NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
73 reports65,000 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other
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…
Read full complaint
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 ODI #10907561
68,000 miles · Aug 22, 2016
Electrical System
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 …
Read full complaint
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 ODI #10897660
99,000 miles · Aug 1, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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 ODI #10892275
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 …
Read full complaint
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
89,000 miles · Oct 7, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
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 …
Read full complaint
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 ODI #10780692
100,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
Exterior Lighting
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 M…
Read full complaint
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 ODI #10762571
99,000 miles · Aug 25, 2015
Electrical System
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 ODI #10759061
131,000 miles · Jun 16, 2015
Electrical System
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 ODI #10725483
89,000 miles · Jun 12, 2015
Electrical System
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 ODI #10724941
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2015
Electrical System
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 F…
Read full complaint
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 ODI #10722641
Illustration