MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS · model year

2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS

101 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000MERCEDES-BENZS CLASS carries 101 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 5 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 S CLASS is electrical system: instrument cluster/panel with 20 filings, followed by interior lighting (17) and suspension:front:springs:air suspension system (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2000 S CLASS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

101
Complaints
3
Crashes
5
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

101 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL20
INTERIOR LIGHTING17
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
SUSPENSION8
SUSPENSION:REAR4
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER3
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1

Recent Complaints

20110819INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES S430. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST OR SLOW SHE WAS TRAVELING, HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE VEHICLE, OR HOW MUCH OIL WAS IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL 06V028000 ( INTERIOR LIGHTING) AND ADVISED HER TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

20110624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2000 MERCEDES S500 CLUSTER ,BACK LIGHTING , SPEEDOMETER FAILED (UNABLE TO SEE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON APRIL ,3 2011 MILEAGE AT TIME OF DEFECT 24,568 I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY CAR CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND , I WAS INFORM THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (RECALL). SO I CALLED THE MERCEDES1-800-367-6372 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME I WAS COVERED BUT EXPIRED. SO I CALLED NHTSA 1800 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD STILL BE COVERED BECAUSE THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2006 AND IT IS 10 YEARS BEFORE IT EXPIRES SO UNTIL 2016. SO I WILL APPRECIATE SOME HELP CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. V.I,N [XXX] NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 24,568

20110624INTERIOR LIGHTING

MY 2000 MERCEDES S500 CLUSTER ,BACK LIGHTING , SPEEDOMETER FAILED (UNABLE TO SEE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON APRIL ,3 2011 MILEAGE AT TIME OF DEFECT 24,568 I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY CAR CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND , I WAS INFORM THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (RECALL). SO I CALLED THE MERCEDES1-800-367-6372 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME I WAS COVERED BUT EXPIRED. SO I CALLED NHTSA 1800 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD STILL BE COVERED BECAUSE THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2006 AND IT IS 10 YEARS BEFORE IT EXPIRES SO UNTIL 2016. SO I WILL APPRECIATE SOME HELP CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. V.I,N [XXX] NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 24,568

20110606ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

MY 2000 MERCEDES S500 CLUSTER BACK LIGHTING IS GOING IN AND OUT ALSO SPEEDOMETER I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR MY CAR CONCERNING THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WENT IN ON MAY 28 TO SEE THEM PENSKE MERCEDES(626) 859-1200 , I WAS INFORM THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED (RECALL). SO I CALLED THE MERCEDES1-800-367-6372 ([XXX], CASE MANAGER) NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THE SAME I WAS COVERED BUT EXPIRED. SO I CALLED NHTSA 1800 NUMBER THEY INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD STILL BE COVERED BECAUSE THE RECALL TOOK PLACE IN 2006 AND IT IS 10 YEARS BEFORE IT EXPIRES SO UNTIL 2016. SO I WILL APPRECIATE SOME HELP CONCERNING MY PROBLEM. V.I,N [XXX] NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

Mileage: 137,437

20110418ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S-500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20110418SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S-500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED AND WAS NOT POSITIONED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS A FRONT SUSPENSION KIT THAT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THE KIT DID NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V263000 ( SUSPENSION) BUT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 151,661

20110210VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500 FAILED AND BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REACH SPEED IN EXCESS OF 100M.P.H. BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE SHUT DOWN BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. UPON A MECHANICS INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MECHANICAL SAFETY DEVICE TO PREVENT THE PEDAL FROM BECOMING STUCK HAD FAILED CAUSING THE PEDAL TO GO TO WIDE OPEN THROTTLE AND BECOME STUCK IN THAT POSITION. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

20101215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN NO 2006080004, SEPTEMEBER 2006 FOR MERCEDES S500 (MODEL 220), MODEL YEAR 2000. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS COMPLETELY FAILED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF ILLUMINATION, SPEEDOMETER, AND FUEL GAUGE. MY CHASSIS END NUMBER IS A123394 AND THIS DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE NARROW SERIAL NUMBER RANGE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL RECAL CAMPAIGN. I UNDERSTAND ALL PARTS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE RECALLED AND AND REQUESTING THAT THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE BE WIDENED. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

20101215INTERIOR LIGHTING

THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO CAMPAIGN NO 2006080004, SEPTEMEBER 2006 FOR MERCEDES S500 (MODEL 220), MODEL YEAR 2000. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS COMPLETELY FAILED WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF ILLUMINATION, SPEEDOMETER, AND FUEL GAUGE. MY CHASSIS END NUMBER IS A123394 AND THIS DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE NARROW SERIAL NUMBER RANGE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL RECAL CAMPAIGN. I UNDERSTAND ALL PARTS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE RECALLED AND AND REQUESTING THAT THE SERIAL NUMBER RANGE BE WIDENED. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

20101124SUSPENSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN USUAL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAD ALLOWED THE FRAME TO RUB THE TOP OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN FIVE YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,038. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 90,000

20101117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS TOO BRIGHT. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FUEL GAUGE ADJUSTED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20101110FireEQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 00V141000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER) WAS THE EXACT AND PRECISE PROBLEM THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM HIS HEATER BLOWER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

20100913VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED WHEN IT STOPPED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE BLOWER MOTOR REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V227000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS) YET THE BLOWER WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V141000 (EQUIPMENT: ELECTRICAL: AIR CONDITIONER) YET THE DEALER REFUSED THE REPAIR, STATING THAT THE BLOWER REGULATOR WAS NOT A COMPONENT COVERED BY THE RECALL REPAIR. THE BLOWER MOTOR REGULATOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,789.

Mileage: 167,789

20100909INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SCLASS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO BLINK AND THE LIGHTING WHICH ILLUMINATES THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED HE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED. HE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000, INTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

Mileage: 91,000

20100826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430.THE CONTACT STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. SHE STATED THAT WHEN THE DOOR WAS AJAR AND THE INTERIOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, SHE COULD NOT SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AT ALL. THE DEALER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS BUT DID NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

20100824INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S-500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THERE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,416.

Mileage: 126,416

20100622ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON 2000 MY MERCEDES BENZ S500 ILLUMINATION FAILED. CANNOT SEE GAUGES NOR ODOMETER. AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. BOTH DEALER AND M-B USA DENY COVERAGE UNDER THEIR 10-YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE. THE CAR WAS PLACED IN SERVICE IN 12/99 AND WAITED FOR 10 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS BEFORE FAILURE. FORMERLY KNOWN FOR DURABILITY AND RELIABILITY OVER MANY YEARS, THE COMPANY IS NOW UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY WOULD THERE BE ANY TIME LIMIT ON A KNOWN SAFETY FAILURE? *TR

Mileage: 136,000

20100620SUSPENSION

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

20100620SUSPENSION:REAR

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

20100620SUSPENSION:FRONT

THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM ON MY MERCEDES BENZ S-500 HAS FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE CAR-BODY DROPPED AND IS RESTING ON THE TIRES, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. *TR

Compare 2000MERCEDES-BENZS CLASS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS have?
The 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS has 101 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 5 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS?
The most-complained component for the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include INTERIOR LIGHTING and SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.