Model year record

2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class recalls & problems

The 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 2 safety recalls and 48 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (19 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints48filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingJun 12, 2007

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 07V26300019,924 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Components: Engine and engine cooling; Suspension

Interior lightingFeb 2, 2006

Interior lighting

Recall 06V02800036,911 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTAINS GAUGES AND INDICATORS THAT MUST BE ILLUMINATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.
Risk: DUE TO INADEQUATE ILLUMINATION, THE DRIVER WILL BE UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES AND INDICATORS, SUCH AS THE SPEEDOMETER, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULES. THE RECALL WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES. PHASE I WAS MAILED OUT TO APPROXIMATELY 7,500 OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2006. PHASE II AND PHASE III IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

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.

Crash test ratings

2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class 4DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
SuspensionFront; Front › Springs › Air suspension system	19	70,134 mi
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel; Wiring › Interior/under dash	12	83,766 mi
TiresSidewall	4	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	4	—
Interior lighting	4	95,750 mi
Air bagsSide/window	3	78,139 mi
VisibilityGlass, side/rear; Windshield wiper/washer	2	—
Equipment	2	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	2	—
Exterior lighting	2	—
Electronic stability controlAutomatic (asc)	1	—
Unknown or other	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. ALL LIGHTING FOR INSTRUMENT DARK/UNREADABLE (SPEEDOMETER,TACH,ODOMETER,FUEL,TEMP,TURN SIGNAL ETC). TAKEN TO DEALER AND I PAID FOR REBUILD TO UNIT. IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURED AGAIN AFTER APPROX 3 MONTHS. *TR
Aug 1, 2012 · 46,000 miles
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING BEGAN APPROXIMATELY JULY, 2012. INITIALLY, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER BRIEFLY AND THEN ILLUMINATE AGAIN. SUBSEQUENT TO THE FREQUENT FLICKERING INCIDENTS, THE CLUSTER LIGHTING DIDN'T ILLUMINATE AT ALL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SMALL DIAGNOSTIC VIEWER. CURRENTLY, ALL LIGHTING, GAUGES, AND ANY DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING THE CONTROL BUTTONS LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION TO THE FOREMENTIONED, THE HEADLIGHTS NOW CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE AND THE TURN SIGNAL IS COMPLETELY SILENT AND NOT VISIBLE FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I IMMEDIATELY INQUIRED WITH A CERTIFIED MERCEDES BENZ TECHNICIAN REGARDING THE LIGHTING…
Aug 1, 2012 · 130,000 miles
Electrical system
ON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLACK WITHOUT ILLUMINATION OR READING. AS A RESULT, GAUGES TO SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, FUEL, WARNINGS TO MALFUNCTIONS, TACHOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, & ENGINE TEMPERATURE ARE NOT PRESENT. *TR
May 21, 2012 · 103,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH, ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND GAUGES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98500.
May 9, 2012 · 98,500 miles
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
MY 2002 MERCEDES S430 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BACK LIGHTING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I COULD NOT SEE MY RATE OF SPEED. ALONG WITH NOT SEEING MY RATE OF SPEED MY FUEL AND TEMPERATURE WAS NOT VISABLE. I CALLED MERCEDES DEALER IN VIRGINIA ABOUT THE RECALL THAT CAME OUT IN 2006 AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THERE IS A 10 YEAR EXTENSION BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FROM THE TIME THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH IN MY LIFE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE BOTTOM LINE TRUTH TO THIS SITUATION. *TT
Sep 26, 2011 · 89,533 miles
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ABC SUSPENSION FAILED AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOWERED IN A DOWNWARD MOTION TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUSE LINK, AIRMATIC PUMP RELAY AND AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V263000 (SUSPENSION). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,268.
Sep 24, 2009 · 71,268 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Jul 20, 2011 · 118,000 miles
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S55. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUSPENSION PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Jan 1, 2011 · 99,000 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILUREClosed
THE SUBJECT S-CLASS VEHICLES CONTAIN A COMPRESSED AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT USES AIR STRUTS ON EACH OF THE FOUR WHEELS IN LIEU OF TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS.THESE AIR STRUTS USE COMPRESSED AIR TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL RIDE HEIGHT.IN THE EVENT OF THE LOSS OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, AN ALERT WILL FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING THE DRIVER TO EITHER DRIVE CAREFULLY OR TO STOP THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE RIDE HEIGHT CAN BE REDUCED BY AS MUCH AS 105 MM BELOW NORMAL RIDE HEIGHT BEFORE THE FULL LOAD OF THE VEHICLE FOR THAT WHEEL COMES TO REST ON A STEEL ROD, WITH A RUBBER STOP ON THE END, LOCATED IN THE SHOCK ABSORBER.THIS REST-STOP CONDITION IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT THERE IS NO IMPACT ON VEHICLE CONTROL.MERCEDES-BENZ (MBUSA) SUPPLIED VIDEO SHOWING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION OPERATING UNDER SEVERAL DIFFERENT SITUATIONS INCLUDING EVASIVE MANEUVERS…
PE07042 · opened Aug 14, 2007 · closed Nov 20, 2007