2002 Mercedes-Benz S 500

Routine

Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system › instrument cluster/panel. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel7
000
Suspension4
000
Interior Lighting3
000
Electrical System3
010
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Air Suspension System1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift1
000
Engine1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 21, 2025CT

See attached document for complaint.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 9, 2021100,000 milesTN

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel and dashboard lights were off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that his daughter was able to drive the vehicle since the exterior lights were working properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an extended warranty had been issued for the failure but had already expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

Interior Lighting
Filed Nov 22, 2021135,000 milesAL

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. The contact stated that the instrument cluster had started to flicker and had eventually gone completely blank without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000. The defective instrument cluster also prevents the owner of these cars not knowing when the vehicle air shocks can and will suddenly drop without warning like the rear air shocks completely dropped.

Interior Lighting
Filed Sep 4, 202060,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED UPON START-UP, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF LOS ANGELES (1801 S. FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90015) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. ## VIN PASSED ## 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500 ##

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jul 16, 2019154,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500V. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY ON THEIR GREEN LIGHT. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION RAN THEIR LIGHT AND THEY CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER'S DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE PERSON THAT CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LUXURY AUTO PARK (17651 OAK PARK AVE, TINLEY PARK, IL 60477 (708) 444-4445) WHERE THE MECHANICS WERE WAITING ON INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO COMPLETE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THEIR HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 21, 2017177,000 milesCA

MY DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING NOT MY SPEED DASH IS DARK NIGHT AND DAY

Engine
Filed Mar 7, 201786,140 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE. A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK, WHICH WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,140.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 30, 2016170,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER BURNED OUT AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE MISSED THE WARRANTY BY THREE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Dec 10, 2015127,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO ILLUMINATE OR SHOW ANY OF THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS EXPERIENCING AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

Suspension
Filed Sep 2, 2015131,000 milesFL

MY AIRMATIC SUSPENSION MADEY MY CAR GO DOWN REAL LOW, I PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO GET THE TWO AIR MATIC SUSPENSION FIX. MY REAR END IS STILL GOING DOWN AND NOW THE REAR IS LOWER THAN THE FRONT. I AM JUST LIJE THE REST OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS . NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PED7042. I FEEL THEY NEED TO MAKE THE MANUFACTURER FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME ONE GET HURT BAD OR DEAD.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jun 22, 2015120,000 milesOK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN

Suspension
Filed Jun 9, 201460,000 milesVA

TWICE SINCE I'VE HAD THIS CAR I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION FIRST THE BACK THEN AT MY FATHERS FUNERAL THE FRONT BOTH RESULTING IN A LOT OF MONEY, AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION? WHY? *TR

Suspension
Filed Mar 21, 2014115,250 milesFL

MY COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO MY 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500 ABOUT THE AIRMATIC I TOOK MY TOTHE SHOP AND PAY LOT OF MONEY TO GET THE AIRMATIC FIX BECAUSE THEY WHAT SAID THAT WAS IT . THE CAR IS STILL GOING DOWN WHEN IT SIT FOR A DAY OR TWO AND NOW THEY ARE TELL ME THAT IT IS THE SUSPENSION VALVE BLOCK. I BELEIVE THAT I HAVE BE TAKING , BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN. I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 13, 201356,000 milesCA

RIGHT SIDE CATALYST BROKE APART AND FAILED. IT CAUSED THE CAR TO RUN REALLY HORRIBLE AND STALL OUT MANY TIMES. MANUFACTURER DOESN'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65000 MILES. IT WON'T PASS THE CALIFORNIA EMISSION TESTING. *TR UPDATED 12/17/14. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 2, 201153,140 milesMS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FOR AN ALIGNMENT IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE AROMATIC STRUTS ON THE VEHICLE TWICE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE, THE EXHAUST PIPE AND GENERAL RING FOR THE CHECK ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,140 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

Suspension
Filed Feb 16, 2011CA

I OWNED 2002 MERCEDES MODEL S430. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED MY CAR DROPPED LOWER TO THE TIRES AS I STARTED, THEN I TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON FOR THE CAR TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. NOW, FOR PAST 2 WEEKS THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK AND ACTED VERY OFTEN. I ALSO TALKED TO FEW FRIENDS AND THEY SAID OTHER VEHICLES WITH SAME MODEL ARE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. IS THIS A RECALL FROM MERCEDES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM YET. I LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE INFO ON THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO CORRECT IT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift
Filed Nov 16, 201040,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SHIFT MECHANISM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 1, 2010IL

ATTORNEY REQUESTS CERTIFIED COPIES OF RECALLS APPLICABLE TO 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500V *TGW

Electrical System
Filed Jan 14, 200951,000 milesAL

MERCEDES BENZ 2002 S430: TELE AID SOS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION CAUSING VITAL INFORMATION ON AUTO TO BE DENIED WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING. NO WAY TO RESET. MUST GO TO AUTO DEALER TO CORRECT. DEALER WILL CHARGE TO INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT. *TR

Interior Lighting
Filed Sep 9, 200881,640 milesCA

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN THE COMPANY CAR I AM DRIVING WHICH IS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ MODEL S500 JUST RECENTLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED AND A NEW FUSE WAS PUT IN AND IT BLEW WITHIN AN HOUR. I HAVE CALLED MERCEDES BENZ DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL 06V028000 DOES NOT APPLY TO ME. I ALSO CALLED THE FLETCHER JONES MOTORCAR DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MERCEDES BENZ REFUSE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES BASED ON THE SAFETY RECALL 06V028000. THE PROBLEM IS I AM UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. *TR

20 of 25 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20231300Routine
202220800Do not drive
20211700Routine
20072000Routine
200612000Routine
200511000Routine
200412000Routine
200310000Routine
2002 — this page25010Routine
200134010Routine
200055010Routine
19992000Routine
19961000Routine
19954000Routine
19942000Routine
19932000Routine

Compare every S 500 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.