2002 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Lighting Problems

See attached document for complaint.

The contact owns a 2002 Mercedes-Benz S500. The contact stated that the instrument cluster had started to flicker and had eventually gone completely blank without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where he was informed that his vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 06V028000 (Interior Lighting). The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000. The defective instrument cluster also prevents the owner of these cars not knowing when the vehicle air shocks can and will suddenly drop without warning like the rear air shocks completely dropped.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED UPON START-UP, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF LOS ANGELES (1801 S. FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90015) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. ## VIN PASSED ## 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S500 ##

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER : 06V028000 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DASH BOARD DOES NOT ILLUMINATE MAKING IT UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT RESULTING IN UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND CREATING UNDESIRABLE SAFETY CONDITIONS. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF GEORGE TOWN TEXAS TODAY MARCH 7 2016 AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR IT BUT THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP WITH $160 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. I CAME HOME ON FRIDAY MARCH 4TH AND WHEN I WENT TO GET BACK INTO THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. I CAN BE REACHED AT[XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF THEN FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE ALSO STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,012.

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT DARK WHILE DRIVING. SUBSEQUENTLY, FLICKERED ON MOMETARILY A FEW TIMES, NOW IS DARK ALL THE TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE HIGH AND LOW BEAMS FAILED TO OPERATE. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S-CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING OR DETERMINE ANY OF THE OTHER READINGS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED DUE TO THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

MERCEDES BENZ HAS LISTED A RECALL ON ALL W220 MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES. THE RECALL WAS ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILING RESULTING IN THE CLUSTER TO NOT WORK. THE MPH, RPM DOESN'T WORK. NOTHING ON THE CLUSTER WORKS. WHEN I WENT ON MAY 12, 2011 TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO GET MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FIXED BECAUSE IT WAS RECALLED I SPOKE WITH A LADY AT THE DEALER EXPLAINING MY SITUATION ABOUT THE PART BEING RECALLED AND THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. SHE ASKED ME TO GIVE HER MY VIN NUMBER. WHEN SHE TYPED IN MY VIN NUMBER, SHE TOLD ME THAT MY CLUSTER IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A REPAIR. SHE SAID THE MY VIN NUMBER WAS A "STATUS 9 ISSUE" AND BECAUSE OF THIS, IT VOIDS ALL WARRANTIES NO MATTER WHAT. I SPOKE WITH EVERYONE THERE TYING TO SORT THINGS OUT AND SEE IF I CAN WORK OUT THIS ISSUE. MY 2002 S430 HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT IS WHY IT IS A STATUS 9. BUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DID NOT FAIL BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. EVEN AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE CLUSTER STILL WORKED FINE WITHOUT ANY SORT OF PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER FOR ALMOST A MONTH IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE ACTION FOR THIS ISSUE NO MATTER WHAT. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, ITS DEFECTIVE. THAT'S IT. THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE MY RECALLED CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE IN MY VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE CLUSTER. A RECALLED PART LIKE THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH A VEHICLE LIKE MINE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. AND MY CAR WASN'T IN A BAD ACCIDENT AND I HAVE PROOF AND PICTURES TO SHOW THAT IT WAS NOT HIT THAT BAD. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IF THIS MATTER WOULD BE ATTENDED TO AND I COULD GET MY PART REPLACED. THANKYOU VERY MUCH. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MODULE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V028000, REGARDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTING, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK UPDATED 12/1/20006 - *NM

INSTANT FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CLUSTER UNDER RECALL #06V028000. WAS CHARGED BY DEALERSHIP. SAID MAKE AND MODEL WERE UNDER RECALL, BUT MY VIN # WAS NOT. *JB

INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS FAILED, NO ILLUMINATION. I CAN NOT SEE MY GAUGES. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID MY VIN # DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. IT IS A 2002 MERCEDES BENZ S430. *JB