2001 Mercedes-Benz S430 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 8%of 73 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 105,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S430, 8% of the 73 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 105,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Two years ago the instrument cluster just quit while in hevey traffic. No speed no tac no gas no nothing and it could cause accident injury and further damage to the car also. This item was a federal mandate recall and mercedes says not so after 10 years and wont honor the law which stipulates its forever, and dealers insist on a buy of a new one cant even get one at cost.”
NHTSA complaint #10907561, filed 2016-09, 65,000 miles“Cannot give the vehicle mileage because you cannot see the miles due to the instrument cluster lights not being on, cannot see the speedometer, gauges or anything else, the instruments are dark both at night and during the day. The car still operates but when you try to see the speedometer, you have to lean forward to see the mileage, which is dangerous because while you are straining to see the mileage, you are not looking at the road, this is a dangerous situation. I found NHTSA recall 060v028 which identifies the problem but mercedes says this was not a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10762571, filed 2015-09, 100,000 miles“The contact owns a 2001 mercedes benz S430. The contact stated that during rainy weather conditions, water entered into the vehicle through the doors, the windows, and soaked the seats. The contact also stated that the brake light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 113,363. Update ma 01/13/16 recalls 05v505000 and 06v028000. Updated 03/02/16. ; updated 04/20/18”
NHTSA complaint #10782883, filed 2015-10, 113,363 miles“Consumer of a 2001 S430 v faulty sunroof, LED side mirrors, and turn signals. Customer states the vehicle has cost him a lot of money to repair and would like it to be fixed and be repaid in someway. **nar**kb the consumer stated the vehicle has had numerous problems such as persistent tail light and head light assembly failures, engine, fuel, accelerator pedal assembly, alternator, battery, instrument cluster, vacuum door pump, electrical, front suspension failures such as the airmatic shocks, the thrust arms, ball joints and the airmatic pump/relay. …”
NHTSA complaint #10202668, filed 2007-09Related service bulletins
- 11017500Apr 28, 2025Complaint 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…
- 11017496Apr 28, 2025Complaint 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…
- 11007974Sep 21, 2024Complaint 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…
- 11007753Sep 10, 2024Complaint Headlamp or 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…
- 11005294Jul 23, 2024Complaint Rear lamps fogged up/not leaktight. Cause Fogging of the rear lamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. This does not lead to…
- 10025845Jul 28, 2008Mercedes benz: water in tail lamp housing on either right side or left side.
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S430
37 complaintsInterior lighting
11 complaintsSuspension
8 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S430
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology