The Used Car Index

2001 Mercedes-Benz S430 problems

NHTSA lists 73 complaints for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S430, 2 of them mention a crash and 4 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ S430.

At a glance

Complaints
73
With crash
2
With fire
4
With injury (complaints)
2
Injuries
5
Deaths
0
Recalls
0
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
Unavailable
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
42

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3750.7%
INTERIOR LIGHTING1115.1%
SUSPENSION811.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING68.2%
POWER TRAIN45.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER45.5%
VISIBILITY45.5%
AIR BAGS34.1%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE34.1%
STRUCTURE34.1%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL13
SUSPENSIONFRONT4
AIR BAGSFRONTAL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMWIRING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDELIVERY2
POWER TRAINDRIVELINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINESTORAGE1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGESDOORS1
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

0 recalls.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

PE05062

Opened: 2005-11-10. Closed: 2006-02-08.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2001 MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS VEHICLES FAILED IN THAT CONSUMERS WERE UNABLE TO READ ANY OF THE GAUGES WHILE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLES AT ANY SPEED DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT.IN ITS 573 REPORT TO NHTSA DATED FEBRUARY 1, 2006, MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC (MER

Systems: INTERIOR LIGHTING.

Linked campaign numbers: 06V028000.

Manufacturer communications

42 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
POWER TRAIN10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING6
EQUIPMENT4
SUSPENSION4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
STEERING2

11025648

Date: 2025-11-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out

11019018

Date: 2025-05-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the out

11017496

Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged Cause Fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. It does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. Remedy NOTE: If a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover

11017500

Date: 2025-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Complaint Headlamps leaking or fogged Cause The fogging of the headlamp is a natural phenomenon which can occur under certain climatic conditions. In contrast to a leaky headlamp, physical fogging does not result in a technical impairment of the headlamp. A leak test must be performed to determine i

11017039

Date: 2025-04-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

Complaint Vehicle with atypical reduced heat output. Cause Silicate granulate may have escaped from a damaged bag in the expansion reservoir (not visible), reducing the coolant flow in the heater heat exchanger (see picture). Remedy With the aforementioned complaint, make sure that the cooling circu

11015640

Date: 2025-03-05. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. Cause A. Seating of the microphones in the h

11013298

Date: 2025-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The clunk is heard once when changing from forward to reverse (and vice versa). Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar nut (by 1 turn), t

11013332

Date: 2025-01-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

Complaint Single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). The noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. Note: Sound file in attachment Cause If the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboar

11009122

Date: 2024-10-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY/WIPER.

Complaint Washer fluid system leaks Cause Various possible causes: 1. Washer fluid reservoir itself. 2. Seal on washer fluid pump/washer fluid reservoir. 3. Washer fluid pump. 3.1. Distributor housing leaks. 3.2. Pump fitting leaks. 3.3. Washer fluid hose cannot be snapped into place on pump fitting

11008091

Date: 2024-09-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party during a call. It becomes increasingly difficult to understand as the speed rises. Cause A. Seating of the microphones in the h

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
S43073

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mercedes-Benz models

Other Mercedes-Benz models, 2001

Sources

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