33 of the 338 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz S Class are about the lighting — 10% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.
33
Complaints
10%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. ALL LIGHTING FOR INSTRUMENT DARK/UNREADABLE (SPEEDOMETER,TACH,ODOMETER,FUEL,TEMP,TURN SIGNAL ETC). TAKEN TO DEALER AND I PAID FOR REBUILD TO UNIT. IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURED AGAIN AFTER APPROX 3 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #10498146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLACK WITHOUT ILLUMINATION OR READING. AS A RESULT, GAUGES TO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, FUEL, WARNINGS TO MALFUNCTIONS, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, & ENGINE TEMPERATURE ARE NOT PRESENT.
NHTSA complaint #10460751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
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
NHTSA complaint #10460306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
NHTSA complaint #10430088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10420733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR 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).
NHTSA complaint #10408760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
MERCEDES BENZ HAS LISTED A RECALL ON ALL W220 MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES. THE RECALL WAS ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILING RESULTING IN THE CLUSTER TO NOT WORK. THE MPH, RPM DOESN'T WORK. NOTHING ON THE CLUSTER WORKS. WHEN I WENT ON MAY 12, 2011 TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO GET MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS RECALLED I SPOKE WITH A LADY AT THE DEALER EXPLAINING MY SITUATION ABOUT THE PART BEING RECALLED AND THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. SHE ASKED ME TO GIVE HER MY VIN NUMBER. WHEN SHE TYPED IN MY VIN NUMBER, SHE TOLD ME THAT MY CLUSTER IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A REPAIR. SHE SAID THE MY VIN NUMBER WAS A "STATUS 9 ISSUE" AND BECAUSE OF THIS, IT VOIDS ALL WARRANTIES NO MATTER WHAT. I SPOKE WITH EVERYONE THERE TYING TO SORT THINGS OUT AND SEE IF I CAN WORK OUT THIS ISSUE. MY 2002 S430 HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT IS WHY IT IS A STATUS 9. BUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DID NOT FAIL BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. EVEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CLUSTER STILL WORKED FINE WITHOUT ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER FOR ALMOST A MONTH IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE ACTION FOR THIS ISSUE NO MATTER WHAT. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, ITS DEFECTIVE. THAT'S IT. THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE MY RECALLED CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE IN MY VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLUSTER. A RECALLED PART LIKE THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH A VEHICLE LIKE MINE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. AND MY CAR WASN'T IN A BAD ACCIDENT AND I HAVE PROOF AND PICTURES TO SHOW THAT IT WAS NOT HIT THAT BAD. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IF THIS MATTER WOULD BE ATTENDED TO AND I COULD GET MY PART REPLACED. THANKYOU VERY MUCH.
NHTSA complaint #10400883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10370851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10354606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR 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.
NHTSA complaint #10351598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10335298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) SEPTEMBER 2009 AIR BLOWER TO HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING QUIT WORKING. MECHANIC REPLACED FUSE. AIR BLOWER WORKED FOR 2 DAYS. RETURNED NOVEMBER 2009 AND WAS TOLD AIR BLOWER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. FEBRUARY 2010 AUTOMATIC TRUNK LOCKS QUIT WORKING. NOW TRUNK LOCK ONLY WORKS WITH KEY, NO LONGER AUTOMATIC. MARCH 2010 AIR BLOWER REPLACED. WORKED ONE WEEK, THEN BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING UNTIL IT NO LONGER WORKS. MARCH 2010 DASH LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLICKER, THEN ENTIRE DASH WENT OUT. DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER AUTOMATIC, NO INDICATORS FOR SPEEDOMETER, TURN SIGNALS, TEMPERATURE CONTROLS ETC. MECHANIC CHECKED AND REPLACED FUSE. NO RESULTS. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. INTERNET RESEARCH RESULTED IN IDENTIFYING RECALL OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR 2000 "S" SERIES, BUT THAT MY VIN #[XXX] IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT ALL THESE MALFUNCTIONS ARE COMMON AMONG THE 2000 "S" SERIES ALONG WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION AND DOES APPEAR TO BE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT HE HAS REPLACED HUNDREDS OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS FOR SPECIFICALLY THE "S" SERIES, PRIMARILY YEAR 2000 AND HAS SEEN MANY OF THE ISSUES WITH MY S430 CORRELATING TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #10322512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 MERCEDES S500
