2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S430

The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2000 Mercedes-Benz S430. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed, the instrument panel was inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S430V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOORS FAILED TO PROPERLY CLOSE DUE TO A FUSE MALFUNCTION WITH THE DOOR VACUUM SYSTEM. MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA (3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, (706) 860-1111) REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 232,000.

Mileage: 232,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ S430V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE DOORS FAILED TO PROPERLY CLOSE DUE TO A FUSE MALFUNCTION WITH THE DOOR VACUUM SYSTEM. MERCEDES-BENZ OF AUGUSTA (3061 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, (706) 860-1111) REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 232,000.

Mileage: 232,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING. ONLY 20,000 MILES SINCE OWNING THE CAR SINCE 1999. THE RECALL FOR SIMILIAR CAR WITH SAME ISSUES BUT THEY SAID NOT THIS CAR.

Mileage: 20,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING. ONLY 20,000 MILES SINCE OWNING THE CAR SINCE 1999. THE RECALL FOR SIMILIAR CAR WITH SAME ISSUES BUT THEY SAID NOT THIS CAR.

Mileage: 20,000

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS NOT WORKING. ONLY 20,000 MILES SINCE OWNING THE CAR SINCE 1999. THE RECALL FOR SIMILIAR CAR WITH SAME ISSUES BUT THEY SAID NOT THIS CAR.

Mileage: 20,000

DEFECT IN ACCELERATOR AND ELECTRONIC ATTACHMENTS, PART NO220 300 00 04. WHEN PART FAILED, INITIALLY, CAR ONLY POWERED TO LOW SPEED UNDER LOAD. HAD TO DRIVE IT OUT OF DESERT AND OVER MOUNTAIN AT LOW SPEED, BUT DOWN HILL OK. EVENTUALLY PARKED IT OFF ROAD. WHEN NEXT STARTING IT, IT REVVED TO 3500 RPM AND HELD. TRIED TO MOVE IT, IT DROPPED TO IDLE SPEED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PARKED IT AND HAD MECHANIC CHECK IT. DETERMINED THE ACCELERATOR WAS FAULTY. GAS PEDDLE DID NOT AFFECT ENGINE SPEED. HE POUNDED ON PEDDLE WITH HAND. ENGINE JUMPED TO 5000 RPM. TURNED IGNITION OFF, REPEATED PROCEDURE SEVERAL TIMES, ENGINE SPEED VARIED, CONTROLLED ENGINE SPEED BY TURNING KEY OFF AND ON WHILE IN DRIVERS SEAT. ONE TIME RIVVED TO 5000 RPM, PUT IT IN GEAR WHILE STEPPING ON BREAK. ENGINE KEPT ON REVVING WITH FULL POWER, REAL WHEELS SPINNING ON DIRT, HELD BY BRAKE. TURNED ENGINE OFF IMMEDIATELY AND REMOVED PART DESCRIBED ABOVE. CAR IS OLD, ABOUT 160K, NOT ALL THAT GOOD CONDITION. I EXPECT TO R

Mileage: 165,000

MESSAGE IN DISPLAY AIRMATIC VISIT WORKSHOP. DIAGNOSED AUTOMATIC STRUT LEAK. REPLACED STRUT ASSEMBLY LEFT REAR & VALVE BLOCK SUSPENSION VALVE. I STILL HEAR AIR LEAKING. I'VE REPLACES ALL FOUR AIR STRUTS OVER THE YEARS. THE STRUTS ARE NOT CHEAP. IN MY OPINION MERCEDES MFG SHOULD REIMBURSE ME TOTAL COST FOR ALL FOUR. I'M SURE YOU AGREE!

Mileage: 215,180

ON 11/18/16 I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 S430 WHEN WILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CAUSING MY ENGINE TO REV. I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL & TRIED TO PRESS IT AGAIN TO RE ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE BACK HOME & PARKED THE CAR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET A SHOP APPOINTMENT. ON 11/21/16 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THE FLUID WAS FULL BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED? SO I TOOK IT HOME TO THINK, (NO PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING HOME). ON 11/22/16 I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN & AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES MY CLUSTER GAUGE STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT. HOWEVER, THE BLINKERS STILL WORKED ALONG WITH THE HAZARDS. SO WHEN I WAS DONE WITH MY APPOINTMENT I CHECKED MY FUSES & REPLACED THE ONES INDICATED ON THE CHART. WHILE A SMALL PORTION OF THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON IT WAS BRIEFLY & THEN EVERYTHING WENT OUT, BLINKERS & ALL. SO IN ALL MY FRUSTR

