2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF UPDATED 07/31/12

Mileage: 134,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF UPDATED 07/31/12

Mileage: 134,000

WENT TO MY CAR IN THE A.M. TO GO TO WORK. TURNED CAR ON, A RED LIGHT CAME ON THAT SAID VEHICLE TOO LOW. SENSOR CAME ON AND SAID AIRMATIC SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. IN APRIL 2010 I PAID ABOUT $2500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS PART ARE ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR ONE YEAR AND THIS HAPPENS. AS MY CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED, AND THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, AND MOST LIKELY ANOTHER $2500, I HAVE GIVEN UP. I WOULD MERCEDES WOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 164,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE ILLUMINATION CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,976.

Mileage: 108,976

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT COULD NOT READ ANY OF THE GAUGES OR METERS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

MERCEDES BENZ NEVER INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR AN S500 WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL TO CHANGE THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL LIGHTING, NOW THAT IT FAILED THE MIAMI MERCEDES DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO FIX MY CAR ALLEGING THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALL, THAT IT WAS ONLY A WARRANTY EXTENSION BEGINNING IN 2001 FOR 10 YEARS LEAVING ME OUT OF COVERAGE SINCE MY CAR IS 2001. I THINK THIS IS UNFAIR TO THE UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND DESIRE TO DO LITTLE FOR THE USERS OF THEIR CARS MY CAR IS WITHIN THE 10 YEARS AND REFUSE TO FIX IT THAT IS MY COMPLAINT. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

I HAVE A 2001 MERCEDESS430 WHICH HAS A FAILED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED IN 2006 BUT IT WAS LIMITED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VIN# AND DOES NOT COVER THE WIDESPREAD ISSUES I HAVE UNCOVERED VIA MY RESEARCH. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT AS THE LIGHTS GO OUT, NO GAUGES WORK, AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN E.G. YOU COULD ACCIDENTALLY REVERSE, ETC. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ ALONG WITH SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY INDICATE THAT THEY WILL NOT COVER THIS AND THE COST IS EXORBITANT. THIS IS A FATAL ERROR AND CAN NOT BE CORRECTED TO WORK OR FUNCTION AT ALL WITHOUT FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

Mileage: 121,987

I WAS DRIVING AND MY WHOLE DASH BOARD WENT OUT..COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, CALLED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD THIS WASN'T ON RECALL AND WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY..I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE GOING TO GET HURT WHEN THIS HAPPEN. *TT

Mileage: 102,000

MY CAR'S AIR-MATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED AND MY CAR IS VERY, VERY LOW. IT FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING FAST ON THE FREEWAY; I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY CAR HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK IN PARK. THE PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. THE LAST TIME THE SHIFTER GOT STUCK IN PARK, THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET IT OUT OF PARK WAS TO HIT THE TOP OF SHIFTER WITH A RUBBER MALLET (THIS IS THE METHOD USED BY MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE SERVICE). THIS IS AN UNSAFE, POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. I RECENTLY RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS I COASTED ONTO AN OFF RAMP, MY CAR CAME TO A STOP ON A NARROW SECTION OF ROAD WHERE THE CARS DRIVE BY VERY FAST. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO TRY TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND AFTER TRYING THIS FOR A MINUTE, I DECIDED TO PUSH THE CAR A BIT FURTHER OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CAR WAS STRUCK IN PARK AGAIN (AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME AND PLACE) AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. LUCKILY I SURVIVED. PLEASE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT THE MERCEDES BENZ FORUMS AND YOU WILL LEARN HOW PREVALENT THE PROBLEM IS. THE DEALERS HAVE BEEN CHARGING $700 - $2200 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS CAUSED BY A 10 CENT PLASTIC PART THAT BREAKS INSIDE T

Mileage: 170,000

2001 MERCEDES S500 PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL DROPPED DUE TO AIRMATIC PROBLEM. IT CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TO DAMAGE THE INSIDE FENDER AND THE FRONT BUMPER. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS TRAVELED WITH SLOW SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE. IF THIS WAS ON THE FREEWAY IT WILL CAUSING ACCIDENT AND DANGER TO DRIVER & PASSENGERS AND OTHER CARS SURROUNDING. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S 500. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, THE AIRMATIC REMAINS LOWERED WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT CORROSION OCCURRED IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY, WHICH CAUSED DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V263000 (SUSPENSION), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,500. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE LEFT FRONT STRUT WAS BLOWN AND LEAKING OIL. UPDATED 10/06/08. *JB