NHTSA complaint #10320221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTINUES TO CUT OFF RANDOMLY ON MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430 . WHILE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A MB RECALL THEY TOLD ME NY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. A CLEAR PROBLEM THAT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET IS BEING IGNORED BY MERCEDES. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT LAST NIGHT WITH MY TEENAGE SON DRIVING. HE HAD NO DASH LIGHTS AT ALL AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND CALLED. WITHOUT SPEED, GAS ,TURN INDICATORS ETC THIS KNOWN ISSUE IS SERIOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10276466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ARE MALFUNCTIONING IN MY CAR AND I CAN'T READ MY GAUGES ON THE SPEEDOMETER DURING THE DAY OR AT NIGHT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10262744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
ON FEBRUARY 16, 2008 THE DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, INSTEAD DASH READ SOMETHING LIKE CLUSTER FAILURE WITH A LIGHTNING BOLT IN THE CENTER. THERE WERE NO TURN SIGNALS EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE WHEN THE LEVER WAS PUSHED. WHEN I SHUT OFF THE CAR THE DASH READ 1 MALFUNCTION. I HAVE NOTICED IT WORKING AGAIN, HOWEVER NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL GO OUT AGAIN. I BROUGHT THIS UP WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID THERE IS A RECALL, BUT MY VIN IS OUT OF RANGE.
NHTSA complaint #10219026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY OUT. MY TURNING SIGNALS DID NOT WORK AND MY WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN MY TRUCK IT WOULD NOT OPEN WITH THE REMOTE KEY. I HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET HELP WITH ENTERING THE TRUNK . THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE FUSED WAS REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN NUMBER. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10205086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ SL340. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO REPAIR THE TAIL LIGHTS DUE TO RECALL # 2006-080005. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR FOUR MONTHS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE FAILURES, BUT NEITHER HAVE PROVIDED A RESPONSE. THE TAIL LIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT TWO DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE'S MOST RECENT REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 72,500 , AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
NHTSA complaint #10189135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
ATTN: ALI MOTAMEDAMIN, SAFETY DEFECT INVESTIGATOR/INSPECTOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN#: 06V-028. ON APPROXIMATELY OCTOBER 14, 2005 WHILE DRIVING MY MERCEDES BENZ 2000 S430 ON INTERSTATE 285 IN ATLANTA, GA., THE DASHBOARD DIGITAL INSTRUMENTS TOTALLY FAILED AND I WAS UNABLE TO READ ANY GAUGES AND INDICATORS WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT APPROX. 65 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH ATLANTA WHO DETERMINED IT TO BE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEING INOPERABLE AND I WAS CHARGED FOR REPLACEMENT ON OCTOBER 19, 2005. RECENTLY I WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL, NHSTA CAMPAIGN#:06V-028 AND WHEN I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER RELATIONS ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN#/VMI WAS OUT OF THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. AT WHICH TIME I EXPRESSED THAT RECALL PART 573 AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF FAILURE APPLIED TO MY MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE AND I HAD DOCUMENTED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE REPAIR INVOICE SUPPORTING THAT FACT. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY COMPLAINT/CONCERN WOULD BE DOCUMENTED BUT NO ACTION/REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE TAKEN AND IF I ELECTED, I COULD ADDRESS MY COMPLAINT VIA MAIL TO ERNST LEIB, PRESIDENT OF MBUSA BUT HE COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY OTHER POINT OF CONTACT REGARDING RECALL MATTER AND THE CONVERSATION WAS CONCLUDED.
NHTSA complaint #10174389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTERIOR LIGHTING
INSTANT FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CLUSTER UNDER RECALL #06V028000. WAS CHARGED BY DEALERSHIP. SAID MAKE AND MODEL WERE UNDER RECALL, BUT MY VIN # WAS NOT.
NHTSA complaint #10174442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.