FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz S430

Owners have filed 282 complaints about the Mercedes Benz S430 with NHTSA across model years 2000 to 2006. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.

Avoid

2001 Mercedes Benz S430

101 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2004 Mercedes Benz S430

28 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz S430 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2006 C 18 4 3 112,800 Electrical System
2005 C 19 1 1 100,000 Electrical System
2004 B 28 0 0 74,000 Electrical System
2003 B 39 0 1 93,268 Electrical System
2002 B 42 0 1 111,000 Electrical System
2001 D 101 2 4 88,000 Electrical System
2000 B 35 0 1 95,000 Electrical System

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz S430

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Electrical System 106 37.6%

Worst in 2001

Lights 38 13.5%

Worst in 2001

Suspension 31 11.0%

Worst in 2001

Transmission & Drivetrain 17 6.0%

Worst in 2001

Acceleration & Cruise Control 14 5.0%

Worst in 2001

Body & Structure 11 3.9%

Worst in 2001

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 10 3.5%

Worst in 2001

Engine & Cooling 7 2.5%

Worst in 2001

Airbags 7 2.5%

Worst in 2001

Other & Unspecified 7 2.5%

Worst in 2001

Stability & Traction Control 6 2.1%

Worst in 2001

Brakes 5 1.8%

Worst in 2001

Fuel & Propulsion 4 1.4%

Worst in 2001

Seat Belts 4 1.4%

Worst in 2003

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz S430, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 2001 peak 10 Jun 2024

Compare the Mercedes Benz S430

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.