2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Suspension Problems

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). *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE GETTING STUCK IN "PARK" AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES (SOMETIMES IN EXCESS OF 30 MINUTES) IT WILL RELEASE ALLOWING ME TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, ONCE AFTER GETTING IT TO SHIFT GEARS I DROVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOME AND PUT IT IN PARK AT THE STOP SIGN (PRIOR TO TAKING A TRIP FAR AWAY FROM HOME) IT BECAME STUCK AGAIN (OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC) AND IT TOOK ME OVER 30 MINUTES (AGAIN) TO GET IT TO SHIFT AGAIN, I DROVE BACK HOME! THE PSE PUMP THAT OPERATES THE TRUNK FAILED AND THE TRUNK AUTO RELEASES AND BECAUSE IT WORKS BY HYDRAULICS IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN (AND HOLD UP) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOAD SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK. THE SUPERCHARGER BEARING WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED IT TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $14,000 HAVING REPAIRS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND I'VE ONLY OWNED IT FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS. THIS IS MAKING MY "DREAM CAR" DREAM A TOTAL NIGHTMARE!!!!!! *TR

WHILE MY DAUGHTER DRIVING MY CAR ABC LIGHT CAME ON AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL AND HAD ACCIDENT. CAR WENT OVER THE CENTER LINE, CLIMBED OVER BARRICADE AND DESTROYED THE CAR. INSURANCE COMPANY TOTLALED THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE BLEW UP AND CAR WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BOTTOM OF THE SUSPENSION, MERCEDES DOES NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILTY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET I FOUND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINS FOR THE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS.

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.

WHEN TEMPERATURE FALLS BELOW 17 DEGREES F, THE VEHICLE DROP TO UNSAFE LEVEL, AND MESSAGE SAYS AIRMATIC STOP CAR VEHICLE TOO LOW. THE TIRES WILL START RUBBING ON LINER. CALLED DEALER THEY SAID TEMPERATURE IN GERMANY DOES NOT GO THAT LOW, WELL THIS CAR IS SOLD IN US, AND THEY NEED TO MAKE IT WORK. *TR

WHEN VEHICLE GETS COLD( OUTSIDE TEMP BELOW 17 F), THE CAR WILL LOWER, AND AIROMATIC WARNING MESSAGE COMES ON SAYING AIROMATIC VEHICLE TOO LOW STOP VISIT SHOP. *TR

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH S-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHUTDOWNS AND ALOT OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILURES. *TR

MERCEDES BENZ, S-600 (MODEL 2003), IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ALMOST LOST CONTROL AFTER IT'S ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) LIGHT FLASHED ON SUDDENLY IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR BODY CAME DOWN GRINDING AGAINST THE WHEELS/TIRES ON 12/03/2009 AGAIN AFTER THE CAR'S ABC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED ON 11/19/2009 AT MB DEALER IN EDISON, NJ. I HAVE REPORTED SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR ABOUT ABC SYSTEM QUALITY PROBLEM (ODI NUMBER IS: 10294645). THE CAR WAS SENT TO MB DEALER IN EDISON, NJ FOR CHECKS AT SAME DAY AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WATER PUMP DEAD AND MADE ENGINE BELT BROKEN AND ABC SYSTEM AT MALFUNCTION. I FEEL THE ABC QUALITY PROBLEM HAS AFFECTED ENGINE WATER PUMP'S QUALITY. ABC SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS SAFETY CONSIDERATION. IT LOOKS LIKE MB HAS A INCORRECT DESIGN OF ENGINE WATER PUMP AND ABC SYSTEM FOR S-600. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER THIS ISSUE FOR A NEW RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

MERCEDES BENZ, S-600 (MODEL 2003), IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR IN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR ALMOST LOST CONTROL AFTER IT'S ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) LIGHT FLASHED ON SUDDENLY IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE CAR BODY CAME DOWN GRINDING AGAINST THE WHEEL/TIRES ON 11/16/2009. THE CAR WAS SENT TO MB DEALER IN EDISON, NJ FOR REPAIRS THAT SAME DAY AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT DUE TO CORROSION THAT HAD OCCURRED IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE ALREADY. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL; LEAKING ABC FLUID MAY HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. BUT, THE CAR DEALER MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO MB RECALL (ID # 07V263000) ISSUES. HOWEVER, I FEEL THIS ABC QUALITY PROBLEM ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED RECALL. IF NOT, PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER THIS ABC SYSTEM QUALITY ISSUE FOR A NEW RECALL. NOW, THE MB CAR DEALER HAS REPLACED DEFECTIVE ABC SYSTEM AFTER I PAID THEM. BUT I THINK MB SHOULD HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS QUALITY PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS REPORT. THANK YOU. *TR

MY SUSPENSION IS HORRIBLE!! WITHOUT WARNING MY S430 AIRMATIC LIGHT DISPLAYED "VISIT WORKSHOP", I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED MY VEHICLE WAS RIDING EXTREMELY LOW...ALMOST TOUCHING MY FRONT AND BACK TIRES. FURTHERMORE, THERE IS A RUBBING SOUND WHEN THE WHEELS ARE BEING TURNED. I CONTACTED 4 DEALERS AND THEY ALL CLAIMED THE SUSPENSION AND/OR AIRMATIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM ...MY CONCERN IS WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL? SECONDLY, AFTER SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS WEEK, MB IS CLAIMING THAT I WILL BE CHARGED FOR SERVICE A. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE>>>WHY IS MERCEDES LOOSING THEIR REPUTATION FOR POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE? PLEASE CONTACT ME...I NEED MY VEHICLE IN OPERABLE CONDITION AND WILL EXPECT TO BE REIMBURSED BY MERCEDES ONCE THIS RECALL MATTER IS APPROVED AND/OR ACTIVE. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT NHTSA CARES...THANK YOU. *TR