Mileage: 129,000

PURCHASED BAD GASOLINE FROM SUNOCO THAT RESULTED IN $1200 WORTH OF REPAIRS ON M 2001 MERCEDES S500. ALL 4 O2 SENSORS WERE BURNED OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AND FUEL SYSTEM HAD TO BE COMPLETELY FLUSHED OUT. NEIGHBOR HAS 2003 MERCEDES S430, PURCHASED GAS AT SAME STATION, AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM! HIS CAR IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP AND NEEDS THE SAME REPAIRS. HIS COMPLAINT # IS 10231950. *TR

WHEN A PASSANGER SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT THEIR WEIGHT ENABLES THE AIR BAGS TO WORK. HOWEVER AFTER THEY HAVE SAT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON AND DISABLES THE AIR BAGS. IF THE PASSANGER SITS IN THE SEAT AND BRINGS THEIR LEGS AS CLOSE TO THE FRONT SEAT AS POSSIBLE THE SRS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND DISABLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS EVEN THOUGH THEIR IS A PERSON SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS SENSOR IS THE CHILD SEAT SENSOR ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ 430S. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

WHEN A PASSANGER SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT THEIR WEIGHT ENABLES THE AIR BAGS TO WORK. HOWEVER AFTER THEY HAVE SAT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON AND DISABLES THE AIR BAGS. IF THE PASSANGER SITS IN THE SEAT AND BRINGS THEIR LEGS AS CLOSE TO THE FRONT SEAT AS POSSIBLE THE SRS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND DISABLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS EVEN THOUGH THEIR IS A PERSON SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS SENSOR IS THE CHILD SEAT SENSOR ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ 430S. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

WHEN A PASSANGER SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT THEIR WEIGHT ENABLES THE AIR BAGS TO WORK. HOWEVER AFTER THEY HAVE SAT AND EXITED THE VEHICLE THE SRS LIGHT COMES ON AND DISABLES THE AIR BAGS. IF THE PASSANGER SITS IN THE SEAT AND BRINGS THEIR LEGS AS CLOSE TO THE FRONT SEAT AS POSSIBLE THE SRS LIGHT WILL COME ON AND DISABLE THE FRONT AIR BAGS EVEN THOUGH THEIR IS A PERSON SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS SENSOR IS THE CHILD SEAT SENSOR ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ 430S. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS CONSTANTLY DIMMED AND NONE OF THE GAUGES COULD BE READ. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CLUSTER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF UPDATED 05/20/08

Mileage: 105,000

MY NAME IS [XXX] RECALL: PROBLEM: 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. HERE IS THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ON MY CAR. CONSEQUENCE CREATES BY THAT RECALL. 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. I OWNED A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500 WHICH IS PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM EXPLAINED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS COMPLAINS. I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL AND AS A RESULT MY ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD A LEAKAGE. THEN I WENT TO MY DEALER EURO MOTOR CAR IN GERMANTOWN MARYLAND TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THAT IS WHEN I WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE RECALL THAT I?M DESCRIBING AGAIN BELOW ?ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY

Mileage: 79,000

ON THE 11TH OF AUG, 2007. I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY ORINGAL OWNED 2001 MECEDS BENZ S 500, ON THE FREEWAY HERE IN CALIFORNIA. WITHOUT ANY OF WARNING THE LIGHTING (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OFF COMPLETELY. I HAD NO IDEA HOW FAST THAT I WAS TRAVELING, THEREFORE I TOOK THE FIRST EXIT OFF OF THE FREEWAY, EVEN THE SPEEDOMTER IS SITTING @ 75 MILES PER HOUR EVEN I HAD MY S500 COMPLETLY STOP, ON TOP OF THAT NOTHING IS WORKING IN MY INSTURMENT AT ALL!!!(FUEL, TEMPERTURE, AND RPM). I PERSONAL TRUELY BELIEVE THIS, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, WHAT IF IT HAPPENS DURING AT NITE? BECAUSE YOU AIN'T GOING TO SEE ANYTHING!!! I CALLED THE LOCAL M.B. DEALER AS SOON AS I GOT HOME, AND A SALES ASSOICATE TOLD ME THAT, YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR CAR IN ON MONDAY, BECAUSE NO ONE WORKS AT SERVICE DEPT DURING THE WEEKEND... *TR

Mileage: 56,100