Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Mercedes s-Class w220 (2000 and up)instrument cluster failed including spedometer, flashers, signal control, engine temperature, and other information critical to safe vehicle operation. Upon investigating it was determined that this is an extremely common problem caused by a series of defective transistors which the manuafacturer has since discontinued and replaced with a similar model. Inadequate heatseaking for the transistors coudl also explain the problem. This is particularly odd because the car has only been in production since 2000 and production is continuing strong. The cluster has 5 of these transistors, 3 of which are in series and go bad causing the described failure. The transistors cost about 50 cents each when purchased in bulk... Hardly justifying a $1600 repair. The siemens model: buz102s sipmos power transistor was replaced by the spd50n06s2-14 power transistor. …
Vehicle is a 2001 s-500. Almost word for word the same issue(s) as odi id number : 10100807. Same car, same problems, same sentiment. Replacing fuses only results in flickering instrument cluster lighting, and even then the backlight is still non-functional. Gauge needles flicker as well, until they too go out completely. Fuses last only for a couple of days, whereupon the entire instrument cluster remains entirely black. Problem could be remedied simply by replacing faulty transistors, or redesigning an improperly laid-out instrument cluster, ie cooling the transistors much more adequately. …
On the 11th of aug, 2007. I was driving my family oringal owned 2001 meceds Benz s 500, on the freeway here in california. Without any of warning the lighting (instrument cluster) on the dashboard went off completely. I had no idea how fast that I was traveling, therefore I took the first exit off of the freeway, even the speedomter is sitting @ 75 miles per hour even I had my s500 completly stop, on top of that nothing is working in my insturment at all!!!(fuel, temperture, and RPM). I personal truely believe this, this is a very serious issue, what if it happens during at nite? Because you ain't going to see anything!!! I called the local m.b. Dealer as soon as I got home, and a sales assoicate told me that, you need to bring your car in on Monday, because no one works at service dept during the weekend...
I have a 2001 mercedess430 which has a failed instrument cluster. There appears to have been a recall issued in 2006 but it was limited to a certain number of VIN# and does not cover the widespread issues I have uncovered via my research. This is a serious defect that could cause a major accident as the lights go out, no gauges work, and you have no idea how fast you are going, what gear you are in e.g. You could accidentally reverse, etc. I called Mercedes Benz along with several dealers and they indicate that they will not cover this and the cost is exorbitant. This is a fatal error and can not be corrected to work or function at all without full replacement of the entire instrument cluster.
Defect in Mercedes Benz 2001 s500 with the instrument cluster you loose all your in dash lights, gauges the whole panel goes dead you can't tell how fast your going, how much gas you have ,or if your car is overheated, nothing works, no miles,nothing this is very dangerous and Mercedes is doing nothing to correct this problem,there dropping the ball I went in to have it checked and was told it cost 2300.00 to repair this is not acceptable ,this is a safety hazard a recall is very much needed there are thousands of others out there with this problem. I hope Mercedes do the right thing and protect it customer from a dealer malfunction, we spend too much money on Mercedes cars to have things like this happen. Please, please do something for it's to late and someone gets hurt.
I own a 2001 Mercedes Benz s500. I was driving home from work on Friday and all of a sudden, the lights in the dashboard went out. It frightened me because I couldn't tell how fast I was going and it hampered me from being as alert as I needed to be by trying to find out what the problem was. These lights need to be functional whenever you are operating the vehicle. Because of the time, the dealerships had closed and I couldn't drive it to them when it happened. This could have resulted in my having an accident and hurting and/or possibly killing myself and/or someone else. This is a serious problem that seems to be happening to others. Please investigate.
Instrument cluster failure 2001 Mercedes Benz s500. Once the instrument cluster fails, the gas gauge, check engine, odometer, inside indicators for turn signals, parking assist lights do not work. Everything is linked to the instrument cluster. One day this is going to cause a real serious problem. Mercedes charges around $1800 to replace the instrument cluster. Phone interview update (September 23, 05): no warnings prior to instrument cluster blackout. The consumer said that he couldn't see the gauges and was told by m-b roadside assistance responder that the gauges were not working.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz s Class. The contact was driving 65 MPH when he noticed that the lights on the instrument panel failed and smoke was coming from the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that they needed to replace the instrument cluster module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and advised that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 06V028000 (interior lighting) but the recall had expired. The failure and the current mileage was 134,000. Updated 07/13/12 updated 07/31/12
Mercedes Benz never informed me that my car an s500 was involved in a recall to change the instrumental panel lighting, now that it failed the miami Mercedes dealership do not want to fix my car alleging that there was not any recall, that it was only a warranty extension beginning in 2001 for 10 years leaving me out of coverage since my car is 2001. I think this is unfair to the unsuspecting public lack of communication and desire to do little for the users of their cars my car is within the 10 years and refuse to fix it that is my complaint.
Dt*: the contact stated while starting the engine, the instrument panel darkened. After this incident other electrical problems occurred; fuses became blown, the high beams, radio and interior lights failed. The manufacturer declared there is a recall for s models and provided the campaign number 06v08000. The vehicle's VIN# was not included in the recall. Updated 8/17/2006 - the instrument cluster had an internal short which caused the fuses to blow. The dealer replaced the instrument cluster.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
On certain passenger vehicles, during the production process of the blower motor fuse holder, the size of the electric conductor of the holder May be below appropriate tolerances.
Remedy: Dealers will install new blower motor fuse holders. The recall began during October 2004. Owners should contact Mercedes-Benz at 1-800-367-6372.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery
On certain passenger vehicles, excessive static build-up in the trunk floor mats can cause a static discharge when individuals move or remove items from the trunk compartment.
Remedy: Dealers will install a static insulation panel between the carpet and the vehicle battery which will provide an electrical grounding. Owner notification began February 14, 2003.
Electrical complaints in other S Class years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class, 58% of the model year's 36 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-227 (fuses and circuit breakers, May 13, 2004); NHTSA recall 02V-338 (12v/24v/48v battery, Dec 16, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 96,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.