IllustrationVEHICLE HAS ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH DRAINS BATTERY FAULTY FUSE BOXES. *TR
2003 Mercedes Benz S430
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Mercedes Benz S430 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S430 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
025–50K
750–75K
675–100K
7100–150K
3150K+
24 reports with mileage · 2 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 3 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
What owners actually said
26 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A CAR WASH OR DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE RADIO VOLUME WOULD SPORADICALLY INCREASE AND DECREASE WITHOUT WARRANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NOR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A CAR WASH OR DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE RADIO VOLUME WOULD SPORADICALLY INCREASE AND DECREASE WITHOUT WARRANT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NOR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 158,000. REMAILED 07/14/2010.*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 S430 MERCEDES BENZ. THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEAD LIGHT BULB MELTED . THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COST OF $500.00. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE BATTERY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT IT CONTINUED TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 S430 MERCEDES BENZ. THE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE HEAD LIGHT BULB MELTED . THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR COST OF $500.00. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE BATTERY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT IT CONTINUED TO DISCHARGE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY SHE CANNOT READ ANY OF THE GAUGES OR DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,700. UPDATED 1/25/10 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE PLASTIC MELTING ON BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. AFTER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS INSTALLED, THE BATTERY CONTINUED TO DIE. UPDATED 01/26/10
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY AND WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS FOR $1200. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,402.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED AND WILL NOT RELEASE WHEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 95000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE REACTED AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PROGRAMMED IN THAT MANNER. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE REACTED AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PROGRAMMED IN THAT MANNER. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED HIM WITH A LOANER. THE LOANER WAS A MERCEDES ALSO, BUT THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 08/28/09 *BF UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.