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2001 Mercedes Benz S430

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Mercedes Benz S430 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

About this comparison →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 23

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
23
200073
200131
200226
200318
2004
Compare all S430 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
37Interior Lighting
11Suspension
8Exterior Lighting
6Power Train
4
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
4Visibility
4Air Bags
3Fuel System, Gasoline
3Structure
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1Equipment
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Tires
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

52 reports with mileage · 21 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Interior Lighting. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Interior Lighting complaints

11 reports
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113,363 miles · Oct 16, 2015
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting

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 …

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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 ODI #10782883

45,000 miles · Jul 31, 2013
Interior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF THE RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #10532926

206,400 miles · Mar 19, 2012
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME STUCK ON 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAV…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND THE SPEEDOMETER BECAME STUCK ON 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,400. ..UPDATED 04/19/12 *BF UPDATED 06/04/12

NHTSA ODI #10452287

97,000 miles · Sep 27, 2010
Interior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OCTOBER 9, 2006 FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN NEED OF THE RECALL REPAIR. ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE INSTR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER OCTOBER 9, 2006 FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT IN NEED OF THE RECALL REPAIR. ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10357771

118,400 miles · Jan 31, 2009
Interior LightingSuspension

VEHICLE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL HAS FAILED. NO LIGHTS OR INSTRUMENT INDICATORS FUNCTION. ALL LIGHTS WITH IN THE PANEL DO NOT OPERATE. ALSO SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE FAILING. AFFECTED BY WEATHER. COLD WEATHER AFFECTS VEHICLE NOT ALLOWING RISE OF CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257053

60,000 miles · Oct 31, 2006
Interior Lighting

MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY MB S430 (MODEL YEAR 2001) HAS COMPLETELY FAILED. NONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS ARE OPERABLE, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, SAFETY LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHT DIMMER SWITCH, TRUNK LATCH, RADIO FUNCTIONS, ETC....*NM

NHTSA ODI #10172284

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2006
Interior Lighting

2001 S439V INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE SECOND TIME, THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR AND OTHER COSTS. THE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERIOR MIRROR SIGNAL LAMPS; THE INSTRUM…

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2001 S439V INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED, THE DEALER REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE SECOND TIME, THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR LABOR AND OTHER COSTS. THE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE EXTERIOR MIRROR SIGNAL LAMPS; THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STATED THE BULBS WAS OUT; LATER THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM, THEN THE PROBLEM WOULD RETURN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173271

60,029 miles · Oct 30, 2006
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING, ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHEN DARK COULD NOT SEE GAUGES INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER. FIND THIS FAILURE VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION. NO ACTION TAKEN THUS FAR. AWAITING CALL FROM DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10172192

56,900 miles · Jun 30, 2006
Interior Lighting

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MY 2001 MERCEDES S 430 WENT COMPLETELY BLACK AS I WAS TRAVELING AT NIGHT, SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM MY HOME. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO DETERMINE MY GAS AMOUNT, AND NO WAY FOR ME TO DETERMINE THE SPEED AT WHICH I WAS DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10161136

92,000 miles · May 24, 2006
Interior Lighting

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND THE GAUGES NO LONGER REGISTER THE SPEED OR FUEL LEVEL. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10158159

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE05062 · Instrument Cluster Failure

Opened Nov 10, 2005 · Closed Feb 8, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Interior Lighting

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS VEHICLES FAILED IN THAT CONSUMERS WERE UNABLE TO READ ANY OF THE GAUGES WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLES AT ANY SPEED DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT.IN ITS 573 REPORT TO NHTSA DATED FEBRUARY 1, 2006, MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC (MERCEDES-BENZ)STATES THAT THERE ARE THREE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE MODES THAT WOULD RESULT IN UNDESIRABLE OPERATION.THESE THREE FAILURE MODES ARE SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN DATES OF PRODUCTION (SEE BELOW) FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE, AND MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING THOSE VEHICLES WITHIN THOSE DATES.SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE FAILURE MODES IS DESCRIBED IN MERCEDES-BENZ'S REPORT (SEE NHTSA RECALL 06V028).THREE OF THE ODI COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED TO MERCEDES-BENZ INVOLVE VEHICLES THAT WERE PRODUCED BEFORE THE DATES OF PRODUCTION OF VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE THREE FAILURE MODES.BASED ON REVIEW OF THOSE THREE COMPLAINTS, MERCEDES-BENZ WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY A RELATION OF THOSE THREE TO THE DEFECTS IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALLED VEHICLES.ALL OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ COMPLAINTS WITH VINS IDENTIFIED WERE WITHIN THE RECALL POPULATION (ONLY 2 VEHICLE VINS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY VEHICLE BUILD DATE).THE RECALL POPULATION WILL INCLUDE 36,911 S CLASS AND CL CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES BUILT IN THE PRODUCTION DATES RANGING FROM JUNE 2000 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2000, JANUARY 2002 THROUGH APRIL 2002, AND MAY 2004 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2004.THESE DATES OF PRODUCTION COVER VEHICLES FROM THE 2000-2002 MY AND THE 2004-2005 MY.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, MERCEDES-BENZ WILL REPLACE ALL AFFECTED INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS WITH IMPROVED ONES THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE FAILURE MODES.MERCEDES-BENZ WILL BEGIN OWNER NOTIFICATION DURING THE 1ST QUARTER OF 2006.