ON 11/18/16 I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 S430 WHEN WILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CAUSING MY ENGINE TO REV. I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL & TRIED TO PRESS IT AGAIN TO RE ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE BACK HOME & PARKED THE CAR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET A SHOP APPOINTMENT. ON 11/21/16 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THE FLUID WAS FULL BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED? SO I TOOK IT HOME TO THINK, (NO PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING HOME). ON 11/22/16 I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN & AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES MY CLUSTER GAUGE STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT. HOWEVER, THE BLINKERS STILL WORKED ALONG WITH THE HAZARDS. SO WHEN I WAS DONE WITH MY APPOINTMENT I CHECKED MY FUSES & REPLACED THE ONES INDICATED ON THE CHART. WHILE A SMALL PORTION OF THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON IT WAS BRIEFLY & THEN EVERYTHING WENT OUT, BLINKERS & ALL. SO IN ALL MY FRUSTR

ON 11/18/16 I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 S430 WHEN WILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CAUSING MY ENGINE TO REV. I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL & TRIED TO PRESS IT AGAIN TO RE ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT DIDN'T WORK. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE CAR IN PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I CAUTIOUSLY DROVE BACK HOME & PARKED THE CAR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET A SHOP APPOINTMENT. ON 11/21/16 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP, THEY SAID THE FLUID WAS FULL BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED? SO I TOOK IT HOME TO THINK, (NO PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING HOME). ON 11/22/16 I DROVE THE CAR OUT OF TOWN & AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES MY CLUSTER GAUGE STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT. HOWEVER, THE BLINKERS STILL WORKED ALONG WITH THE HAZARDS. SO WHEN I WAS DONE WITH MY APPOINTMENT I CHECKED MY FUSES & REPLACED THE ONES INDICATED ON THE CHART. WHILE A SMALL PORTION OF THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON IT WAS BRIEFLY & THEN EVERYTHING WENT OUT, BLINKERS & ALL. SO IN ALL MY FRUSTR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 142,000

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN FLASHED A RED WARNING SAYING "STOP CAR " WARNING " DO NOT DRIVE CAR TO LOW" THE CAR STARTED DROPPING TO THE ROAD RUBBING TIRES. I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO CUT TRAFFIC AND PULL TO THE RIGHT TO GET OUT THE WAY OF MOVING VEHICLES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SCARY TRAGIC AND HAZARD! I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING IT TO THE SHOP NOW TO SEE EXACTLY THE PROBLEM. BEWARE

Mileage: 88

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY DASHBOARD IS DARK AND I CAN'T SEE HOW FAST I WAS GOING. THEN AFTER A WHILE, THE LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN. AND THIS ON AND OFF INCIDENTS HAPPENS EVERY DAY FROM THE FIRST DAY. *TR

Mileage: 136,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE GAUGES FAILED TO WORK DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430L (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

IN REFERENCE TO CAMPAIGN 06V028000 WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR EXCLUSION OF SOME CARS OF THE SAME YEAR VS OTHERS? JUST BECAUSE THE 7 CARS THAT WERE PART OF THE ORGINAL COMPLAINT FALL IN THE NARROWLY DEFINED VIN RANGE DOES NOT MEAN OTHER CARS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR DO NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEFECTIVE CLUSTERS ARE THE SAME. I HAVE A 2000 S430 WITH A FAILED CLUSTER. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME PART FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR THAT OTHER CARS ARE BEING REPAIRED FOR FREE, BUT MY CAR IS EXCLUDED BECAUSE ITS VIN RANGE IS STATISTICALLY NOT IN THE SAME NARROW VIN RANGE CORRESPONDING TO THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT? THIS SEEMS VERY EXCLUSIONARY GIVEN MY CAR IS THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AND THE PART IS THE SAME AND THERE IS NO BASIS TO EXCLUDE IT. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO WIDEN THE RECALL RANGE TO BE FAIR TO ALL OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR WHERE SOME ARE BEING RECALLED AND SOME NOT. IF THE FAILED CLUSTERS WERE FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS THAT WOULD BE ONE THING, BUT TO EXCLUDE CARS

Mileage: 133,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE IGNITION, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

Mileage: 133,000

BAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, HAD A RECALL AND WONT REPLACE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

BAD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, HAD A RECALL AND WONT REPLACE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000