2005 Mercedes-Benz S430 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz S430. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, he became aware that the defroster was not working properly, affecting the visibility while driving. The contact also stated that the heater and the A/C were not working. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the failure was linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V227000 (Electrical System); however, neither the VIN nor the model year was included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ID

11592394

Incident

Jan 1, 2024

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AFTER THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS STILL INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 206,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ 2005 S430 ##

NHTSA ID

11412889

Incident

Apr 17, 2021

Mileage

206,000 mi

DASH WARNINGS:: SRS INACTIVE, PRE-SAFE UNAVAILABLE, FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT AND THERE IS NO BABY SEAT IN IT.

NHTSA ID

10926542

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE GAUGES WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ UPDATED 08/08/16.*JB

NHTSA ID

10874526

Incident

Jun 15, 2016

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10855240

Incident

Apr 4, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

ON 7-26-2015 I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM COMMONWEALTH MOTORS LLC. AFTER 24 HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH, I CALLED BACK AND I FILED A COMPLAINT OF THE BRAKES BEING WORN TO THE METAL, THAT THE SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THAT THE LEFT DRIVER MIRROR WAS BROKEN, AND THE REAR TIRE KEPT GOING FLAT. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHOM CLAIM ITS THE STATE INSPECTOR MADE AN ERROR THEREFORE ITS THE STATES REPSONSIBILTY. I SCHEDULED A FOLLOW UP WHICH THEY DECLINE TO REPSOND TO. THE SECOND THIRD DAY THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT ON AND OUT. I TOOK THE AUTO TO A CERTIFIED BENZ DEALERSHIP AND SHOP TO FIND OUT THESES ISSUES. AFTER PAYING FOR WARRANTY ETC..ON 7-26-2015 CARS PROTECTION PLUS PURCHASED $495.00 8-8-2015 CARS PROTCTION PLUS AUTO PROTECTION WAS DENIED AFTER PAYING $495+$10.00 FILING FEE 8-1-2015 NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT $154.24 10-30-2015 INSTALL AND REPLACE RF LOWER CONTROL ARM $165.00 WAS JUST THE START. THEN THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS STRUTS I WAS TOLD WAS THE CONCERN FROM THE SECOND DAY OF HAVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10790183

Incident

Jul 28, 2015

Mileage

30 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A SHIFT LOCK LEVER FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10743300

Incident

Mar 1, 2015

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STABILITY CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE GEAR TO SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT THE ELECTRICAL MODULE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE KEY AND THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10640412

Incident

Sep 10, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION AND TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE IGNITION CONTINUED TO RUN. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DID NOT NOTICE A FLAME BUT PULLED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY DUE TO FEAR IT COULD EXPLODE. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE AIR PUMP AND AIR MODULE PUMP COMPRESSOR WERE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10379699

Incident

Jan 22, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

I LEASED A NEW MERCEDES BENZ S430 DURING DECEMBER 2004 FROM WALTER'S MB IN RIVERSIDE, CA. PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY SYSTEM (ESP) BEGAN MARCH 2005 AND ON MARCH 16, 2005 REPORTED PROBLEMS TO WALTERS MB DURING SERVICE VISIT. ON DECEMBER 9, 2005 REPORTED PROBLEM AGAIN TO WALTER'S MB DURING SERVICE VISIT. BOTH TIMES I REPORTED HOW VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BOARD LIGHTING WOULD BLINK AND BLACK OUT BUT ESP LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD TURN ON CAUSING VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN SPEED TO 15 MILES PER HOUR ON FREEWAY. DURING DECEMBER 2005 I SENT COMPLAINT LETTER TO NHTSA RECALL OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, DC. REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING AND ESP COLLATERAL PROBLEM. I INCLUDED COPY OF JUNE 2004 MERCEDES BENZ RECALL IN JAPAN OF 98,000 SCLASS VEHICLES WITH ESP PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTED SAME PROBLEM EXISTED HERE IN UNITED STATES. LATER DURING FEBRUARY 2006 ESP PROBLEM RETURNED AND REPORTED PROBLEM TO WALTERS MB VEHICLE WAS SERVICED DURING FEBRUARY, MARCH AND MAY 2006 WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. WALTER'S MB MADE ME FEEL LIKE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. I SENT FOLLOW-UP COMPLAINT LETTER TO NHTSA RECALL MR. GEORGE PERSON IN WASHINGTON, DC. FINALLY I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 2006 AND A SECOND RECALL NOTICE #2006-080004 DATED DECEMBER 2006 BOTH FROM MB. ON FEBRUARY 6, 2007 WALTER'S MB PERFORMED THE REPAIRS FOR RECALL #2006-080004. ESP PROBLEMS CAME BACK DURING NOVEMBER 2007 AND WALTER'S SERVICED UNIT 1/16/2008. I HAVE COPIES OF LETTERS FROM 10 OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE ESP SYSTEM AND CAN PROVIDE COPIES FOR YOUR REVIEW. I BELIEVE THE ESP PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY "COLLATERAL DAMAGE" IN CONNECTION WITH THE "INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ILLUMINATION" AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN #2006-080004. MY RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE NHTSA TO INSPECT ALL RECORDS FOR MB VEHICLES REPAIRED BY THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268180

Incident

Mar 16, 2005

Mileage

3,801 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED ON 8-9-05 WAS ON A TRIP TO OREGON AND WAS GOING TO PARK THE CAR WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD AND WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND HUGE BOULDERS STOPPED THE CAR. HE HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. THEY WERE FIXING THE CAR AND CHECKING TO SEE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. HAS BEEN WAITING FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN. THEY WERE WAITING FOR SOMEONE FROM MERCEDES TO CHECK IT OUT. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY EVEN AFTER THEY REPAIRED THE CAR.*AK THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SECOND FAILURE ON 1/3/06 . THE VEHICLE SURGED SUDDENLY AND THE CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A WALL. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10133754

Incident

Aug 9, 2005

Mileage

13,000 mi