2002 Mercedes-Benz S430 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS INADEQUATE TO SEE THE GAUGES. FLETCHER JONES IMPORTS (7300 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89117, (702) 364-2700) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN 2012. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 209,000.

NHTSA ID

11377484

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

Mileage

209,000 mi

I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 104,000 MILES, I CANNOT SEE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 65 MILES PER HOUR, IT WENT BLACK. ALL THE GAUGES WERE FOUND STUCK IN THEIR LOCATION THE NEXT MORNING AT WHAT THEY WERE AT WHEN THE CLUSTER WENT BLACK. THE CLUSTER HAS NEVER RECOVERED AND I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH NO IDEA OF SPEED, SIGNALS OPERATION, FUEL LEVEL, OR WATER TEMP. THE INFORMATION DISPLAY IS ALSO BLANK SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT MY MILEAGE IS OR IF THE VEHICLE HAS ANY OTHER INFORMATION TO GIVE ME. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME 60 MILES IN THE DARK. MY HEADLIGHTS GO ON ALL BY ITSELF WHENEVER I START MY CAR NOW. MY CLIMATE CONTROL ALSO REMAINS LIT AND CAUSES A BATTERY DRAIN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO MAKE IT HOME BUT NOW I CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAYTIME UNTIL I CAN GET MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPAIRED. MY COMFORT LEVEL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE HAS DIMINISHED GREATLY, THIS VEHICLE IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE, DOES MERCEDES BENZ NOT CARE ANYMORE. IF ONE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS WERE TO PERISH IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM I’M PRETTY SURE THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY FIND A SOLUTION TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ID

11150205

Incident

Nov 7, 2018

Mileage

104,400 mi

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT, CAN'T SEE SPEED OR OTHER DASH INFORMATION SUCH AS FUEL. REAR SUSPENSION LOOSES AIR, CAR SITS TO LOW TO DRIVE, BODY SITS ON REAR TIRES. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CITY STREET, TIRES SMOKED AND ARE PITTED.

NHTSA ID

11128840

Incident

May 29, 2018

THE BATTERY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE IS SITUATED NEXT TO THE GAS TANK. THERE ARE NO COVERS ON THE METAL PARTS ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE MAT THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY COVER THESE METAL POLES, LEAVING THEM VULNERABLE TO CATCH FLAME WHEN METAL ITEMS ARE IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR BATTERY CAUGHT FLAME, WHILE STATIONARY, DUE TO A METAL ROD USED FOR FURNITURE ASSEMBLY TOUCHING THE EXPOSED PORTION OF THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID

11047153

Incident

Sep 2, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON 12/10/2016, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WENT VERY DARK. AT NIGHT THERE WAS NO ILLUMINATION EITHER. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING WILDLY FROM HIGH TO LOW AND BACK. I COULD ONLY SEE THIS WITH MY INTERIOR LIGHT ON, AS THE DASH PANEL WAS DARK. I REALIZED I COULD NOT READ ANY OF THE OTHER THE GAUGES INCLUDING THE SAFETY WARNING DISPLAY PANEL, NOR DID THE TURN SIGNALS INSIDE THE VEHICLE WORK OR THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). ON 12/15/16 THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF MY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS NOT A RECALL BUT A "VOLUNTARY EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE". THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MY CAR WAS PART OF IT, BUT I WAS "OUT OF TIME" WITH MY REQUEST FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. AT THE TIME THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 195,000 ON IT. THIS IS THE 5TH MERCEDES I HAVE OWNED, READING FROM THE BLOGS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, HENCE THE NHTSA INVOLVEMENT. MINE IS A DOCUMENTED FAILED CASE UNDER MERCEDES RECOGNIZED PROGRAM, BUT THEY FAIL TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF TIME. WHETHER IT IS IN TIME OR OUT OF TIME A SAFETY FAILURE IS A SAFETY FAILURE. ONE WOULD THINK THAT A COMPANY LIKE MERCEDES BENZ WOULD WANT TO KEEP ALIVE A 5 TIME OWNER OF MERCEDES AND PUT BRAND LOYALTY OVER PROFIT. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN NOW ENTERING THEIR CAR OWNING YEARS. THEY HAVE GROWN UP WITH MERCEDES BUT I GUESS IT IS NOW TIME TO SHOW THEM ANOTHER CAR BRAND SO THEY CAN BE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE TO ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, ONE THAT WILL PLACE THEIR LIFE AHEAD OF THE PROFIT ON AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I ASK THE NHTSA TO FORCE MERCEDES TO RECALL THESE SAFETY PRONE CARS SUCH THEY CANNOT HIDE BEHIND THEIR "OUT OF TIME" EXCUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10935564

Incident

Dec 10, 2016

Mileage

195,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10876363

Incident

Jun 19, 2016

Mileage

108,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ON FRIDAY, 6/17/2016, I NOTICED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WAS VERY DARK. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL DUSK, ON SATURDAY, 6/18/2016 AND I REALIZED ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT, THE GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING NOR DID THE TURN SIGNALS INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS, WORK OR THE VOLUME CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME OF THIS DISCOVERY

NHTSA ID

10875334

Incident

Jun 17, 2016

Mileage

92,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,500.

