31 of the 282 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz S430 are about the suspension — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2001.
31
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
SUSPENSION
2001 WAS WHEN THE AIRMATICS FIRST CAME OUT MERCEDES PERFECTED IN 2002 THERE WAS A RECALL BUT I DID NOT GET THE LETTER TIL AFTER THE DATE AND MERCEDES WOULDN'T HONOR IT I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND IT'S BROKEN SUCH A WASTE THE AIRMATICS WON'T GO UP IT'S SLAMMED LOW WE'LL NEED TO TOW IT W THE BIG TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT'S TOO LOW IT'LL SCRATCH
NHTSA complaint #11318409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT, CAN'T SEE SPEED OR OTHER DASH INFORMATION SUCH AS FUEL. REAR SUSPENSION LOOSES AIR, CAR SITS TO LOW TO DRIVE, BODY SITS ON REAR TIRES. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING CITY STREET, TIRES SMOKED AND ARE PITTED.
NHTSA complaint #11128840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT WORK, COULD NOT EVEN MANUALLY OPEN THEM FROM THE CONSOLE. TOOK IT IN TO BE REPAIRED, WAS TOLD THAT THE ACTUATOR HAD FRIED AND MELTED THE UNIT. IT WAS REPLACED AND WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS THE "NEW ACTUATOR " ALSO FRIED. WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WOULD SHUT IT DOWN BUT THE UNIT CONTINUES TO RUN EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF! WITH THE UNIT BEING IN THE TRUNK IT'S A MIRACLE THAT THE CAR DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS UNIT, AND HOPEFULLY THEY MUST REMOVE ALL DOORS HEAD REST AND SEATS CHECK ALL VACUUM LINES TO FIND OUT WHICH ONE IS LEAKING, AND OR REPLACE ALL VACUUM LINES, AND PRAY THAT WORKS, THE MINIMUM COST OF THIS IS OVER $5000.00 DOLLARS! NOT ONLY IS THIS A FIRE HAZARD WAITING TO BLOW UP, NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK YOUR DOORS. THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THIS SHORTY/ I'LL BUILT PART! BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED BY THIS UNIT. ALSO AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY RIGHT STRUT ASSEMBLY BROKE. I LOOKED UP RECALL INFO, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT , BUT WAS TOLD NOT FOR MY VIN! JUST ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE 2006 S430! DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST?
NHTSA complaint #11006584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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!
NHTSA complaint #10984756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
JANUARY 30, 2015, I NOTICED MY CAR SITTING ON THE GROUND. I STARTED THE CAR, RAISED THE AIRMATICS UP, PULLED OUT MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AND MY CAR LOWERED AND SHUT OFF. I REPEAT BY TURNING THE CAR BACK ON AND RAISING THE CAR BACK UP. ON MY WAY HOME I RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY CALL STATED MY COUSIN WAS ABOUT TO BE JUMPED AND TO COME TO THEIR BUS STOP. I ASKED MY FAMILY, "WHERE ARE YOU?" WHEN I ARRIVED AROUND THE CORNER, MY CAR BEGAN LOWERING WHILE DRIVING, I CAME OVER THE HILL AND WAS SHOCKED THAT TRAFFIC WAS COMPLETELY IMPEDED AS MY CAR BEGAN SLIDING DOWN THE HILL. I HAD LESS THAN SECONDS TO RESPOND AND SWERVED TOWARDS AND OPEN FIELD. FOUR YOUTH AND ONE ADULT CAME IN CONTACT WITH MY CAR. I WAS SHACKING, IN SHOCK AS I THOUGHT I HIT MY OWN DAUGHTER. I CALLED 911, TOOK TOXICOLOGY TEST AND WAS CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY. MY INSURANCE SAID IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND SETTLED ALL CLAIMS WITH THE INJURED PARTIES. I KNEW MY PROBLEM WAS THE BRAKES OR SUSPENSION AS THE POLICE TAMPERED WITH EVIDENCE, PLANTED DIRT AND LIED THAT THERE WERE SKID MARKS WHEN THE PHOTOS SHOWED NONE. I HAD FOUR BUSINESSES AND LOSS EVERYTHING BEHIND THIS CAR ACCIDENT. THIS STORY HIT NATIONAL NEWS AS THE TRUTH WAS NEVER TOLD TO THE PUBLIC. PLEASE, STAY ON TOP OF THIS ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. I CONTINUED REQUESTING FOR THEM TO FIX MY CAR AND HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. IT WAS TEMPORARILY REPAIRED BUT NENES COMPLETELY FIXED. IF I HAD KNOWN THE SUSPENSION COULD RESULT TO AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASE THIS CAR. I DROVE MY CHILDREN AROUND IN THIS UNSAFE CAR AND IT HURT OTHERS IN THE PROCESS. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.
