

LI80.61-P-061174

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Vehicle cannot be opened via Keyless-Go and radio remote control

LI82.70-P-060004

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

iPhone mobile phone: Various complaints after software update to iOS8

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz S420 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999Viewing400—
1998100—
1996100—
1995500—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.