2001 Mercedes Benz S CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls

MERCEDES S-CLASS W220 (2000 AND UP)INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED INCLUDING SPEDOMETER, FLASHERS, SIGNAL CONTROL, ENGINE TEMPERATURE, AND OTHER INFORMATION CRITICAL TO SAFE VEHICLE OPERATION. UPON INVESTIGATING IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A SERIES OF DEFECTIVE TRANSISTORS WHICH THE MANUAFACTURER HAS SINCE DISCONTINUED AND REPLACED WITH A SIMILAR MODEL. INADEQUATE HEATSEAKING FOR THE TRANSISTORS COUDL ALSO EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. THIS IS PARTICULARLY ODD BECAUSE THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN IN PRODUCTION SINCE 2000 AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100807 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE IS A 2001 S-500. ALMOST WORD FOR WORD THE SAME ISSUE(S) AS ODI ID NUMBER : 10100807. SAME CAR, SAME PROBLEMS, SAME SENTIMENT. REPLACING FUSES ONLY RESULTS IN FLICKERING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING, AND EVEN THEN THE BACKLIGHT IS STILL NON-FUNCTIONAL. GAUGE NEEDLES FLICKER AS WELL, UNTIL THEY TOO GO OUT COMPLETELY. FUSES LAST ONLY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WHEREUPON THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REMAINS ENTIRELY BLACK. PROBLEM COULD BE REMEDIED SIMPLY BY REPLACING FAULTY TRANSISTORS, OR REDESIGNING AN IMPROPERLY LAID-OUT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, …

Owner-reported narrative. 49,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133955 at NHTSA ↗

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. ONCE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS, THE GAS GAUGE, CHECK ENGINE, ODOMETER, INSIDE INDICATORS FOR TURN SIGNALS, PARKING ASSIST LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. EVERYTHING IS LINKED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ONE DAY THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM. MERCEDES CHARGES AROUND $1800 TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (SEPTEMBER 23, 05): NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLACKOUT. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT HE COULDN'T SEE THE GAUGES AND WAS TOLD BY M-B ROADSIDE ASSISTANC…

Owner-reported narrative. 79,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136503 at NHTSA ↗

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED (NO LIGHTS, OR GAUGES OPERABLE IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, LIGHTS ARE OUT CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 81,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144960 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2001 MECEDES S-CLASS. THE INSTURMENT CLUSTER JUST FAILED LAST WEEK. THE ENTIRE THING JUST WENT DARK. NOTHING WORKS!! I NOTICE YOU HAVE A OPEN INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. YOUR # PE 05-062. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148237 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE FRONT END MADE A CREAKING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SUPPORT LINK, REAR ENGINE TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, AND MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157585 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK UPDATED 6/19/2006 - THE DASH LIGHTS FADE, FLICKER AND GO OUT. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 49,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158575 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED DUE TO INADEQUATE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATION, ONE IS UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V028000 REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*AK UPDATED 7/25/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161763 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-01-17 (January 17, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SHEATHING MATERIAL ON THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION OF THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE HOSE COULD OVERHEAT.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE SURROUNDING PLASTIC AND INSULATION TO MELT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEATED WASHER BOTTLE HOSE ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE STATIC BUILD-UP IN THE TRUNK FLOOR MATS CAN CAUSE A STATIC DISCHARGE WHEN INDIVIDUALS MOVE OR REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT.

Consequence: THIS CAN DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK, INCLUDING THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A STATIC INSULATION PANEL BETWEEN THE CARPET AND THE VEHICLE BATTERY WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ELECTRICAL GROUNDING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDER, THE SIZE OF THE ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR OF THE HOLDER MAY BE BELOW APPROPRIATE TOLERANCES.

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY, THE ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR OF THE BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDER MAY DISSIPATE MORE HEAT THAN THE PLASTIC FUSE HOLDER WAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND, WHICH COULD RESULT IN OVERHEATING OF THE HOLDER AND DISABLING OF THE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE ABILITY TO DEFROST OR DEFOG THE WINDSHILED IN COLD OR HOT AND HUMID WEATHER CONDITIONS. DEPENDING ON THE OCCURRENCE AND WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW BLOWER MOTOR FUSE HOLDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2006-02-02 (February 2, 2006)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.

Consequence: DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES. PHASE I WAS MAILED OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 7,500 OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2006. PHASE II AND PHASE III IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Reported: 2007-06-12 (June 12, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.