NHTSA complaint #10981095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING AIRMATIC STRUT SNAPPED HIM HALF ON THE FREEWAY. WHOLE CAR DROPPED AND HAD TO TOW VEHICLE TO SHOP. REPLACED THE AIRMATIC STRUT AND NOW ABS SENSOR CAME ON AND DOESNT GO AWAY. REPLACED SENSOR AND STILL WONT GO AWAY SO NOW I LOST CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKES WEIRD, AND LOST ESP CONTROL WITH HEAVY STEERING. COMMON ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE WITH THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION.
NHTSA complaint #10966175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2003 S 430 4-MATIC IS STATING STOP, TOO CLOSE. IT WILL NOT LIFT UP. IS THIS A RECALL ISSUE? PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10945906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER FAN MOTOR FAILED ON MY 2003 S430. WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN SEASONAL CLIMATE CONDITIONS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART 2X AT 700.00 ON BOTH OCCURANCES AT MY OWN EXPENSE WHICH I DONT UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE FOR PREVIOUS YEARS 2000,2001.. RECALL#2004 070010. I'VE ALSO HAD TO CHANGE MY SHIFTER GEAR BOX WHICH JAMS IN THE PARK POSITION AND DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO DRIVE THE VECHICLE THIS IS CAUSED BY A PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAK WITHIN THE GEAR BOX THIS ISSUE IS ALSO EXPENSIVE FOR JUST 1 FAULTY TRANS SHIFTER PIECE THAT CAN TOTALLY LEAVE YOUR CAR INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10893718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THIS VEHICLE OFTEN DROPS LOWER, WHILE IN MOTION. THIS IS HAZARDOUS! I HAVE HAD THIS AIRMATIC AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM REPAIRED THREE TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND IT APPEARS THIS IS ONE PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO CORRECT. IN MY LAST S430, I HAD THE SAME ISSUE, AND HAD TO PAY HUGE AMOUNTS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. I FEEL NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING TO GET MERCEDES BENZ TO FIX THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL LIKE NHTSA TO GET MERCEDES BENZ TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE ONGOING DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #10883158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE NEW IN 2002. IT HAS ABOUT 48500 MILES. I WORK CLOSE TO HOME. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE SUSPENSION AIR BAGS ONCE AND MY VEHICLE IS DROPPING AGAIN. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. WHAT CAN I DO? MY VEHICLE IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND I FIND IT OUTRAGEOUS THAT MERCEDES BENZ BEING FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. ESPECIALLY WITH THE ORIGINAL PRICE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10854936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10794537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
ON 7-26-2015 I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM COMMONWEALTH MOTORS LLC. AFTER 24 HOURS ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH, I CALLED BACK AND I FILED A COMPLAINT OF THE BRAKES BEING WORN TO THE METAL, THAT THE SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THAT THE LEFT DRIVER MIRROR WAS BROKEN, AND THE REAR TIRE KEPT GOING FLAT. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHOM CLAIM ITS THE STATE INSPECTOR MADE AN ERROR THEREFORE ITS THE STATES REPSONSIBILTY. I SCHEDULED A FOLLOW UP WHICH THEY DECLINE TO REPSOND TO. THE SECOND THIRD DAY THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT ON AND OUT. I TOOK THE AUTO TO A CERTIFIED BENZ DEALERSHIP AND SHOP TO FIND OUT THESES ISSUES. AFTER PAYING FOR WARRANTY ETC..ON 7-26-2015 CARS PROTECTION PLUS PURCHASED $495.00 8-8-2015 CARS PROTCTION PLUS AUTO PROTECTION WAS DENIED AFTER PAYING $495+$10.00 FILING FEE 8-1-2015 NEW BATTERY REPLACEMENT $154.24 10-30-2015 INSTALL AND REPLACE RF LOWER CONTROL ARM $165.00 WAS JUST THE START. THEN THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS STRUTS I WAS TOLD WAS THE CONCERN FROM THE SECOND DAY OF HAVING THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10790183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR, THE INTERIOR, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS DROPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME LOW AND DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
