The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz S-class. The contact was driving 55 mph when the instrument panel lights failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the illumination cluster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 108,976.

- Moncks Corner, SC, USA

The contact owns a 2001 Mercedes Benz S500. The instrument panel lights constantly dimmed and none of the gauges could be read. A mechanic stated that the cluster lights were not working. The failure mileage was 105,000. Updated 05/21/08 updated 05/20/08

- Miami, FL, USA

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...

- Azusa, CA, USA

: the contact stated without warning the dashboard panel lights darkened completely. The vehicle was taken to the dealership and the instrument panel needed to be replaced. There was a recall, 06V028000 regarding interior lighting. The vehicle was not included in the recall due to the VIN.

- Sandy, UT, USA

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 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.

- Bellwood, IL, USA

: 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.

- Manchester, NH, USA