2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430 Problems & Recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS INADEQUATE TO SEE THE GAUGES. FLETCHER JONES IMPORTS (7300 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89117, (702) 364-2700) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN...

Mileage: 209,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS INADEQUATE TO SEE THE GAUGES. FLETCHER JONES IMPORTS (7300 W SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89117, (702) 364-2700) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN...

Mileage: 209,000

I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 104,000 MILES, I CANNOT SEE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 65 MILES PER HOUR, IT WENT BLACK. ALL THE GAUGES WERE FOUND STUCK IN THEIR LOCATION THE NEXT MORNING AT WHAT THEY WERE AT WHEN THE CLUSTER WENT BLACK. THE CLUSTER ...

Mileage: 104,400

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT, CAN'T SEE SPEED OR OTHER DASH INFORMATION SUCH AS FUEL. REAR SUSPENSION LOOSES AIR, CAR SITS TO LOW TO DRIVE, BODY SITS ON REAR TIRES. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CITY STREET, TIRES SMOKED AND ARE PITTED.

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT, CAN'T SEE SPEED OR OTHER DASH INFORMATION SUCH AS FUEL. REAR SUSPENSION LOOSES AIR, CAR SITS TO LOW TO DRIVE, BODY SITS ON REAR TIRES. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CITY STREET, TIRES SMOKED AND ARE PITTED.

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT, CAN'T SEE SPEED OR OTHER DASH INFORMATION SUCH AS FUEL. REAR SUSPENSION LOOSES AIR, CAR SITS TO LOW TO DRIVE, BODY SITS ON REAR TIRES. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CITY STREET, TIRES SMOKED AND ARE PITTED.

THE BATTERY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE IS SITUATED NEXT TO THE GAS TANK. THERE ARE NO COVERS ON THE METAL PARTS ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE MAT THAT COMES WITH THE VEHICLE DOES NOT SUFFICIENTLY COVER THESE METAL POLES, LEAVING THEM VULNERABLE TO CA...

Mileage: 110,000

WHILE DRIVING ON 12/10/2016, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WENT VERY DARK. AT NIGHT THERE WAS NO ILLUMINATION EITHER. ALSO THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FLUCTUATING WILDLY FROM HIGH TO LOW AND BACK. I COULD ONLY SEE THIS WITH MY INTERIOR LIGHT ON, AS THE DASH PANEL WAS DARK. I REALIZED I COULD NOT READ ANY...

Mileage: 195,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAIL...

Mileage: 108,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. T...

Mileage: 60,500

WHILE DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ON FRIDAY, 6/17/2016, I NOTICED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WAS VERY DARK. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL DUSK, ON SATURDAY, 6/18/2016 AND I REALIZED ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT, THE GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING NOR DID THE TURN SIGNALS INSIDE THE ...

Mileage: 92,500

WHILE DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS ON FRIDAY, 6/17/2016, I NOTICED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL WAS VERY DARK. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN AGAIN UNTIL DUSK, ON SATURDAY, 6/18/2016 AND I REALIZED ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE OUT, THE GAUGES WERE NOT WORKING NOR DID THE TURN SIGNALS INSIDE THE ...

Mileage: 92,500

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW IN 2002. IT HAS ABOUT 48500 MILES. I WORK CLOSE TO HOME. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SUSPENSION AIR BAGS ONCE AND MY VEHICLE IS DROPPING AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. WHAT CAN I DO? MY VEHICLE IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE...

Mileage: 48,500

AFTER OWNING MY USED CAR INSURANCE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUSTER. FOUND OUT LATER IT WAS ON A RECALL LIST.

Mileage: 16,200

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS TO FUNCTION OR LIGHT UP WHEN STARTED OR DRIVING.

Mileage: 111,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF THEN FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLA...

Mileage: 151,012

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING. SUBSEQUENTLY, FLICKERED ON MOMETARILY A FEW TIMES, NOW IS DARK ALL THE TIME.

Mileage: 179,000

WHILE DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT COMPLETELY DARK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN, PARK IT FOR 2 DAYS. TRIED TO OPEN MY DOOR BATTERY WAS DEAD REPLACE BATTERY FOUND 5 AMP FUSE BLOWN IN THE LEFT SAM, CLUSTER FLICKER AND WENT DARK. CHECK MY VIN NUMBER ON THE MB WEBSITE NO REAL ...

Mileage: 100,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED AND THEN FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT R...

Mileage: 129,000

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:...

Mileage: 130,000

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:...

Mileage: 130,000

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN TO FLICKER. INITIALLY IT JUST DIMMED BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF FLICKERING IT STOPPED. LATER THAT DAY IT WENT. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR, THE INTERIOR, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS DROPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOW AND DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL...

Mileage: 185,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR, THE INTERIOR, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS DROPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOW AND DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL...

