2001 Mercedes-Benz E430 recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Structure › Body

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SHOCK SPRING FOR THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND LANDED IN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AT A FUEL STATION AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT CORROSION MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

  Jul 28, 2019 · 137,000 miles
• Electrical system

  BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KEEPS BREAKING CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE NO ILLUMINATION FOR BRAKING

  Oct 2, 2017 · 10 miles
• Air bags1 injury

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES-BENZ E430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CURTAIN AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND SIDE, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

  Aug 28, 2016 · 180,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY, I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO TRAFFIC, GOING AROUND 20MPH, MY ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING, OVER-HEATING, OR ANYTHING INDICATION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RE-START THE CAR, THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY TURN, BUT NO IGNITION. I WAITED NEARLY 20 MINUTES OF TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, WHEN IT FINALLY DID IGNITE AND START. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME (ABOUT 15 MINUTES) WHERE IT THEN DIED AGAIN, JUST OUTSIDE MY PARKING SPACE. THE CAR WAS CHECKED FOR INDICATION CODES AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAME UP AS "MALFUNCTION". *TR

  Oct 30, 2013 · 182,348 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BEGAN VERY LIGHTLY RATTLING AT LOW SPEEDS ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AT ONLY AROUND 50000 MILES. IT NOW HAS APPROX. 60000 MILES ON IT AND HAS A LOUD NOTICEABLE RATTLE WHICH IS ALSO CAUSING VIBRATION IN THE CAR AND HAS MADE THE HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION WORSE AND OF COURSE IT IS NOW "OUT OF WARRANTY" WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE A PART THAT SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER ESPECIALLY FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS PRISTINE AND GARAGE KEPT. HOPEFULLY THE OEM REMANUFACTURED DEALER PART WONT DIE IN ANOTHER 50,000 MILES. AS A NOTE, MERCEDES SHOULD NOT SAY THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LIFETIME BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY IS NOT…

  Dec 1, 2009 · 50,000 miles
• Air bags

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E430. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE SIDE AIR BAGS FOR THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

  Sep 24, 2011
• Suspension › Front

  I WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE ROUTE 70 WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING PERCH FAILED AND BROKE OFF OF MY 2001 MERCEDES E430 SEDAN (W210 BODY STYLE), CAUSING THE HIGH PRESSURE SUSPENSION COIL SPRING TO DISMOUNT AND DRAG ALONG THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE. THE DISMOUNTED FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE (CARS IN FRONT, BEHIND, AND ALONGSIDE MY VEHICLE). I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE TO A SAFE SPOT WHERE UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING WAS LITERALLY RESTING ON THE GROUND. THE FRONT RIGHT END OF MY 2001 MERCEDES E430 WAS COLLAPSED SO BADLY THAT TURNING THE…

  Mar 2, 2010 · 119,698 miles
• Power train › Automatic transmission

  MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E430 SLIPS OUT OF GEAR FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING. THIS OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND WITH NO WARNING . IT OCCURS ALMOST EVERY DAY AND IN ORDER TO RE-ENGAGE THE DRIVE GEAR I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, PUT GEARS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE, SOMETIME DURING THIS OPERATION SEVERAL TIMES . I CONTACTED A MERCEDES SPECIALIST AND HE SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS INTO THE ELECTRONICS OF THE TRANSMISSION AND IS ACTUALLY DRAWN UP THE WIRING AND INTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY SHOWN THE FLUID AND WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS…

  Nov 1, 2008 · 22,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.