1999 Mercedes Benz 420: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 722039 · 2000-04-28 (April 28, 2000)
CONTINUING IDLING AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. ON JANUARY 21, 2000, ONE MONTH AFTER SECOND REPAIR ATTEMPT, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER THEN VIOLENTLY JOLTED FORWARD CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL. (NOTE: DRIVER'S FOOT DID NOT TOUCH ACCELERATOR). DRIVER THEN NOTICED "ENGINE" CHECK LIGHT SUDDENLY COME ON (SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THIS INDICATES A FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM). IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED DEALER BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. ON APRIL 26, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON AND CAR BEGAN TO DRIVE TERRIBLY, E.G., POOR AND INCONSISTENT ACCE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723734 · 2000-06-08 (June 8, 2000)
STRANGE ELECTRONIC WHIRRING SOUND WHEN STARTING VEHICLE ON 6/7. SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SUDDENLY MOVED AND THEN CLOSED HALFWAY. NO RESPONSE FROM INTERIOR CONSOLE CONTROL. STEERING WHEEL ALSO BEGAN TO MOVE UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. REAR BRAKES CONTINUED TO SQUEAK AND GRAB. WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY LAST NOVEMBER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 754383 · 2001-11-11 (November 11, 2001)
ON 10/24, 2001, WHILE DRIVING MERCEDES S-420 WITH 65 MILES PER HOUR ON PENNSYLAVANIA TURNPIKE, PASSANGER SIDE WHEEL WITH TIRE AND WHEEL CAP SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AND FLEW OUT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF ONCOMING TURNPIKE. AFTER THE CAR WAS TOWED TO SUN MOTOR CARS, INC. AT 4444 CARLISLE PIKE, CAMP HILL, PA,[phone removed]) IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE 4 BOLTS FIXATING THE WHEEL TO CAR WERE CUT AND SHEARED. AND ONE HOLE WAS RUSTY. THIS MIGHT SUGEST THAT MANUFATURER USED SUBSTANDARD BOLTS WHICH COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE PRESSURE. I HOPE NO OTHER PEOPLE HA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 754383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8018330 · 2002-09-10 (September 10, 2002)
A CRACK IN LEFT REAR FRAMES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *JLG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8018330 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.