INCIDENT ONE: 1. WHILE DRIVING IN ATLANTA, GA IN FEBRUARY OF 2007. THE FRONT AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FAILED WHILE CROSSING AN "INACTIVE" RAILROAD TRACK. JUST IMAGINE IF IT WAS ACTIVE. MERCEDES-BENZ TOWED THE CAR AND REPLACED THE DEFECT. 2. A FEW DAYS AGO, I'M DRIVING ON A 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT ROAD AND MY CAR STARTS TO LOWER. AGAIN. I WAS LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME. HOW MANY TIMES WILL SOMEONE NEED TO REPORT THIS "SAFETY HAZARD" TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE, IN ORDER TO BE HEARD? PLEASE HELP ME. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE CAR I PURCHASED, AS THE SALESMAN SAID, "THE SAFEST CAR ON THE ROAD," BECOME THE REASON FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH TO ME AND OTHERS. THANK YOU, I HOPE YOU'LL CONTACT ME WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. WE NEED TO BE HEARD. WE WANT YOU TO DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE US FEEL THAT YOU GENUINELY CAR ABOUT LISTENING AND CREATING ACTION ON THESE COMPLAINTS. WHAT DOES IT COST YOU TO RECALL SOMETHING? I KNOW WHAT IT'LL COST ME OR THE PUBLIC IF YOU DON'T. *TR

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOT OR WILL NOT BE A RECALL ON THE "SUSPENSION" ISSUE. I TOO HAD THE FATE OF MY CAR COLLAPSING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK-WHICH IS 35 MILES AWAY-IT HAPPENED. ON THE DASH IT STATED IN BID BOLD LETTERS "AIRMATIC CAR TOO LOW". I PULLED OVER AND STEPPED OUT-MY HEART FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO COME THROUGH MY CHEST. EVERYONE IN THAT SITUATION UNDERSTANDS JUST HOW I FELT AT THAT TIME. THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY COVERING HALF OF THE FRONT TIRES-IF I TURNED THE WHEEL IT WOULD HAVE SCRAPED THE FENDERS. I LEFT THE CAR THERE OVERNITE. THE NEXT DAY {SUNDAY} MY PARTNER'S BROTHER -WHO IS A MECHANIC-WENT TO RETRIEVE MY CAR NOT BEING FAMILIARIZED WITH THE MERCEDES BRAND HE STARTED THE CAR AND PUSHED EVERY BUTTON ON THE DASH-HE CALLED ME TELLING ME THE CAR WAS FINE IT WAS "FINE". HE DROVE MY CAR TO MY HOME-MUCH TO MY PUZZLEMENT. THE CAR LOOKED NORMAL. THE NEXT DAY ON MONDAY I STARTED THE CAR AND ON THE DASH IN BIG RED LETTERS AIRMATIC . THOUGH THE CAR LOOKED FINE I SAW ON CLOSER INSPECTION THAT ONE SIDE IN FRONT WAS SAGGING LOWER, TO SUM THIS UP-GOT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE " AIR WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE BAGS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION".THAT COST $1,000 TO REPAIR-I THINK ITS CHEAPER TO PAY THAT THAN THE ALTERNATIVE. AS I WRITE I AM FURIOUS YES- I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT THIS COMING MONDAY FOR MY SRS SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE ETR-THEY STATE THERE IS A FAULT. I HAVE TO PAY $540.00 TO HAVE A SAFE CAR? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE SRS LIGHT HAS COME ON-SOUNDS KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED TOO-ONLY THAT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE 74,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT? MERCEDES SUBMITTED A VIDEO SHOWING AN S CLASS WITH A COLLAPSED SUSPENSION SHOWING THAT IT WAS FIT TO BE ON THE ROAD ALONG WITH OTHER CARS-PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE SAFEST CARS ON THE ROAD! THAT'S WHY WE BOUGHT IT .AND ABOUT THE SRS LIGHT? *TR

ACTIVE BODY CONTROL FLUID LEAK. *TR

THE AIRMATIC WARNING CAME ON MY VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY LAST WEEK, I SUDDENLY NOTICED THE PANEL FLASHING THIS WARNING. THE CAR DID NOT COMPLETELY FAIL, BUT THE CAR IS MUCH LOWER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE. WHEN I SEARCHED THIS ON-LINE I CAME ACROSS A FORUM CALLED BENZWORLD.ORG OR COM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR MBUSA TO RECALL THIS ITEM. I CALLED THE CORPORATE HQ AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER, I WAS TO ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR A" AFTER WARRANTY ASSISTANCE". I AM NOT SURE WHAT THIS MEANS, BUT THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ITEM TO REPAIR AND THERE MAY BE MANY THINGS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS PROBLEM. MBUSA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS FAULTY FEATURE AND RECALL THIS ITEM. I WILL TAKE THE CAR IN ON 07/28/08 AND SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS. I SUSPECT THIS WILL COST ME CLOSE TO 1K ON A CAR THAT HAS 73K MILES. I WILL ASK FOR THE OLD PARTS AND HOLD THEM IN RESERVE FOR YOUR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK AUTOMATIC PUSH BUTTON FAILED, CAUSING THE TRUNK TO CLOSE ON INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION WOULD DROP NUMEROUS TIMES, CAUSING THE TIRES TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SUSPENSION FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHAT PART THE DEALER REPLACED FOR THE SUSPENSION FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED WHILE PARKED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *MR