NHTSA ID

10875241

Incident

Jun 16, 2016

Mileage

60,500 mi

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW IN 2002. IT HAS ABOUT 48500 MILES. I WORK CLOSE TO HOME. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SUSPENSION AIR BAGS ONCE AND MY VEHICLE IS DROPPING AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. WHAT CAN I DO? MY VEHICLE IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND I FIND IT OUTRAGEOUS THAT MERCEDES BENZ BEING FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ESPECIALLY WITH THE ORIGINAL PRICE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10854936

Incident

Apr 6, 2016

Mileage

48,500 mi

AFTER OWNING MY USED CAR INSURANCE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER. FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS ON A RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ID

10854495

Incident

Dec 20, 2013

Mileage

16,200 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS TO FUNCTION OR LIGHT UP WHEN STARTED OR DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10807357

Incident

Mar 18, 2015

Mileage

111,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF THEN FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,012.

NHTSA ID

10781024

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

151,012 mi

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING. SUBSEQUENTLY, FLICKERED ON MOMETARILY A FEW TIMES, NOW IS DARK ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

10767569

Incident

Sep 22, 2015

Mileage

179,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT COMPLETELY DARK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN, PARK IT FOR 2 DAYS. TRIED TO OPEN MY DOOR BATTERY WAS DEAD REPLACE BATTERY FOUND 5 AMP FUSE BLOWN IN THE LEFT SAM, CLUSTER FLICKER AND WENT DARK. CHECK MY VIN NUMBER ON THE MB WEBSITE NO REAL LED ON MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

NHTSA ID

10758512

Incident

Aug 19, 2015

Mileage

100,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND THEN FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

10747122

Incident

Aug 7, 2015

Mileage

129,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HIGH AND LOW BEAMS FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10648396

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO FLICKER. INITIALLY IT JUST DIMMED BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF FLICKERING IT STOPPED. LATER THAT DAY IT WENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10644902

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR, THE INTERIOR, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS DROPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOW AND DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID

10633719

Incident

May 14, 2013

Mileage

185,000 mi

AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND FRONT END OF MY CAR DROPS AND WHEELS START TO TOUCH CAR BODY, CANT TURN THE WHEELS EITHER (ONLY SLIGHTLY) THE FENDER GETS ON THE WAY, CAR IS TOO LOW. I PULLED OVER IN A LITTLE BIT CAR RAISED UP TO NORMAL POSITION. HAPPENED MORE THAT FEW TIMES. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T RISES ALL THE WAY UP TO NORMAL. AIR STRUT, AIR PUMP, VALVE BOX OR RELAY FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565723

Incident

Feb 17, 2014

Mileage

94,000 mi

FIRST INCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2013 INSTRUMENT PANEL SUGGESTED THAT REAR LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. TOOK IN TO MECHANIC AND REPLACED FUSE, THEN APPROX. 3 WEEK LATER REPEATED MALFUNCTION, BUT NOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DARK. REPLACED FUSE AGAIN, AFTER THIS TIME IT LASTED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS. NOW IT'S DECEMBER 2013 AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DARK, NO MILEAGE, SPEEDOMETER, FUEL OR SAFETY GAUGES. MECHANIC TOOK ANOTHER LOOK AND ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED ON THIS SAFETY ITEM. WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME HELP RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558888

Incident

Oct 30, 2013

THE AIR PUMP IS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVERELY LOW FRONTEND. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE MERCEDES S430. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552690

Incident

Oct 28, 2013

INSTRUMENT PANEL BLANKED OUT WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REPETITIVE COMPLAINT ON LINE. SURPRISING THAT IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546028

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

SECOND AIRMATIC BREAKDOWN. FIRST WAS FRONT SIDE LAST JULY 2012. SECOND BREAKDOWN AUGUST 28, 2013 REAR PUMP LEFT SIDE. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING REAL EXPENSIVE. DO ALL MERCEDES DO THIS? *JB

NHTSA ID

10541709

Incident

Jul 1, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

ALL LIGHTING ON INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF ,PANEL REMAINED TOTALLY DARK, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING WORKED ON STEERING WHEEL. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND IT WAS DARK. COULD NOT SEE ANY LIGHTING ON GAUGES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WAS TOLD ABOUT RECALL ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .AFTER CHECKING FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD ALL INDICATIONS REFERRED TO IN PARTICULAR RECALL OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509995

Incident

Apr 8, 2013

Mileage

143,008 mi

THE VEHICLE SAFETY LIGHT WENT RED INDICATING THE AIRMATIC FAILED AND TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10485933

Incident

Nov 20, 2012

Mileage

101,112 mi