2003 Mercedes Benz 211 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,233 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 44.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Suspension: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10456977 · 2012-05-01 (May 1, 2012)
I HAVE A 2003 E500 MERCEDES BENZ. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE SBC PUMP WOULD SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. ON APRIL 18, 2012 WAS THE FIRST NOTICE OF PUMP SMOKING. SHORTLY AFTERWARD THE PUMP WOULD CONTINUALLY CYCLE OR RUN. ON APRIL THE 27TH THE PUMP STARTED SMOKING AND WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND THE BRAKE VISIT WORKSHOP LIGHT APPEARED IMMEDIATELY. ON APRIL 30, 2012 I VISITED ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS MERCEDES ON BOGGS ROAD IN DULUTH, GEORGIA. AFTER A 4 HOUR WAIT, THE SERVICE ADVISOR KIM CATES, TOLD ME THAT THE SBC PUMP RESERVOIR WAS DEFECTIVE. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10456977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459610 · 2012-05-25 (May 25, 2012)
DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM OF RESERVOIR, WHICH IS PART OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM (SBC). THERE WAS A SYSTEM RECALL #2004 050014, FOR THE SBC. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT TO REPAIR, WHICH IS A KNOW FACT FOR MANY OWNERS TO HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. DUE TO THE VAST AMOUNT OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE, REGARDING THE RESERVOIR AND SBC UNIT, THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO MERCEDES BENZ USA. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS REFUSE TO REPLACE RESERVOIR, BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT TO BE A DIFFERENT ITEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TWO I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486146 · 2012-11-27 (November 27, 2012)
I HAVE REALIZED FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW THAT MY CAR HAD INSIDE GAS FUMES AND I WAS LOOSING GAS, AS WELL AS MY GAS FUEL INDICATOR BEING OFF, BUT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY, UNTIL RECENTLY. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WHEN I FILL MY GAS TANK, IT LEAKS. I RECENTLY HAD A MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS LEAK IN THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS LEAKY/BAD SEALS AND THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FUEL SENDER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE RECOMMENDED WORK IS VERY EXPENSIVE, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I INQUIRED AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND WAS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10558501 · 2014-01-04 (January 4, 2014)
MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55 (W211) HAS DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT/PUMP. THE UNIT CRACKS AND ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAD INTO THE CABIN, UNDER THE REAR SEATS, WHERE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT/PUMP IS LOCATED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MODEL MERCEDES BENZ, BUT THAT THE FACTORY HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THIS ISSUE AT NHTSA AND I WAS HOPING TO GET HELP IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FIXE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10532585 · 2013-07-30 (July 30, 2013)
THERE ARE WIRING DEFECTIVE FOR 2003 MB E320 AND MAY BE OTHER YEARS AND MODELS, THAT USE SINGLE BOARD FOR TAIL LIGHTS (BRAKE, NIGHT LIGHT, SIGNAL, REVERSE AS ONE BOARD). IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH REPLACE THE BOARD ($65/BOARD OR $130 FOR TWO PLUS $125 LABOR), IT WILL GO OUT LESS THAN ONE DAY USE. IT IS DANGERS THAT STOP LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, AND WILL EVENTUALLY INJURY OR FATALITY WILL OCCUR. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS NO INDICATION FROM THEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WIRING HARNESSES AND WIRES FOR TAIL …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10532585 at NHTSA ↗