67 of the
338 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz S Class
are about the suspension —
20% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10459994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ABC SUSPENSION FAILED AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOWERED IN A DOWNWARD MOTION TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUSE LINK, AIRMATIC PUMP RELAY AND AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V263000 (SUSPENSION). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,268.
NHTSA complaint #10416475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
NHTSA complaint #10409218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10396625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITH EXTREME CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10384095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN VEHICLE GETS COLD( OUTSIDE TEMP BELOW 17 F), THE CAR WILL LOWER, AND AIROMATIC WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON SAYING AIROMATIC VEHICLE TOO LOW STOP VISIT SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10380786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 17 DEGREES F, THE VEHICLE DROP TO UNSAFE LEVEL, AND MESSAGE SAYS AIRMATIC STOP CAR VEHICLE TOO LOW. THE TIRES WILL START RUBBING ON LINER. CALLED DEALER THEY SAID TEMPERATURE IN GERMANY DOES NOT GO THAT LOW, WELL THIS CAR IS SOLD IN US, AND THEY NEED TO MAKE IT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10378528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE AIR SHOCK SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR PUMP COMPRESSOR MALFUNCTIONED THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10374956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10367763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE WAS NO WARNING IT JUST GAVE A ALERT THAT THE CAR WAS RIDING LOW AND TO STOP. AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FOR A 2002 S430. VERY COSTLY, I DID RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR MERCEDES S CLASS. I BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT AT THE MANUFACTURER AND MB SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNT FOR SAID DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10355005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430 AND FEB. 2010 THE "AIRMATIC SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THERE ARE ONLY 43,000 MILES ON MY CAR.THE DEALER WANTS CLOSE TO $1000 TO PUT A 'KIT" ON TO REPLACE THE FAILING SEALS ON THE AIRMATIC STRUTS, WHICH THE MFG HAS SINCE CHANGED THE DESIGN AND OFFERED RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE AS I WAS TOLD IF THE PUMP BURNS UP FROM THE AIR LEAKING OUT THE SUSPENSION WILL DROP THE CAR, CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNDRIVABLE, AND IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN AND CAN NOT TAKE THE CHANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10351789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10339212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10339212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10339212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10335598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ S500. MY AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FAIL AND MY CAR FRONT WENT DOWN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. MY TIRES START RUBBING INTO MY WHEEL WELL AND STARTED SMOKING. THE PROBLEM LEFT THE FRONT END DAMAGE. I HAD THE PROBLEM FIX BY A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. SIX MONTH LATER THE PROBLEM ARISE AGAIN. I DON'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THAT I MIGHT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10332676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AS A SIMPLE SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE. I OWN A 2000 S-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ (W220 CHASIS), AND I TOO GOT SOME AROMATIC (AIR SUSPENTION) PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A WARNING SIGN SAYING "AROMATIC STOP VEHICLE TOO LOW". I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE STREET BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING FROM THE FRICTION OF THE WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE BUMPER (OR FENDER). I DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT A GOOD FIVE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE WAS INSIDE THE FENDER. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED WHERE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAME FROM. THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED WAS 20MPH. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAVEL SPEED WOULD BE OVER 55MPH (A VERY COMMON SPEED FOR FREEWAY DRIVING IN THE CITY), WHAT ABOUT OVER 70MPH IN RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT (HOPEFULLY NOT ALREADY). IF A MOVING PART COMES TO CONTACT WITH A NON MOVING ON AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE LETHAL. ACCORDING TO MY REASERCH, ALL THE W220 CHASIS MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE THIS "AROMATIC SUSPENSION" PROBLEM, ALL THE MECHANICS ALSO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR A RECALL BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10303020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AS A SIMPLE SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE. I OWN A 2000 S-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ (W220 CHASIS), AND I TOO GOT SOME AROMATIC (AIR SUSPENTION) PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A WARNING SIGN SAYING "AROMATIC STOP VEHICLE TOO LOW". I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE STREET BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING FROM THE FRICTION OF THE WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE BUMPER (OR FENDER). I DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT A GOOD FIVE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE WAS INSIDE THE FENDER. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED WHERE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAME FROM. THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED WAS 20MPH. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAVEL SPEED WOULD BE OVER 55MPH (A VERY COMMON SPEED FOR FREEWAY DRIVING IN THE CITY), WHAT ABOUT OVER 70MPH IN RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT (HOPEFULLY NOT ALREADY). IF A MOVING PART COMES TO CONTACT WITH A NON MOVING ON AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE LETHAL. ACCORDING TO MY REASERCH, ALL THE W220 CHASIS MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE THIS "AROMATIC SUSPENSION" PROBLEM, ALL THE MECHANICS ALSO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR A RECALL BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10303020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M PROBABLY NOT THE FIRST COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, AS A SIMPLE SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM WOULD REVEAL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NATION WIDE. I OWN A 2000 S-CLASS MERCEDES-BENZ (W220 CHASIS), AND I TOO GOT SOME AROMATIC (AIR SUSPENTION) PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A SIDE STREET, MY VEHICLE DISPLAYED A WARNING SIGN SAYING "AROMATIC STOP VEHICLE TOO LOW". I BEGAN TO PULL OVER TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE STREET BY SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS SHAKING FROM THE FRICTION OF THE WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST THE BUMPER (OR FENDER). I DID NOT NOTICE ANY VISIBLE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAT THE CAR WAS SITTING SO LOW THAT A GOOD FIVE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF THE TIRE WAS INSIDE THE FENDER. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED WHERE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION CAME FROM. THE SPEED THAT I WAS TRAVELING WHEN THIS HAPPENED WAS 20MPH. I CAN NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TRAVEL SPEED WOULD BE OVER 55MPH (A VERY COMMON SPEED FOR FREEWAY DRIVING IN THE CITY), WHAT ABOUT OVER 70MPH IN RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT (HOPEFULLY NOT ALREADY). IF A MOVING PART COMES TO CONTACT WITH A NON MOVING ON AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONSEQUENCE COULD BE LETHAL. ACCORDING TO MY REASERCH, ALL THE W220 CHASIS MERCEDES-BENZ HAVE THIS "AROMATIC SUSPENSION" PROBLEM, ALL THE MECHANICS ALSO AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE FOR A POSSIBILITY FOR A RECALL BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10303020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M THE OWNER OF A 2002 MERCEDES S430 AND HAVING TROUBLE REPAIRING THE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES DIRECTLY AND THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEIR ARE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE WHEN IN FACT THERE IS. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10296216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.