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2005 Mercedes Benz S430

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
11Owner 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
31
200226
200318
200411
200512
2006
Compare all S430 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
7Exterior Lighting
2Power Train
2Air Bags
1Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1
All reported categories
Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Suspension
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

Limited mileage data: 11 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

11 reports
13,000 miles · Aug 22, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

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 P…

Read full complaint

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 ODI #10133754

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.