2002 Mercedes Benz S430: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
111,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 31 complaints (61.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.2% |
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 | 19 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Electrical System: 19; Suspension: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Power Train: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Interior Lighting: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2012: 7; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10442782 · 2012-01-07 (January 7, 2012)
WE HAD TO HAVE OUR CAR TOWED FROM INSIDE THE CAR WASH BAY BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH, WHICH IS PLASTIC, BROKE PROHIBITING THE CAR FROM SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE SENT TO US TOLD US HE SEES THIS ALL OF THE TIME WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. ALSO BY THE FORUMS, YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM FOR CERTAIN YEARS. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE NEW SHIFT BOX FROM MERCEDES HAS AN ALUMINUM SAFETY SWITCH OR "BILLET". WE ATTEMPTED TO BUY THE NEW "BILLET" BUT O…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,063 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457736 · 2012-05-07 (May 7, 2012)
CLUSTER IN DASH BLEW OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458206 · 2012-05-12 (May 12, 2012)
THE GEAR SHIFTER HAD LOCKED INITIALLY OUT OF THE BLUE, I COULDN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE. I TURNED IT OFF TO STOP IT AND THEN IT WOULDN'T GO INTO PARK. AFTER THE MERCEDES TECH CAME OUT IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. THE TECH SAID IT WAS MOST LIKELY A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HAD KICKED IN. THEN THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE WENT DOWN. I AM TOLD THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION WENT OUT. WHY? THE CAR SAID STOP AIRMATIC TO LOW. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY HAVE LEAD UP TO THESE ISSUES. UNFORTUNATELY I CAN NOT AFFORD THE $2,000 TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE WITH THE AIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465533 · 2012-07-13 (July 13, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING OR DETERMINE ANY OF THE OTHER READINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471497 · 2012-08-20 (August 20, 2012)
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. YOU CANNOT READ THE VEHICLE'S GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, AND WARNING INDICATORS, ETC. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS SPEEDOMETER AND INCREASED THE RISK OF A CRASH AND MAJOR SAFETY IMPACT TO OCCUPANTS AND TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MERCEDES BENZ AND I WAS TOLD THAT, THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WOULD LIKE TO SEE DOT MAKE THIS ISSUE A 100% SAFETY RECALL ON VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF WARRANT PERIOD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 121,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10481422 · 2012-10-22 (October 22, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE BACK LIGHTS FINALLY FAILED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS COMPLETELY DARK AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE SPEEDS DRIVEN, FUEL LEVELS, ETC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10485933 · 2012-11-25 (November 25, 2012)
THE VEHICLE SAFETY LIGHT WENT RED INDICATING THE AIRMATIC FAILED AND TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 101,112 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509995 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
ALL LIGHTING ON INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLICKERING ON AND OFF ,PANEL REMAINED TOTALLY DARK, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING WORKED ON STEERING WHEEL. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND IT WAS DARK. COULD NOT SEE ANY LIGHTING ON GAUGES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WAS TOLD ABOUT RECALL ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER .AFTER CHECKING FOUND OUT THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE HAD ALL INDICATIONS REFERRED TO IN PARTICULAR RECALL OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 143,008 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509995 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.