2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500 Electrical System Problems

14 complaints about Electrical System

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Deaths

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Electrical System Complaints (14)

Jan 21, 2025

See attached document for complaint.

Dec 9, 2021

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel and dashboard lights were off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that his daughter was able to drive the vehicle since the exterior lights were working properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an extended warranty had been issued for the failure but had already expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

Sep 4, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED UPON START-UP, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF LOS ANGELES (1801 S. FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90015) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. ## VIN PASSED ## 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500 ##

Mileage: 60,000

Mar 21, 2017

MY DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING NOT MY SPEED DASH IS DARK NIGHT AND DAY

Mileage: 177,000

Aug 30, 2016 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER BURNED OUT AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE MISSED THE WARRANTY BY THREE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

Dec 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE OR SHOW ANY OF THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

Mileage: 127,000

Jun 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

Mileage: 120,000

Feb 16, 2011

I OWNED 2002 MERCEDES MODEL S430. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED MY CAR DROPPED LOWER TO THE TIRES AS I STARTED, THEN I TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON FOR THE CAR TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. NOW, FOR PAST 2 WEEKS THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK AND ACTED VERY OFTEN. I ALSO TALKED TO FEW FRIENDS AND THEY SAID OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME MODEL ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. IS THIS A RECALL FROM MERCEDES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM YET. I LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE INFO ON THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. *TR

Jan 14, 2009

MERCEDES BENZ 2002 S430: TELE AID SOS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION CAUSING VITAL INFORMATION ON AUTO TO BE DENIED WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. NO WAY TO RESET. MUST GO TO AUTO DEALER TO CORRECT. DEALER WILL CHARGE TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT. *TR

Mileage: 51,000

Sep 9, 2008

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN THE COMPANY CAR I AM DRIVING WHICH IS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ MODEL S500 JUST RECENTLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED AND A NEW FUSE WAS PUT IN AND IT BLEW WITHIN AN HOUR. I HAVE CALLED MERCEDES BENZ DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL 06V028000 DOES NOT APPLY TO ME. I ALSO CALLED THE FLETCHER JONES MOTORCAR DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES BASED ON THE SAFETY RECALL 06V028000. THE PROBLEM IS I AM UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 81,640

Oct 2, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. ON OCTOBER 1, 2007, THE MILEAGE GAUGE DISPLAYED 26,700. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE GAUGE DISPLAYED 43,000. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2005, THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF HAVE OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 20 TO 45MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH AND WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CD PLAYER FAILED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT IT NEEDED REPLACING. THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT THAT INDICATED NO MALFUNCTION, HOWEVER, AFTER THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE, IT BEGAN TO DISPLAY MESSAGES. SHE WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL. THE CONTACT IS THE ONLY DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CORRECT CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

Mileage: 8,500

Aug 8, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DARKENED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FROZE . THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Mileage: 62,000

Apr 15, 2006

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE, UNABLE TO READ GAUGES, HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, GOT TICKET FOR SPEEDING-CHECKED ON LINE AND SAW RECALL 2/1/06-NHTSA 06V028000-CALLED 3 DEALERS AND THEY KNEW NOTHING AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, ALSO CALLED MB SERVICE 800-367-6372 AND THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT RECALL--I WAS QUOTED PRICE TO FIX $1850.--WHAT IS GOING ON? DO I HAVE TO WAIT AND NOT DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL JUNE 10-OR PAY $1850 TO GET PROBLEM FIXED NOW? DOES MB EVER COMMUNICATE WITH ITS DEALERS ABOUT THESE RECALLS? *NM

Mileage: 59,000

Jan 12, 2006

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS A THREE SECOND DELAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE DELAY PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE WHILE DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GAS PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE LOCKED IN PARK; IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR HOUSING. *AK THE GEAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. UPDATED 021/21/06. *JB

Mileage: 66,286