2000 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS Suspension Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S-500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED AND WAS NOT POSITIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS A FRONT SUSPENSION KIT THAT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THE KIT DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V263000 ( SUSPENSION) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 151,661

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN USUAL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD ALLOWED THE FRAME TO RUB THE TOP OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN FIVE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,038. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 90,000

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. MY AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FAIL AND MY CAR FRONT WENT DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. MY TIRES START RUBBING INTO MY WHEEL WELL AND STARTED SMOKING. THE PROBLEM LEFT THE FRONT END DAMAGE. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIX BY A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. SIX MONTH LATER THE PROBLEM ARISE AGAIN. I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT I MIGHT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

I'M PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AS A SIMPLE SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE. I OWN A 2000 S-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ (W220 CHASIS), AND I TOO GOT SOME AROMATIC (AIR SUSPENTION) PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A WARNING SIGN SAYING "AROMATIC STOP VEHICLE TOO LOW". I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE STREET BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING FROM THE FRICTION OF THE WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE BUMPER (OR FENDER). I DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT A GOOD FIVE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE WAS INSIDE THE FENDER. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED WHERE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAME FROM. THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED WAS 20MPH. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAVEL SPEED WOULD BE OVER 55MPH (A VERY COMMON SPEED FOR FREEWAY DRIVING IN THE CITY), WHAT ABOUT OVER 70MPH IN RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT (HOPEFULLY NOT ALREADY). IF A MOVING PART COMES TO CONTACT WITH A NON MOVING ON AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE LETHAL. ACCORDING TO MY REASERCH, ALL THE W220 CHASIS MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE THIS "AROMATIC SUSPENSION" PROBLEM, ALL THE MECHANICS ALSO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR A RECALL BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. THANK YOU. *CW

Mileage: 84,000

I'M PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AS A SIMPLE SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE. I OWN A 2000 S-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ (W220 CHASIS), AND I TOO GOT SOME AROMATIC (AIR SUSPENTION) PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A WARNING SIGN SAYING "AROMATIC STOP VEHICLE TOO LOW". I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE STREET BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING FROM THE FRICTION OF THE WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE BUMPER (OR FENDER). I DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT A GOOD FIVE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE WAS INSIDE THE FENDER. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED WHERE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAME FROM. THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED WAS 20MPH. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAVEL SPEED WOULD BE OVER 55MPH (A VERY COMMON SPEED FOR FREEWAY DRIVING IN THE CITY), WHAT ABOUT OVER 70MPH IN RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT (HOPEFULLY NOT ALREADY). IF A MOVING PART COMES TO CONTACT WITH A NON MOVING ON AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE LETHAL. ACCORDING TO MY REASERCH, ALL THE W220 CHASIS MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE THIS "AROMATIC SUSPENSION" PROBLEM, ALL THE MECHANICS ALSO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR A RECALL BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. THANK YOU. *CW

Mileage: 84,000

I'M PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AS A SIMPLE SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE. I OWN A 2000 S-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ (W220 CHASIS), AND I TOO GOT SOME AROMATIC (AIR SUSPENTION) PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A WARNING SIGN SAYING "AROMATIC STOP VEHICLE TOO LOW". I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE STREET BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING FROM THE FRICTION OF THE WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE BUMPER (OR FENDER). I DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT A GOOD FIVE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE WAS INSIDE THE FENDER. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED WHERE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAME FROM. THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED WAS 20MPH. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAVEL SPEED WOULD BE OVER 55MPH (A VERY COMMON SPEED FOR FREEWAY DRIVING IN THE CITY), WHAT ABOUT OVER 70MPH IN RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT (HOPEFULLY NOT ALREADY). IF A MOVING PART COMES TO CONTACT WITH A NON MOVING ON AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE LETHAL. ACCORDING TO MY REASERCH, ALL THE W220 CHASIS MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE THIS "AROMATIC SUSPENSION" PROBLEM, ALL THE MECHANICS ALSO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR A RECALL BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. THANK YOU. *CW

Mileage: 84,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RIDE VERY LOW ON A CONSTANT BASIS. THE AIR SUSPENSION INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE AND REMAIN LIT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WOULD LIFT UP AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK IN THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE IN HEIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

