2001 Mercedes-Benz S430 Problems

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

CONSUMER OF A 2001 S430 V FAULTY SUNROOF, LED SIDE MIRRORS, AND TURN SIGNALS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED AND BE REPAID IN SOMEWAY. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS PERSISTENT TAIL LIGHT AND HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURES, ENGINE, FUEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VACUUM DOOR PUMP, ELECTRICAL, FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURES SUCH AS THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS, THE THRUST ARMS, BALL JOINTS AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP/RELAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAKED, THE WASHER FLUID HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR HARNESS, FAN BELT, DIMMER SWITCH, TRUNK SPRINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE PLASTIC TRIM ON THE FRONT SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING. THE FRONT DOOR SILL STRIP COVER WAS REPLACED. THE THRESHOLD BELLOWS WERE COMING APART, THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB

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.

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.

CONSUMER OF A 2001 S430 V FAULTY SUNROOF, LED SIDE MIRRORS, AND TURN SIGNALS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED AND BE REPAID IN SOMEWAY. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS PERSISTENT TAIL LIGHT AND HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURES, ENGINE, FUEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VACUUM DOOR PUMP, ELECTRICAL, FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURES SUCH AS THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS, THE THRUST ARMS, BALL JOINTS AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP/RELAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAKED, THE WASHER FLUID HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR HARNESS, FAN BELT, DIMMER SWITCH, TRUNK SPRINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE PLASTIC TRIM ON THE FRONT SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING. THE FRONT DOOR SILL STRIP COVER WAS REPLACED. THE THRESHOLD BELLOWS WERE COMING APART, THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB

WHEN FILLING UP TANK GAS PUMP DOES NOT SHUT OFF. CONSUMER FEELS THERE'S A DEFECT IN FUEL TANK. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT "SHIFT" OUT OF PARK. AS I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM, I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERRIDE. THE PART FOR REPAIR COSTS LESS THAN $5; IT IS A SMALL PLASTIC "WASHER" TYPE PIECE. IF I HAD BEEN IN TRAFFIC AND THIS PIECE WENT, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS IMMOBILE. AS THE VEHICLE IS BEING TOWED, DUE TO THE FACT THE CAR CANNOT BE PLACED IN "NEUTRAL", THE REAR WHEELS WILL NOT TURN TO LOAD ON TOW VEHICLE. POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. MERCEDES, KNOWING THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, DOES NOT HAVE THIS AS A CHECK ON ITS SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. *TR

VEHICLE WILL START TO SHAKE WHEN TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AND HIGHER. ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL SHAKE, NOT JUST THE STEERING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

AS I TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY OVERSEAS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 31000 MILES AND HAS BEEN RELIGIOUSLY SERVICED AND GARAGED. NOW I AM INFORMED RUST HAS CORRODED RIGHT DOOR AND MAY HAVE SPREAD TO OTHER DOORS CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT OF ALL DOORS. I AM INFORMED THIS IS A PROBLEM MERCEDES HAS BEEN AWARE OF FOR SOME TIME YET I HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED FOR EARLY REMEDIAL ACTION. AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SOME TIME. *TR

CONSUMER OF A 2001 S430 V FAULTY SUNROOF, LED SIDE MIRRORS, AND TURN SIGNALS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED AND BE REPAID IN SOMEWAY. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS PERSISTENT TAIL LIGHT AND HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURES, ENGINE, FUEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VACUUM DOOR PUMP, ELECTRICAL, FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURES SUCH AS THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS, THE THRUST ARMS, BALL JOINTS AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP/RELAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAKED, THE WASHER FLUID HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR HARNESS, FAN BELT, DIMMER SWITCH, TRUNK SPRINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE PLASTIC TRIM ON THE FRONT SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING. THE FRONT DOOR SILL STRIP COVER WAS REPLACED. THE THRESHOLD BELLOWS WERE COMING APART, THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG'S WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, THEY DETERMINED THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WITHOUT THE SENSOR REPLACEMENT, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM

CONSUMER OF A 2001 S430 V FAULTY SUNROOF, LED SIDE MIRRORS, AND TURN SIGNALS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED AND BE REPAID IN SOMEWAY. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS PERSISTENT TAIL LIGHT AND HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURES, ENGINE, FUEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VACUUM DOOR PUMP, ELECTRICAL, FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURES SUCH AS THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS, THE THRUST ARMS, BALL JOINTS AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP/RELAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAKED, THE WASHER FLUID HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR HARNESS, FAN BELT, DIMMER SWITCH, TRUNK SPRINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE PLASTIC TRIM ON THE FRONT SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING. THE FRONT DOOR SILL STRIP COVER WAS REPLACED. THE THRESHOLD BELLOWS WERE COMING APART, THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND SURGES OUT OF CONTROL DUE TO AN ELETRONIC ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED NHTSA SHOULD DO A FULL INVESTIGATION. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

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.

DT: CONTACT STATES THE THERE WAS COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AT 23,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SERVICE DEALER STATED THEY COULDN'T FIND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *AK WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. ON SEVERAL OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE WEAR WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THAT THEY JUST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CENTER CONSOLE WOULD NOT OPEN PROPERLY. THE STEREO'S VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN. THE POWER STEERING MADE A GROANING NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS TIGHTENED. THIS PROBLEM WAS WORSE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD. THE GLOVE BOX WOULD NOT OPEN. THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON WAS INOPERATIVE. *NM

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

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR MERCEDES 2001 S430 AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN ON A BACK ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. FIRST IT HAD DROPPED SO LOW IT PREVENTED STEERING AND WAS DIFFICULT TO PUT VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER WITHOUT DAMAGING CAR. THEN WE HAD THREE TOWING COMPANIES WHICH WOULD NOT TOW THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF LIABILITY TO FRONT END DAMAGE. I CHANGED THE RELAY THROUGH RESEARCH AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT UP ENOUGH TO BE TOWED. TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS WAS TAKEN FOUR DAYS TO EXECUTE. THEN I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO HAVE A VEHICLE TOWED IN MY LIFE. THEN BY THAT TIME I NEW THE STRUT TOPS HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE W220 MB. I HAD CONVEYED THAT TO THE NEWMARKET, ONTARIO. CANADA DEALERSHIP. BUT THEY STILL HAD TO DO DIAGNOSTICS AND FOR THAT FEE THEY CAME UP WITH REPLACING THE FRONT TOP STRUTS. WHICH THEY HAVE A NEW REBUILD KIT FOR. THE TOTAL SO FAR 760.00 THEN THEY CALL ME BACK AND THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE LEVEL AND HAD TO DIAGNOSE THAT. ANOTHER CHARGE AND ENDED UP WITH A CORRODED WIRE. OUT THE DOOR BOXING DAY 1290.00. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM. THEY HAD TOLD ME IT WAS COMMON FOR THE SUSPENSION TO DROP IN COLD WEATHER. AND IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON AND OFF SINCE THEN. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE THIS IN BUT I AM EVEN MORE AFRAID TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AT 120KM HR. *TR

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONS DESPITE 4 ATTEMPTED REPAIRS BY THE DEALER. LOCAL DEALER AND REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE ARE NOT RESPONSIVE TO EITHER FIXING THE PROBLEMS OR MY SUGGESTIONS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATIONS STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE UP AND DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER OF A 2001 S430 V FAULTY SUNROOF, LED SIDE MIRRORS, AND TURN SIGNALS. CUSTOMER STATES THE VEHICLE HAS COST HIM A LOT OF MONEY TO REPAIR AND WOULD LIKE IT TO BE FIXED AND BE REPAID IN SOMEWAY. **NAR**KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS PERSISTENT TAIL LIGHT AND HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY FAILURES, ENGINE, FUEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, VACUUM DOOR PUMP, ELECTRICAL, FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURES SUCH AS THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS, THE THRUST ARMS, BALL JOINTS AND THE AIRMATIC PUMP/RELAY. THE TRANSMISSION SEALS LEAKED, THE WASHER FLUID HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE BLOWER MOTOR HARNESS, FAN BELT, DIMMER SWITCH, TRUNK SPRINGS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE PLASTIC TRIM ON THE FRONT SEAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO CRACKING. THE FRONT DOOR SILL STRIP COVER WAS REPLACED. THE THRESHOLD BELLOWS WERE COMING APART, THE SIDE MARKER LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB