2006 Mercedes Benz S430: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
101,801 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 12 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Engine: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Suspension: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Structure: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10187993 · 2007-04-16 (April 16, 2007)
AFTER 2000 MILES THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND THEN ANOTHER LOUD BANG AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THEN WE WERE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THE BANGS WERE LOUDER AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET AT 25 MPH AND A CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS MAKING A TURN, THE BANGS STARTED AND THERE WAS THE SAME LOUD BANGING NOISES AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE CAR AND ALMOST ENDED UP OFF OF RO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294849 · 2009-12-07 (December 7, 2009)
AS YOU SLOW DOWN TO BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN CAUSING IT TO HIT A BUILDING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 112,601 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316997 · 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN 1-2 TIMES A WEEK. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE RUNNING INTO A BUILDING; THE DRIVER WAS PARKING AND WHILE COASTING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319045 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DEFECT COULD POSSIBLY BE TRANSMISSION GEAR FAILURE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE MANUFACTURERS ENGINEERS. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. UPDATED 04/16/10. *LJ UPDATED…
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480063 · 2012-10-14 (October 14, 2012)
THE "AIRMATICS-VISIT WORKSHOP" WORDING CAME ON MY SCREEN YESTERDAY ON THE HIGHWAY. HITTING THE UNLOCK BUTTON KICKED ON SUSPENSION AS IT SHOULD AND IT WAS SPUTTERING INSTEAD OF THE USUAL RAISE NOISE. IT SAT OVERNIGHT AND NOW IT SITTING PRETTY LOW. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME IN 6 MONTHS THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAS GONE OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10480063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482773 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING MESSAGES FOR THINGS HAPPENING IN CAR ( EX LIGHT OUT TRUNK WON'T OPEN ETC.) WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE CARS BUT HAVE NOT TURNED IT IN AS A RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 87,597 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10562978 · 2014-02-04 (February 4, 2014)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN 2006 S430 MERCEDES-BENZ ? JANUARY 16, 2014 AS I ACCELERATED TO GET ON THE ROAD, I SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR. I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM A TRUCK WE PASSED. I OPENED THE WINDOW & TURNED OFF THE HEATER TO CLEAR THE AIR IN THE CAR. IN A FEW SECONDS, I CLOSED THE WINDOW AND RE-STARTED THE HEATER, WHICH IMMEDIATELY FILLED THE CABIN WITH HEAVY SMOKE. I AGAIN STOPPED THE HEATER AND OPENED THE WINDOW. THE SMOKE CLEARED AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. A FEW SECONDS LATER, I SAW FLAMES COMING RIGHT OUT OF THE AIR DUCT GRI…
Owner-reported narrative. 131,388 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10891477 · 2016-07-28 (July 28, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10891477 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.