THIS CAR HAS AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHICH HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NO SPRINGS, INSTEAD EACH SHOCK ABSORBER HAS A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN BOTH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE REAR OF THE CAR DROPS DOWN AND THE CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED. WHEN ONLY ONE OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS DEVELOPS A SMALL AIR LEAK, THE CAR DOES NOT LOOSE MUCH HEIGHT AND THERE IS LOSS OF TRACTION IN THE TIRE IN THE INVOLVED SIDE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT VEHICLE WEIGHT BEING APPLIED TO IT. THIS LOSS OF TRACTION IN ONLY ONE TIRE CAUSES THE TIRE TO SPIN ON LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION, BUT WORSE, IT CAUSES THE TIRE TO "LOCK UP" ON BRAKING. THE ABS SYSTEM GETS ACTIVATED AND IN TRYING TO PREVENT THIS "LOCK UP", THE ABS SYSTEM DECREASES THE BRAKING FORCE ON THE REMAINING 3 TIRES CAUSING MARKED DECREASE IN BRAKING CAPACITY. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BRAKING DISTANCE IS EXTENSIVELY PROLONGED, POSING AN EXTREME HAZARD. THIS IS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW WHICH MERITS IMMEDIATE CORRECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER, OR ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SUSPENSION FROM BEING INSTALLED IN ANY VEHICLE SOLD IN THE USA. THIS IS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW WHICH MERITS IMMEDIATE CORRECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER, OR ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SUSPENSION FROM BEING INSTALLED IN ANY VEHICLE SOLD IN THE USA. *TR

THIS CAR HAS AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHICH HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NO SPRINGS, INSTEAD EACH SHOCK ABSORBER HAS A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR WHEN BOTH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE REAR OF THE CAR DROPS DOWN AND THE CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED, POSING NO HAZARD. BUT WHEN ONLY ONE OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS DEVELOPS A SMALL AIR LEAK, THE CAR DOES NOT LOOSE MUCH HEIGHT AND THERE IS LOSS OF TRACTION IN THE TIRE IN THE INVOLVED SIDE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT VEHICLE WEIGHT BEING APPLIED TO IT. THIS LOSS OF TRACTION IN ONLY ONE TIRE CAUSES THE TIRE TO SPIN ON LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION, BUT WORSE, IT CAUSES THE TIRE TO "LOCK UP" ON BRAKING. IMMEDIATELY THE ABS SYSTEM GETS ACTIVATED AND IN TRYING TO PREVENT THIS "LOCK UP", THE ABS SYSTEM DECREASES THE BRAKING FORCE ON THE REMAINING 3 TIRES CAUSING MARKED DECREASE IN BRAKING CAPACITY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BRAKING DISTANCE IS EXTENSIVELY PROLONGED, POSING AN EXTREME HAZARD. THIS IS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW WHICH MERITS IMMEDIATE CORRECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER, OR ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SUSPENSION FROM BEING INSTALLED IN ANY VEHICLE SOLD IN THE USA.

Mileage: 49,000

THIS CAR HAS AN AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WHICH HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NO SPRINGS, INSTEAD EACH SHOCK ABSORBER HAS A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR WHEN BOTH REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS FAIL AT THE SAME TIME THE WHOLE REAR OF THE CAR DROPS DOWN AND THE CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED, POSING NO HAZARD. BUT WHEN ONLY ONE OF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS DEVELOPS A SMALL AIR LEAK, THE CAR DOES NOT LOOSE MUCH HEIGHT AND THERE IS LOSS OF TRACTION IN THE TIRE IN THE INVOLVED SIDE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT VEHICLE WEIGHT BEING APPLIED TO IT. THIS LOSS OF TRACTION IN ONLY ONE TIRE CAUSES THE TIRE TO SPIN ON LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION, BUT WORSE, IT CAUSES THE TIRE TO "LOCK UP" ON BRAKING. IMMEDIATELY THE ABS SYSTEM GETS ACTIVATED AND IN TRYING TO PREVENT THIS "LOCK UP", THE ABS SYSTEM DECREASES THE BRAKING FORCE ON THE REMAINING 3 TIRES CAUSING MARKED DECREASE IN BRAKING CAPACITY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BRAKING DISTANCE IS EXTENSIVELY PROLONGED, POSING AN EXTREME HAZARD. THIS IS A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW WHICH MERITS IMMEDIATE CORRECTION BY THE MANUFACTURER, OR ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SUSPENSION FROM BEING INSTALLED IN ANY VEHICLE SOLD IN THE USA.

