2002 Mercedes Benz S500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
73,963 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 25 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.0% |
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: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 8 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Interior Lighting | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 8; Electrical System: 6; Interior Lighting: 4; Suspension: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10147652 · 2006-01-12 (January 12, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS A THREE SECOND DELAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE SUDDENLY. THE DELAY PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE WHILE DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE GAS PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE LOCKED IN PARK; IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR HOUSING. *AK THE GEAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. UPDATED 021/21/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 66,286 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155404 · 2006-04-15 (April 15, 2006)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE, UNABLE TO READ GAUGES, HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK, GOT TICKET FOR SPEEDING-CHECKED ON LINE AND SAW RECALL 2/1/06-NHTSA 06V028000-CALLED 3 DEALERS AND THEY KNEW NOTHING AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL, ALSO CALLED MB SERVICE [phone removed] AND THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT RECALL--I WAS QUOTED PRICE TO FIX $1850.--WHAT IS GOING ON? DO I HAVE TO WAIT AND NOT DRIVE VEHICLE UNTIL JUNE 10-OR PAY $1850 TO GET PROBLEM FIXED NOW? DOES MB EVER COMMUNICATE WITH ITS DEALERS ABOUT THESE RECALLS? *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164957 · 2006-08-08 (August 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS DARKENED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FROZE . THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186744 · 2007-04-02 (April 2, 2007)
THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 WITH REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND THE "AIRMATIC" SUSPENSION SYSTEM. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION, LOUD BANGING NOISES CAME FROM THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR AT THE FRONT RIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNINGS OR FAULTS WERE DISPLAYED ON THE VEHICLE'S DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND THE VEHICLE'S RIDE HEIGHT WAS NORMAL. THE BANGING NOISE STOPPED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LATER THAT NIGHT, THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION RELEASED ITS REMAINING COMPRESSED AIR AND DROPPED THE ENTIRE SUSP…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,107 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204988 · 2007-10-02 (October 2, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. ON OCTOBER 1, 2007, THE MILEAGE GAUGE DISPLAYED 26,700. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE GAUGE DISPLAYED 43,000. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2005, THE WINDOWS AND SUNROOF HAVE OPENED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 20 TO 45MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH AND WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CD PLAYER FAILED A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THE DEALER INFORMED HER…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241600 · 2008-09-09 (September 9, 2008)
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN THE COMPANY CAR I AM DRIVING WHICH IS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ MODEL S500 JUST RECENTLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED AND A NEW FUSE WAS PUT IN AND IT BLEW WITHIN AN HOUR. I HAVE CALLED MERCEDES BENZ DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL 06V028000 DOES NOT APPLY TO ME. I ALSO CALLED THE FLETCHER JONES MOTORCAR DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES BASED ON THE SAFETY RECALL 06V028000. THE PROBLEM IS…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,640 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254952 · 2009-01-14 (January 14, 2009)
MERCEDES BENZ 2002 S430: TELE AID SOS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION CAUSING VITAL INFORMATION ON AUTO TO BE DENIED WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. NO WAY TO RESET. MUST GO TO AUTO DEALER TO CORRECT. DEALER WILL CHARGE TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353162 · 2010-09-01 (September 1, 2010)
ATTORNEY REQUESTS CERTIFIED COPIES OF RECALLS APPLICABLE TO 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500V *TGW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10353162 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.