2001 Mercedes Benz E430: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 21.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10038481 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)
CONSUMER HAS HAD 5 TIRE BLOWOUTS IN 2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED 5 TIRE BLOW OUTS WITHIN 2 YEARS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT TWO OF THE RIMS WERE BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACEMENT. *NLM *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038481 at NHTSA ↗
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 10149416 · 2006-02-04 (February 4, 2006)
RUBBER SEAL AROUND FRONT WINDSHIELD IS DETERIORATING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198569 · 2007-08-05 (August 5, 2007)
NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS IN AN ACCIDENT, MY WIFE SUFFERED A BACK INJURY, NOTHING DONE YET. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 88,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198569 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 10208646 · 2007-11-11 (November 11, 2007)
2001 MERCEDES E430. MAYBE AS MUCH AS TWO YEARS AGO THE TIME AND TEMP SECTIONS OF MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN LOSING LINES OR PIXELS SO THE TIME AND TEMP COULD NOT BE READ. I HAD JUST GONE OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE AND WAS TOLD, ON THE PHONE BY A MERC. SERVICE PERSON, IT COULD BE FIXED BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN MANY "FORUM" POSTS ABOUT OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM MAKING ME THINK IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. I HEARD OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR ARE BEING RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY NOT MY MODEL CAR?? THIS IS A COSTLY RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216393 · 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL EXTREME (NA), SIZE P235-45R1793W TIRES. THE TREAD SEPARATED ON ALL FOUR TIRES BY MORE THAN A HALF OF AN INCH. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO USE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT HEEDED THE ADVICE AND HAD THE TIRES REPLACED. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 4/25/08 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216393 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.