2001 Mercedes-Benz S430 Owner Complaints

2 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING MY 2001 S430 FROM LOCAL DEALER (CRITZ BENZ OF SAVANNAH) FOR SERVICE THAT WAS DONE INCORRECTLY.I NOTICE WHILE DRIVING THE BURNED OUT ODOR COMING THE AIR VENTS. I NOTICED MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING START TO FLICKER AS I WAS DRIVING BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. THE NEXT DAY HOWEVER WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED NO LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASHBOARD WHAT SO EVER, IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO LOCAL DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE FOUND YOUR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT. IT SEEMS TO BE SOME FORM OF INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAULT. WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACED. PARTS AND LABOR TOGETHER IS $1905.60 TO REPLACE IT. I ASK ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS PART THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. VEHICLE HAS 188,XXX MILES ON IT. IVE ALSO HAD BOTH AIRBAGS REPLACED WITHIN 3 MONTHS AND ONE WHICH EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE THAT I PAID THEM TO FIX WHICH WAS AND OUT OF PLACE STRUT OR 'ANOTHER LEAK' IN A PRACTICALLY NEW AIRBAG CAN I PLEASE HAVE SOME ASSISTANCE. --COLBY PEARCE CRITZ AUTO GROUP

NHTSA ID

11337937

Incident

Jun 27, 2019

Mileage

188,622 mi

2001 WAS WHEN THE AIRMATICS FIRST CAME OUT MERCEDES PERFECTED IN 2002 THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I DID NOT GET THE LETTER TIL AFTER THE DATE AND MERCEDES WOULDN'T HONOR IT I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND IT'S BROKEN SUCH A WASTE THE AIRMATICS WON'T GO UP IT'S SLAMMED LOW WE'LL NEED TO TOW IT W THE BIG TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT'S TOO LOW IT'LL SCRATCH

NHTSA ID

11318409

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR, THE LATCH PULLED OUT; HOWEVER, THE DOOR REMAINED CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF COCONUT CREEK (4250 FL-7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11151725

Incident

Aug 20, 2018

Mileage

53,000 mi

THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL CLUSTER THE PIXELS SLOWLY FADE IN AND OUT CANT READ ANY THING THAT GOING ON WITH CAR MILES OR PROBLEMS WITH CAR.

NHTSA ID

11112858

Incident

Jun 12, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 320,000.

NHTSA ID

11099574

Incident

Jun 2, 2018

Mileage

320,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING ON JUNE 1,2018 @5:10PM MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND HEAVY SMOKE I HAD TO PULL INTO THE COLDEST OUTLET FOR SAFETY I JUMP OUT AND CALLED 911 THE FIRE DEPARTMENT & POLICE CAME OUT THE FIRE OUT. I AM SO SCARED I NEVER EVER IN MY 48 YEARS EVER EXPERIENCE ANYTHING THIS HORRIFIC. I DON'T KNOW IF I WILL EVER DRIVE AGAIN OR GET IN A CAR.

NHTSA ID

11099282

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

320,000 mi

I DROVE MY WORK TO WORK WHICH IS ONE KILOMETER AWAY. AFTER DROPPING, I PARKED FOR 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TRIED TO START, IT WON'T START. AFTER FEW MINUTES, I TRIED TO START AND IT DID. AFTER A FEW YARDS, THE CAR STOPPED IN THE ROAD. I CALLED THE TOWING COMPANY AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED BUT WHEN THEY STARTED, THEY JUST HEARD A SOUND OF NOT GOING THRU. THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND THEY CHANGED THE CRANK CENSORCSS 825. I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME.

