2002 Mercedes Benz S CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
78,139 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 48 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 12 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Interior Lighting | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 |
Suspension: 12; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 6; Electrical System: 5; Interior Lighting: 4; Suspension:Front: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Equipment: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 11; 2007: 7; 2008: 5; 2009: 7; 2010: 2; 2011: 7; 2012: 3; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10050068 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 EXPERIENCING TIRE BLOW OUTS. *MR THERE WAS A RIGHT REAR GASH IN THE SIDEWALL AND A BULGE HIGH ON THE SIDEWALL NEAR THE REAR OF THE RIM, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT DUE TO FISSURE IN THE SIDEWALL, THE THIRD TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. THE FOURTH TIRE WAS STARTING TO FRAY. (MODEL/S 500) *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083037 · 2004-07-31 (July 31, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN MY MERCEDES. POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, LIGHTS, DISPLAY, POWER WINDOWS ETC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134389 · 2005-08-27 (August 27, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE 405 FREEWAY SOUTH IN LA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA MY DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ALONG THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRE BRAND AND MAKE IS CONTINENTAL CONTI-TOURING CONTACT 225/60R16. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 MERCEDES S430. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150390 · 2006-02-16 (February 16, 2006)
AFTER DRIVING AND PLACING GEAR OF 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430 IN PARK, MY CAR COLLAPSED SO LOW THAT CAR COULD NOT BE DRIVEN, LEAVING ALL OCCUPANTS STRANDED. AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR SYSTEM, WHICH IS CAR'S SUSPENSION SYSTEM TOTALLY FAILED. CAR TOWED ON FLAT BED TO DEALERSHIP. SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED, INCLUDING AIRMATIC COMPESSOR, SENSOR, FUSE, PUMP, AND MORE. CAR REPAIR COST ME $1000. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152584 · 2006-03-13 (March 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STOPS AND THEN COLLAPSES TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP EACH TIME. THE STRUT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE AXLE CALIBRATED, AND THE WHEELS ALIGNED. THESE EFFORTS HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, THEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SUSPENSION EXPLODED, BUT ARE NOT AWARE HOW TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152911 · 2006-03-16 (March 16, 2006)
DURING NIGHTTIME DRIVING, INSTRUMENT BACK LIGHTING WAS LOST. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155687 · 2006-04-19 (April 19, 2006)
THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM FAILS AND THE BODY OF VEHICLE CAME DOWN TO TOUCH ALL 4 WHEELS WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE I-66 HIGHWAY. -THE DASHBOARD INDICATION SHOWED "AIRMATIC-------STOP, CAR TOO LOW" MAKING SCRAPING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL WELLS BOTH SIDES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156943 · 2006-05-07 (May 7, 2006)
FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 59,475 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156943 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V028000 · Interior Lighting
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗07V263000 · Engine And Engine Cooling | Suspension
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