NHTSA complaint #10633719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE WHOLE CAR WAS LAYING ON THE FLOOR AND. THE RED LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT SAID "STOP CAR TOO LOW , BECAUSE OF HOW LOW IT WAS THE TIRES WERE RUBBING ON THE FENDER AND CAUSED THE TIRES TO BALL UP ,I. GOT THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND GOT THE AIRMATIC SYSTEM FIXED A YEAR LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AND THE DIDN'T WANT TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #10596800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND FRONT END OF MY CAR DROPS AND WHEELS START TO TOUCH CAR BODY, CANT TURN THE WHEELS EITHER (ONLY SLIGHTLY) THE FENDER GETS ON THE WAY, CAR IS TOO LOW. I PULLED OVER IN A LITTLE BIT CAR RAISED UP TO NORMAL POSITION. HAPPENED MORE THAT FEW TIMES. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T RISES ALL THE WAY UP TO NORMAL. AIR STRUT, AIR PUMP, VALVE BOX OR RELAY FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10565723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE AIR PUMP IS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVERELY LOW FRONTEND. MECHANIC STATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE MERCEDES S430.
NHTSA complaint #10552690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
SECOND AIRMATIC BREAKDOWN. FIRST WAS FRONT SIDE LAST JULY 2012. SECOND BREAKDOWN AUGUST 28, 2013 REAR PUMP LEFT SIDE. THIS PROBLEM IS GETTING REAL EXPENSIVE. DO ALL MERCEDES DO THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10541709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED 2004 MERCEDES BENZ S430-4MATIC IN MARCH 2007, AFTER RETIRING. I ALSO BROUGHT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COSTING OVER $3000 DOLLARS. I HAVE RETURNED THIS VEHICLE TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS OVER APPROXIMATELY 27 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DOOR LOCKS); TRUNK LID LOCK, SUSPENSION SYSTEM, TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM (AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL ONLY DISPENSE COLD AIR AT 55 DEGREES AND LOWER) AND MOST RECENTLY THE RADIO AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM ARE FAILING. NOW THAT THE WARRANTIES ON THE VEHICLE HAVE EXPIRED THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPAIR THE ABOVE PROBLEMS UNDER WARRANTY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MERCEDES BENZ USA AND I'M WAITING FOR A DECISION REGARDING THE REPAIRS TOTALING OVER $4700.00.
NHTSA complaint #10534935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING ABNORMALLY LOW. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, ONCE HE REACHED 60 MPH A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT DID THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V263000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA complaint #10494993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TRAVELING WITH A FAMILY OF FOUR, THE CAR LOWERED COMPLETELY TO GROUND AND CAUSED TO ALMOST SPIN OUT OF CONTROL IT WAS THE AIRMATIC SHOCKS ALMOST $ 2,000 IN REPAIRS...NOW RECENTLY IS DROPPING CONSTANTLY WHILE DRIVING RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES INCLUDING ONE THAT LOST CONTROL DUE TO FRONT AIR SHOCK SUDDEN DROP MERCEDES ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10486624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.