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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Mercedes Benz E430 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

19 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

65,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 19 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting421.1%
Electrical and battery issues210.5%
Braking behavior15.3%
Steering behavior15.3%
Fuel system concerns15.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
2
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Electrical System
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
1
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags2
Air Bags:Frontal2
Electrical System2
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Unknown Or Other2
Air Bags:Side/Window1
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel1
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery1

Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
1
2002
2
2003
2
2005
1
2006
1
2007
3
2008
1
2009
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
2016
1
2017
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
20022
20032
20051
20061
20073
20081
20091
20101
20111
20121
20131
20161
20171
20191

2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10142522 · 2005-11-12 (November 12, 2005)

A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF LIQUID FROM A CUP SITTING IN THE CUP HOLDER SPILLED INTO THE GEARBOX AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE, WOULDN'T SHIFT OR ACCELERATE. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND CALL FOR THE CAR TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST MB DEALER. THE CAR WOULD NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE OVER $600.00 WAS SPENT TO GET A BRAND NEW GEARBOX INSTALLED FOR THE CAR TO BE FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID ALL IT TOOK WAS "LESS THAN A TEASPOON OF LIQUID" TO DROP INTO THAT AREA TO CAUSE THE CAR TO FAIL AND IT WAS VE…

Owner-reported narrative. 88,048 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142522 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10260264 · 2009-02-27 (February 27, 2009)

MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E430 SLIPS OUT OF GEAR FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND WITH NO WARNING . IT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY AND IN ORDER TO RE-ENGAGE THE DRIVE GEAR I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, PUT GEARS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE, SOMETIME DURING THIS OPERATION SEVERAL TIMES . I CONTACTED A MERCEDES SPECIALIST AND HE SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRONICS OF THE TRANSMISSION AND IS ACTUALLY DRAWN UP THE WIRING AND INTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE LOC…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260264 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10199423 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED ACID TO SPILL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE EXPLOSION. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL BATTERY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 179,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 179,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199423 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11032752 · 2017-10-10 (October 10, 2017)

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KEEPS BREAKING CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE NO ILLUMINATION FOR BRAKING

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025341 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)

I HAD A AUTO ACCIDENT AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF. I HAD A SIDE IMPACT (PASSENGER SIDE) FIRST AND WAS DRIVEN HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE FORCE OF THE ACCIDENT BROKE THE POLE. MY FACE HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND MY CHEST WAS IMPACTED BY THE STEERING WHEEL. WINDSHIELD BROKE, GLASS WAS IMBEDDED IN MY FOREHEAD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025341 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 566736 · 2002-07-24 (July 24, 2002)

10 DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 32,000 MILES. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566736 at NHTSA ↗