2001 Ford Taurus vs 2001 Mercedes-Benz S430
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Ford Taurus | 2001 Mercedes-Benz S430 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,037 | 73 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 110 | 42 |
| Investigations | 8 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 92 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 15 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–20 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 73,521 mi | 92,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Taurus | Mercedes-Benz S430 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 515 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 99 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 86 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 37 | 37 |
| Air Bags | 66 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 2 |
| Power Train | 58 | 4 |
| Visibility | 39 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 62 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 55 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 25 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 21 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 17 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 13 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 8 | 0 |
2001 Ford Taurus
2001 Mercedes-Benz S430
Compare all Ford Taurus vs Mercedes-Benz S430 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.