NHTSA ID

11094045

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S430V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SEIZED BECAUSE IT RAN OUT OF FUEL DUE TO THE FUEL GAUGE BEING INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF THOUSAND OAKS (3905 AUTO MALL DR, THOUSAND OAKS, CA 91362 (805) 371-5400) WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V208000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ID

11023553

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

13,000 mi

JANUARY 30, 2015, I NOTICED MY CAR SITTING ON THE GROUND. I STARTED THE CAR, RAISED THE AIRMATICS UP, PULLED OUT MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND MY CAR LOWERED AND SHUT OFF. I REPEAT BY TURNING THE CAR BACK ON AND RAISING THE CAR BACK UP. ON MY WAY HOME I RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY CALL STATED MY COUSIN WAS ABOUT TO BE JUMPED AND TO COME TO THEIR BUS STOP. I ASKED MY FAMILY, "WHERE ARE YOU?" WHEN I ARRIVED AROUND THE CORNER, MY CAR BEGAN LOWERING WHILE DRIVING, I CAME OVER THE HILL AND WAS SHOCKED THAT TRAFFIC WAS COMPLETELY IMPEDED AS MY CAR BEGAN SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. I HAD LESS THAN SECONDS TO RESPOND AND SWERVED TOWARDS AND OPEN FIELD. FOUR YOUTH AND ONE ADULT CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY CAR. I WAS SHACKING, IN SHOCK AS I THOUGHT I HIT MY OWN DAUGHTER. I CALLED 911, TOOK TOXICOLOGY TEST AND WAS CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY. MY INSURANCE SAID IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND SETTLED ALL CLAIMS WITH THE INJURED PARTIES. I KNEW MY PROBLEM WAS THE BRAKES OR SUSPENSION AS THE POLICE TAMPERED WITH EVIDENCE, PLANTED DIRT AND LIED THAT THERE WERE SKID MARKS WHEN THE PHOTOS SHOWED NONE. I HAD FOUR BUSINESSES AND LOSS EVERYTHING BEHIND THIS CAR ACCIDENT. THIS STORY HIT NATIONAL NEWS AS THE TRUTH WAS NEVER TOLD TO THE PUBLIC. PLEASE, STAY ON TOP OF THIS ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. I CONTINUED REQUESTING FOR THEM TO FIX MY CAR AND HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. IT WAS TEMPORARILY REPAIRED BUT NENES COMPLETELY FIXED. IF I HAD KNOWN THE SUSPENSION COULD RESULT TO AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASE THIS CAR. I DROVE MY CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS UNSAFE CAR AND IT HURT OTHERS IN THE PROCESS. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.

NHTSA ID

10981095

Incident

Jan 30, 2015

Mileage

222,400 mi

HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING ON A SERVICE ROAD TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE SECOND TIME HAPPENED AS I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY THE 60 MPH. BOTH OCCASIONS THE FRONT BRAKES ABRUPTLY AND COMPLETELY LOCKED AND FORCEFULLY PULLED THE STEERING TO THE RIGHT. EACH EVENT WAS WERE IN THE MOVEMENT OF A LOT OF TRAFFIC, DURING RUSH HOUR. I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, THE BRAKES RESISTED SLOWLY PULLED THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE I HAD TO CUT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF. THE VEHICLES AROUND WERE FORCED TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND THE OTHER CARS BEGAN HONKING. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF TO RESET. I HAD THREE MINORS IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS PICKING UP ANOTHER ONE OF MY SONS. THE SECOND INSTANCE WAS ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 30, ON MY WAY HOME AFTER PICKING UP MY SON, SO NOW I HAVE 4 MINORS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES, AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR, IT WAS AT NIGHT AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING FOR EVERYONE DRIVING AROUND ME AND INVADING MYSELF WHILE BEING ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT MORNING AND THERE INSPECTION SUGGESTS THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONCERN AND THE MECHANIC STATED "FOUND NO RELEVANT FAULTS" TO THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10934041

Incident

Dec 6, 2016

Mileage

20 mi

TWO YEARS AGO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER JUST QUIT WHILE IN HEVEY TRAFFIC. NO SPEED NO TAC NO GAS NO NOTHING AND IT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT INJURY AND FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR ALSO. THIS ITEM WAS A FEDERAL MANDATE RECALL AND MERCEDES SAYS NOT SO AFTER 10 YEARS AND WONT HONOR THE LAW WHICH STIPULATES ITS FOREVER, AND DEALERS INSIST ON A BUY OF A NEW ONE CANT EVEN GET ONE AT COST.

