I was driving my 2001 s430 yesterday when my dashboard just stop working. Anybody else experience this?

 

I have heard of this and I think there is a NTSB recall on this issue...may want to call a local MBUSA dealer and ask.

It's a safety issue.

 

So your dashboard stopped working like all the lights turn on? Or did the backlight fail and it's all dark? If it's all dark then you have a defective Transformer/MOSFET driver. There is a recall issued in 2006 that extended the warranty for 10 years from purchase date. Your car is a a 2001 so chances are the warranty is gone. You can still try to go to the dealer and ask if they would do a recall exception. If they make you pay $1700 for it, then say no and fix it yourself.

 

Unfortunately, a few of the previous owners of these cars ignored the recalls and never got the clusters replaced before selling the car.

 

There is a ten year warranty that applies to all w220 cars . If you're under ten years you're covered

There's also a recall that only applies to a few vin numbers, a recall has no expiration but your vin number must be on the recall list if its Over ten years old to get fixed for free

 

If your dash went dark then you most likely blew a fuse. It is located on one of the fuse blocks on the side of the dash. I think the left. there is one on each side. If you replace it and it blows again then the transformers/MOSFETs are on their way out. There are people who repair these for a reasonable price. Mine was replaced by the dealer under the 10 year warranty. You can still drive your car without an instrument cluster but you will not know what is going on. I drove mine for about a week before I got it to the dealer.