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U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Mercedes Benz S430 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

133,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 23 complaints (39.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting14.3%
Engine operation14.3%
Braking behavior14.3%
Electrical and battery issues14.3%

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.

Electrical System
9
Exterior Lighting
5
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
4
Suspension
4
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Air Bags
2
Structure:Body
2
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System9
Exterior Lighting5
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel4
Suspension4
Vehicle Speed Control3
Air Bags2
Structure:Body2
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers1

Electrical System: 9; Exterior Lighting: 5; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 4; Suspension: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 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
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 5

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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.

2011
1
2012
3
2013
4
2014
4
2015
5
2016
1
2017
1
2018
2
2019
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20123
20134
20144
20155
20161
20171
20182
20191
20221

2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10937111 · 2016-12-22 (December 22, 2016)

ON 11/18/16 I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 S430 WHEN WILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CAUSING MY ENGINE TO REV. I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL & TRIED TO PRESS IT AGAIN TO RE ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE BACK HOME & PARKED THE CAR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET A SHOP APPOINTMENT. ON 11/21/16 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THE FLUID WAS FULL BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED? SO I TOOK IT HO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10937111 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10810049 · 2015-12-14 (December 14, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810049 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11139238 · 2018-10-09 (October 9, 2018)

DEFECT IN ACCELERATOR AND ELECTRONIC ATTACHMENTS, PART NO220 300 00 04. WHEN PART FAILED, INITIALLY, CAR ONLY POWERED TO LOW SPEED UNDER LOAD. HAD TO DRIVE IT OUT OF DESERT AND OVER MOUNTAIN AT LOW SPEED, BUT DOWN HILL OK. EVENTUALLY PARKED IT OFF ROAD. WHEN NEXT STARTING IT, IT REVVED TO 3500 RPM AND HELD. TRIED TO MOVE IT, IT DROPPED TO IDLE SPEED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PARKED IT AND HAD MECHANIC CHECK IT. DETERMINED THE ACCELERATOR WAS FAULTY. GAS PEDDLE DID NOT AFFECT ENGINE SPEED. HE POUNDED ON PEDDLE WITH HAND. ENGINE JUMPED TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139238 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10469367 · 2012-08-06 (August 6, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, HE SMELLED A PLASTIC BURNING ODOR THEN SUDDENLY THE AIR CONDITIONED FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FAULTY BLOWER MOTOR REGULATOR WIRES MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND THEY STATED THAT ON APRIL 20, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V141000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER). THE VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 246,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469367 at NHTSA ↗