2003 Mercedes Benz S430 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S430 years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz S430. That ranks 3rd out of 7 S430 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (12 complaints, 46%), typically at around 85,782 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 26owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz S430 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 12 | 46% | 85,782 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 15% | 90,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 12% | 122,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 12% | 94,402 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 8% | 101,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 8% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 8% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% | 178,789 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 4% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 4% | 158,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 4% | 178,789 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 4% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 4% | 93,268 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 4% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 4% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 4% | 120,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mercedes Benz S430 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 Mercedes Benz S430.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430. The contact stated he opened the hatch however, the hatch quickly closed independently. The contact stated he was able to hold the hatch before it closed totally. The contact stated that the passengerâs side spring was detached from the hatch. The…
Srs codes is being thrown. If you move a little in the passenger seat it triggers code to be thrown. Started throwing it out of now where.
Electrical/fuse/cluster panel lights are out in dash vehicle was stationary
I have a 2003 mercedes s430. The other day my wife was going down the highway at 65 mph when it just shut off in the middle of the road. This is very dangerous. How do we allow a vehicle to operate on the highway that would just cut off in the middle of the road without at least giving you a chance…
Instrument cluster went blank nothing works in cluster.drivinghour or two went blank no reason
Other Mercedes Benz S430 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 S430 | 12 | 0 |
| 2005 S430 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 S430 | 18 | 0 |
| 2003 | 26 | 0 |
| 2002 S430 | 31 | 0 |
| 2001 S430 | 73 | 0 |
| 2000 S430 | 23 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz S430 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes Benz S430?
Owners most often report electrical system, suspension, exterior lighting problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz S430?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz S430 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S430 model years, the 2003 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.