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2002 Mercedes Benz S430

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mercedes Benz S430 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

About this comparison →
31Owner complaints

Model-year median: 23

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
23
200073
200131
200226
200318
200411
2005
Compare all S430 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
20Suspension
8Exterior Lighting
7Power Train
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1
All reported categories
Interior Lighting
1Structure
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

27 reports with mileage · 4 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 20 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 →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Visibility complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
130,000 miles · Oct 17, 2014
Exterior LightingVisibility

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)…

Read full complaint

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 ODI #10648396

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.