There are 4 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500V. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY ON THEIR GREEN LIGHT. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION RAN THEIR LIGHT AND THEY CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER'S DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE PERSON THAT CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LUXURY AUTO PARK (17651 OAK PARK AVE, TINLEY PARK, IL 60477 (708) 444-4445) WHERE THE MECHANICS WERE WAITING ON INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO COMPLETE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THEIR HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
MY CAR IS AN 2002 MERCEDES S430 AIRMATIC SYSTEM FAILURE STRUTS AND PUMP FIRST THE STRUTS FAILED IN NOV 2008 WHICH LOWERS THE CAR ON TOP OF THE TIRES AND MAKES THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. NOW IN JUNE 2009, THE PUMP FAILED WHICH LOWERED THE CAR ON TOP OF THE TIRES AND MAKES AND CAR UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. IF THIS SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR AND DAMAGE THE TIRES AND CAUSE A BLOW-OUT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THESE FAILURES HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS AND HAVE CAUSED INJURIES AND EXTENSIVE COSTS TO OWNERS. EVERYONE CONSIDERS THESE FAILURES TO BE VERY PREMATURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS VERY WIDE SPREAD. *TR
AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. WHEN THIS UNIT FAILS, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NO LONGER WILL FUNCTION. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ITEM FAILED PREMATURELY AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SOME WARRANTY OE RECALLED, AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS ITEM TO FAIL AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE COST TO REPLACE IS WELL OVER $1000.00. *TR
AIR BAG BLEW UP WITH OUT CRASH ABOUT MARCH 2008, MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY HOUSE DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT NEXT DAY I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO WORK WHEN I STEPPED OUT SIDE MY HOUSE AND I FOUND MY AIR BAGS HAD BLOWN UP. MERCEDEZ BENZ DEALER AT LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA SEND A MECHANIC TECHNICIAN AND HE WORK ON THE VEHICLE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE SO I CAN DRIVE TO THE DEALER AND HE COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE, SO THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE AWAY TO THE DEALER, THEY BEEN FIGURING OUT WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE AIR BAG TO BLEW UP, UJP TODAY DATE JUNE 11, 2008 THEY SAID THAT IT'S MY PROBLEM AND I SHOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING MALFUNCTIONS. PLEASE HELP ME I DO NOT WHAT TO DO. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026