Mileage: 49,000

FAILURE OF "AIRMATIC" SUSPENSION ALLOWS FRONT OF CAR TO DROP DOWN TO THE POINT THAT THE TIRES RUB ON THE FENDERS. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO FAILSAFE TO PREVENT A DANGEROUS HIGHWAY SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

I WAS DRIVING ON 95 NORTH LEAVING FLORIDA AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR DROPPED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH. FEARING FOR MY LIFE I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT IT WAS VERY HARD TO EVEN TURN THE WHEEL. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE 83 IN BALTIMORE CITY, THE OTHER SIDE DROP AND I EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. THE FAILURE THAT HAPPEN IN FLORIDA I WENT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF ORLANDO AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING THIS PROBLEM OFTEN. THE SECOND INCIDENT, I TOOK MY CAR TO PARS AUTO IN TOWSON , MD AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE BEEN DOING ABOUT TWO TO THREE OF THESE CARS A WEEK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

2000 S 500 AIRMATIC FAILURE. CAR INOPERABLE. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

AS I WAS DRIVING THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSE THE CAR TO LOWER TO AN UNDRIVABLE HEIGHT, I CHECKED AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM IN MY MERCEDES BENZ S500 FINALLY FAILED AFTER ACTING UP FOR SOME TIME. THE WHOLE CAR SUDDENLY SANK TO THE GROUND AND MADE DRIVING UNSAFE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. MY RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM ON BENSWORLD AND OTHER SITES SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THESE CARS. MERCEDES IS SO WELL AWARE OF THIS THAT THEY SELL A REPAIR KITS FOR LEAKS IN THE STRUTS ($126 TIMES 2!) AS WELL AS STOCKING MANY AIR COMPRESSORS ($360) TO REPLACE THE ONES THAT GO BAD. PLUS MB CHARGES EXORBITANTLY HIGH PRICES FOR THE PARTS -- A SIMPLE ELECTRICAL RELAY FOR THE SUSPENSION WAS $75. THE PARTS COST ME OVER $700, AND I DID THE WORK MYSELF TO KEEP FROM BEING FURTHER RAPED BY MB TO FIX THIS DEFECT JUST SO I COULD DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

I OWN A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500 SEDAN. WHILE PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT HOME, THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 3" FROM THE GROUND WITHOUT WARNING, I HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS HAPPENED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MB DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIRMATIC PUMP ON THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1500.00 US. I'M HOPING THERE IS NO FURTHER DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THANK GOD I WASN'T ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *JB

Mileage: 74,515

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DROPPED APPROXIMATELY FOUR INCHES, WHICH MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE STATUS OF HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 06/20/07. *JB

Mileage: 68,000

HAD 2000 MERCEDES S500, CAR IN GARAGE FOR A WEEK, NOTICED THE CAR IS VERY LOW, TIRES ALMOST RUBBING THE INSIDE OF THE FENDERS, TURNED CAR ON AND WARNING MASSAGE SAID " CAR IS TOO LOW, STOP AERONAUTIC SYSTEM" RAISED THE CAR WITH A PANEL BUTTON, CAR RAISED. CALLED THE DEALER, SAID YOU CAN DRIVE IT. I DROVE IT AND IT VERY NOISY, THE SECOND DAY DID THE SAME, VERY LOW ALMOST ON THE GROUND. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED BEFORE ABOUT SIX MONTH AGO,WHILE OUT OF THE STATE, TOLD BY THE DEALER IT NEED RESELLING THE AROMATIC SYSTEM. FIXED THAT TIME (OCTOBER 2006) COST ME ABOUT $650. PROBLEM KEEP GOING WITH THE SAME AROMATIC SYSTEM. LOOKED UP ONLINE, WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME AIRMATIC SYSTEM. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIRED, AND IF REPAIRED, IT KEEP FAILING OVER AND OVER. THERE MUST BE A RECALL TO CORRECT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE WHOLE SUSPENSION MIGHT COLLAPSE WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEAASE HELP, THANKS. *AK

Mileage: 98,300

HAD 2000 MERCEDES S500, CAR IN GARAGE FOR A WEEK, NOTICED THE CAR IS VERY LOW, TIRES ALMOST RUBBING THE INSIDE OF THE FENDERS, TURNED CAR ON AND WARNING MASSAGE SAID " CAR IS TOO LOW, STOP AERONAUTIC SYSTEM" RAISED THE CAR WITH A PANEL BUTTON, CAR RAISED. CALLED THE DEALER, SAID YOU CAN DRIVE IT. I DROVE IT AND IT VERY NOISY, THE SECOND DAY DID THE SAME, VERY LOW ALMOST ON THE GROUND. SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED BEFORE ABOUT SIX MONTH AGO,WHILE OUT OF THE STATE, TOLD BY THE DEALER IT NEED RESELLING THE AROMATIC SYSTEM. FIXED THAT TIME (OCTOBER 2006) COST ME ABOUT $650. PROBLEM KEEP GOING WITH THE SAME AROMATIC SYSTEM. LOOKED UP ONLINE, WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME AIRMATIC SYSTEM. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIRED, AND IF REPAIRED, IT KEEP FAILING OVER AND OVER. THERE MUST BE A RECALL TO CORRECT IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THE WHOLE SUSPENSION MIGHT COLLAPSE WHICH MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. PLEAASE HELP, THANKS. *AK

