1998 Mercedes Benz S420: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 1 |
| Wheels:Rim | 1 |
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 1; Wheels:Rim: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
2013: 1
Pattern summary
Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10514082 · 2013-05-29 (May 29, 2013)
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FOUR ALLOY WHEEL RIMS WERE NOT SYMMETRICAL, UNEVEN, AND HE EXPERIENCED VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING. ST *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10514082 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1995 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 480.0%ODI 10680073 · 88,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES BENZ S420 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 03/30/15*LJ UPDATED 10/20/2015*JS | 1100.0%ODI 11230817 · 147,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MERCEDES-BENZ S420. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SRS, VSR, TIRE AND OTHER UNKNOWN INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURES RECURRED A FEW TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN, ONE OF THE TIRES CAME OFF THE RIM, THE RIM WAS CRACKED, AND THE WINDOW… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 11020717 · 70,000 miTHE AREA THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEEPS MELTING I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE , SEAT BELTS LAG AND DOT WORK I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH STABILIZATION |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 120.0%ODI 10902985 · 98,356 miTHROTTLE BODY WIRE HARNESS WENT BAD AND WAS ON INTERSTATE AND COULD NOT DO SPEED LIMIT AND NEARLY GOT DEMOLISHED BY A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER. AFTER A HORRIBLE EXPENSE I NOW FIND OUT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE CAR IS BAD AS WELL. WELL DONE MERCEDES BENZ YOU HAVE ENDANGERED MY FAMILY'S LIVES WITH YOUR SUB STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE. YOU SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND REPAIR ALL SAFETY ISSUES. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 11020717 · 70,000 miTHE AREA THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEEPS MELTING I HAVE REPLACED THEM TWICE , SEAT BELTS LAG AND DOT WORK I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH STABILIZATION |
| Air Bags | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 562887WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT STATED EXACTLY WHERE VEHICLE WAS HIT, SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES.*JB |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10211214 · 30,000 miTHE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER HAS ALMOST TOTALLY FAILED CREATING A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALER STATED VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM ARE BEING RECALLED. HOW DO I RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE? *TR |
| Engine | 120.0%ODI 10948416 · 210,000 miELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS USING SOY BASED INSULATION DEGRADES THEREBY ALLOWING WIRES TO SPONTANEOUS AND/ OR INTERMITTENT SHORTS. THIS HAS CAUSED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS. VERY DIFFICULT TO TROUBLESHOOT UNLESS AND UNTIL ONE DISCOVERS INSULATION FAILURE. THIS HAS BEEN AND IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ERA OF CARS. EXTREMELY BAD ENGINEERING DECISIONS WERE MADE. VERY SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. MERCEDES SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR MALFEASANT AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE. I BOUGHT THE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 120.0%ODI 10644049 · 53,000 miA/C QUIT WORKING. TOOK TO THE MERCEDES DEALER. WAS NOTIFIED OF VAPOR CORE FAILURE AND TOLD IT IS MOST COMMON ON ANY MILEAGE OF THIS MODEL. COST $3500.00 IF IT IS MOST COMMON IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON IT. COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10514082TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FOUR ALLOY WHEEL RIMS WERE NOT SYMMETRICAL, UNEVEN, AND HE EXPERIENCED VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING. ST *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 120.0%ODI 10902985 · 98,356 miTHROTTLE BODY WIRE HARNESS WENT BAD AND WAS ON INTERSTATE AND COULD NOT DO SPEED LIMIT AND NEARLY GOT DEMOLISHED BY A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER. AFTER A HORRIBLE EXPENSE I NOW FIND OUT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE CAR IS BAD AS WELL. WELL DONE MERCEDES BENZ YOU HAVE ENDANGERED MY FAMILY'S LIVES WITH YOUR SUB STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE. YOU SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND REPAIR ALL SAFETY ISSUES. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 0 complaints · 1999: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | Wheels:Rim |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | — | 1ODI 10514082TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FOUR ALLOY WHEEL RIMS WERE NOT SYMMETRICAL, UNEVEN, AND HE EXPERIENCED VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING. ST *TR |
| Wheels:Rim | 1ODI 10514082TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ S420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS FOUR ALLOY WHEEL RIMS WERE NOT SYMMETRICAL, UNEVEN, AND HE EXPERIENCED VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING. ST *TR | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.