NHTSA ID

10907561

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10897660

Incident

Jul 8, 2016

Mileage

68,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ALL OF SUDDEN THE CLUSTER SHUT OFF AND I CAN'T SEE GAUGES OR ANY LIGHTS ON THE CLUSTER OR SPEED THE MILEAGE 99000 IT NEEDS NEW CLUSTER I CALLED THE DEALER IT HAS A RECALL ON THIS MODEL BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT UNDER RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10892275

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WATER ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DOORS, THE WINDOWS, AND SOAKED THE SEATS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,363. UPDATE MA 01/13/16 RECALLS 05V505000 AND 06V028000. UPDATED 03/02/16.*JB; UPDATED 04/20/18*JB *CN

NHTSA ID

10782883

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

113,363 mi

I WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL ON I-95 AT 70MPH. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR 1 HOUR WHEN CAR SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING. I DISENGAGED CRUISE AND TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR WITH NO EFFECT. RPM/SPEED CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND I SLAMMED ON BRAKES WITH TRIVIAL DECELERATION. I STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT ON TRANSMISSION TO BLEED SPEED. IN ORDER TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AT 90MPH, I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND SWERVED OFF ROAD. THE ENGINE REDLINED (RPM) AND I TURNED OFF CAR. MERCEDES OF FT. LAUDERDALE LATER FOUND THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR HAD FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND DEFAULTED TO FULL THROTTLE MODE. PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AND CAR IS NOW OPERATING PROPERLY AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10780692

Incident

Oct 3, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

CANNOT GIVE THE VEHICLE MILEAGE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT SEE THE MILES DUE TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS NOT BEING ON, CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER, GAUGES OR ANYTHING ELSE, THE INSTRUMENTS ARE DARK BOTH AT NIGHT AND DURING THE DAY. THE CAR STILL OPERATES BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER, YOU HAVE TO LEAN FORWARD TO SEE THE MILEAGE, WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHILE YOU ARE STRAINING TO SEE THE MILEAGE, YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE ROAD, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FOUND NHTSA RECALL 060V028 WHICH IDENTIFIES THE PROBLEM BUT MERCEDES SAYS THIS WAS NOT A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10762571

Incident

Sep 4, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY READING THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID

10759061

Incident

Aug 18, 2015

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID

10725483

Incident

Jun 11, 2015

Mileage

131,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ID

10724941

Incident

Jun 9, 2015

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10722641

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGES, ETC) LIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT. I CANNOT SEE HOW FAST I'M GOING, HOW HOT MY ENGINE IS RUNNING, HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE LEFT, ETC. MY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR WAS KNOWN TO HAVE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING (UNDER MERCEDES RECALL CAMPAIGN 2006080004) BUT MERCEDES REFUSES TO HONOR THE RECALL CAMPAIGN AND WANTS $2000 TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

NHTSA ID

10722367

Incident

Feb 4, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE HVAC BLOWER FUSE REGULATOR STOPPED DEFROSTING, HEATING MY CAR, AND COOLING THE CAR! THIS SAME DEFAULT WAS RECALLED IN 2004 FOR THE S430 2001 MERCEDES BENZ (NHTSA#04V227000, MB#2004070010). THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! IN THE FREEZING WINTER; THE CAR WOULDN'T HEAT UP OR DEFROST. NOW, THE HVAC SYSTEM WON'T BLOW THE A/C! OCCASIONALLY, IT'LL COME ON, BUT THEN IT DIES RIGHT OUT! PLEASE! PLEASE INCLUDE MY VIN NUMBER IN A RECALL! IF THIS SAME EXACT HVAC MALFUNCTION HAPPENED TO THE S430 2001 YEARS AGO......IT'S STILL RELEVANT TODAY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

NHTSA ID

10716319

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE GAUGES AND LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10714644

Incident

Apr 29, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HVAC HEATER AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10712206

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. UPDATED 04/06/15*LJ UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10691873

Incident

Feb 21, 2015

Mileage

185,000 mi