Mileage: 98,300

1) THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE FOR ONE WEEK WHILE I WAS AWAY. 2) UPON RETURN, THE WHOLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REST ONLY 3 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED! 3) OUTCOMES: MILEAGE: 46120 REPAIRED: $2050.84: REPLACED BOTH FRONT AIR SUSPENSIONS, REPLACED HYDROPNEUMAT RELIEF VALVE AND COMPRESSOR FOR SIR SUSPENSION CAR VALUE: APPROX. $25,000 4) FOLLOW-UP: TODAY, AUGUST 21, 2006 THERE ARE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS 3 FAILURES. WILL TAKE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *JB

Mileage: 46,120

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE FRONT SUSPENSION OF MY CAR DROP. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE US280, AT 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF MY 2000 MERCEDES S430 SUDDENLY DROPPED ALMOST 12 INCHES. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASH SAYING SOMETHING LIKE: CAR TOO LOW, STOP IMMEDIATELY. *AK AS I TURNED THE STEARING WHEEL TO EXIT TO THE ROAD'S SHOULDER, A LOAD SQUEALING SOUND BEGAN BECAUSE MY WHEELS WERE STRIKING THE CAR'S WHEEL WELLS. THEREFORE, I HAD TO SLOWLY NAVIGATE TO THE RIGHT SO THAT MY TIRES WEREN'T TORN TO SHREADS. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PARK AVENUE MOTORS AND THEY REPLACED A HYDRAULIC PUMP THAT CONTROLS RAISING AND LOWERING THE CAR.

Mileage: 75,000

MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE FAILURE OF MY ACCELERATOR TO RESPOND. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT. I WAS BEGINNING TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE AND THE ACCELARATOR SIMPLY FAILED TO RESPOND. IMMEDIATELY GOT IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE PEDAL VALVE SENDER, PEDAL HOUSING ASSEMBLY,AND INPUT NEW CODES FOR THE PEDAL VALVE SENSOR. I WAS CHARGED $361.03. APPARENTLY MANY OF THE S CLASS CARS HAVE COMPUTER PROBLEMS AND I BELIEVE THIS MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED TO CHECK PEDAL VALVE SENSORS AND TO INSTALL A SAFTEY BACK UP OF SOME TYPE. MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM CENTERED AROUND THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM. 1ST IN THE SHOP ON SEPT. 6,2002 MILEAGE 46,521. SECOND MALFUNCTION MARCH 21ST. MILEAGE 53,846. THIS IS WHEN THEY CHARGED ME. NEXT OCCURRENCE APRIL 3, 2003. MILEAGE 54,150. THE DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY REFUNDED $585.89 OF THOSE CHARGES WITH NO EXPLANATION HOW THEY ARRIVED AT THAT NUMBER. ACCELERATOR FAILED ON JANUARY 6, 2003 MILEAGE 51,934. I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR TO DAYTONA BEACH, 30 MILES AWAY, 10 TIMES IN JUST OVER 10,000 MILES. DAYTONA BEACH HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO DEAL WITH THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE HAVE BEEN MEET WITH A CONDESCENDING AND UNCOOPERATIVE ATTITUDE. IT IS CLEAR THAT THEIR ONCE TERRIFIC IMAGE OF QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION IS A THING OF THE PAST. AS INFORMATION I HAVE SHARED THIS INFORMATION WITH THE USA PRESIDENT OF MERCEDES PAUL HALATA. I WROTE HIM ON APRIL 3 AND AGAIN ON MAY 14 SINCE I RECEIVED NO REPLY. HE HAD A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE WRITE ME A TERRIBLE LETTER THAT HAD THE WRONG CAR AND WRONG VIN. HE WAS THE SAME GUY I CALLED WHEN THE PROBLEMS FIRST BEGAN WHO DID NOT RETURN MY CALLS. NEVERTHELESS, THE ACCELERATOR ISSUE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE, EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST THE NEW WAY OF DOING BUSINESS IN AMERICA.

Mileage: 46,521

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OVER 50MPH IT SWAYS UP AND DOWN, AND ALSO SIDEWAYS. THIS IS DUE TO THE AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. *AK