Mileage: 185,000

AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND FRONT END OF MY CAR DROPS AND WHEELS START TO TOUCH CAR BODY, CANT TURN THE WHEELS EITHER (ONLY SLIGHTLY) THE FENDER GETS ON THE WAY, CAR IS TOO LOW. I PULLED OVER IN A LITTLE BIT CAR RAISED UP TO NORMAL POSITION. HAPPENED MORE THAT FEW TIMES. S...

Mileage: 94,000

FIRST INCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2013 INSTRUMENT PANEL SUGGESTED THAT REAR LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. TOOK IN TO MECHANIC AND REPLACED FUSE, THEN APPROX. 3 WEEK LATER REPEATED MALFUNCTION, BUT NOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DARK. REPLACED FUSE AGAIN, AFTER THIS TIME IT LASTED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS. N...

FIRST INCIDENT IN OCTOBER 2013 INSTRUMENT PANEL SUGGESTED THAT REAR LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. TOOK IN TO MECHANIC AND REPLACED FUSE, THEN APPROX. 3 WEEK LATER REPEATED MALFUNCTION, BUT NOW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT DARK. REPLACED FUSE AGAIN, AFTER THIS TIME IT LASTED FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS. N...

THE AIR PUMP IS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVERELY LOW FRONTEND. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE MERCEDES S430. *TR

INSTRUMENT PANEL BLANKED OUT WHILE DRIVING, CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SCENARIO. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REPETITIVE COMPLAINT ON LINE. SURPRISING THAT IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

SECOND AIRMATIC BREAKDOWN. FIRST WAS FRONT SIDE LAST JULY 2012. SECOND BREAKDOWN AUGUST 28, 2013 REAR PUMP LEFT SIDE. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING REAL EXPENSIVE. DO ALL MERCEDES DO THIS? *JB

Mileage: 200,000

ALL LIGHTING ON INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF ,PANEL REMAINED TOTALLY DARK, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING WORKED ON STEERING WHEEL. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND IT WAS DARK. COULD NOT SEE ANY LIGHTING ON GAUGES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WAS TOLD ABOUT RECALL ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .AFTER CHECKING...

Mileage: 143,008

ALL LIGHTING ON INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF ,PANEL REMAINED TOTALLY DARK, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING WORKED ON STEERING WHEEL. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND IT WAS DARK. COULD NOT SEE ANY LIGHTING ON GAUGES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WAS TOLD ABOUT RECALL ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .AFTER CHECKING...

Mileage: 143,008

THE VEHICLE SAFETY LIGHT WENT RED INDICATING THE AIRMATIC FAILED AND TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 101,112

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE BACK LIGHTS FINALLY FAILED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS COMPLETELY DARK AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SPEEDS DRIVEN, FUEL LEVELS, ETC. TH...

Mileage: 140,000

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. YOU CANNOT READ THE VEHICLE'S GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, AND WARNING INDICATORS, ETC. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS SPEEDOMETER AND INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH AND MAJOR SAFETY IMPACT TO OCCUP...

Mileage: 121,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING OR DETERMINE ANY OF THE OTHER READINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHT...

Mileage: 111,000

THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD LOCKED INITIALLY OUT OF THE BLUE, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE. I TURNED IT OFF TO STOP IT AND THEN IT WOULDN'T GO INTO PARK. AFTER THE MERCEDES TECH CAME OUT IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE TECH SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAD KICKED IN. THEN THE WHOLE R...

Mileage: 80,000

THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD LOCKED INITIALLY OUT OF THE BLUE, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE. I TURNED IT OFF TO STOP IT AND THEN IT WOULDN'T GO INTO PARK. AFTER THE MERCEDES TECH CAME OUT IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE TECH SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAD KICKED IN. THEN THE WHOLE R...

Mileage: 80,000

THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD LOCKED INITIALLY OUT OF THE BLUE, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE. I TURNED IT OFF TO STOP IT AND THEN IT WOULDN'T GO INTO PARK. AFTER THE MERCEDES TECH CAME OUT IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE TECH SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAD KICKED IN. THEN THE WHOLE R...

Mileage: 80,000

THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD LOCKED INITIALLY OUT OF THE BLUE, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE. I TURNED IT OFF TO STOP IT AND THEN IT WOULDN'T GO INTO PARK. AFTER THE MERCEDES TECH CAME OUT IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE TECH SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAD KICKED IN. THEN THE WHOLE R...

Mileage: 80,000

CLUSTER IN DASH BLEW OUT. *TR

Mileage: 100,230

WE HAD TO HAVE OUR CAR TOWED FROM INSIDE THE CAR WASH BAY BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, WHICH IS PLASTIC, BROKE PROHIBITING THE CAR FROM SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE SENT TO US TOLD US HE SEES THIS ALL OF THE TIME WITH ...

Mileage: 57,063