2003 Mercedes Benz E500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
125 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 101 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 125 complaints (23.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 32.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 24 | 19.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 29 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 27 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Suspension:Front | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Service Brakes: 29; Fuel/Propulsion System: 27; Fuel System, Gasoline: 14; Suspension: 13; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Air Bags: 6; Suspension:Front: 6; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 31 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 31; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 7; 2009: 7; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 10; 2013: 17; 2014: 20; 2015: 19; 2016: 8; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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 10119677 · 2005-05-03 (May 3, 2005)
ON MARCH 31,2005 ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL NEWS,THE CRYSLER COMPANY SAID IT WOULD INSTALL BATTERY CONTROL SOFTWARE ON THE E-CLASS AND CLS-CLASS MODELS BUILT FROM JANUARY 2002-JANUARY 2005. THE COMPANY ALSO SAID THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE E, SL AND CLS-CLASS MADE SINCE JUNE 2001 WOULD BE UPDATED. MY CAR HAD BATTERY PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE NEWS, SOMEHOW THEY FIX IT BUT NOT THE SOFTWARE. UP TO PRESENT, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL LETTER FROM THE COMPANY DESPITE OF THE NEWS, DESPITE THAT MY CAR IS AFFECTED (I HAD CHECKED WITHTHE COMPANY REGARDING…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121208 · 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT ON OCT. 21 2004 HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR A SAFETY RECALL TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 2004050014-SBS. THE RECALL WAS REGARDING THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. THE LINE FROM THE BRAKE FLUID LOOKS AS THOUGH IT HAS BEEN CUT AND IT LOOKED LIKE ELECTRICAL TAPE HAD BEEN PLACED AROUND IT WERE THE CUT WAS LOCATED. HE TALKED TO MERCEDES AND THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN BACK WITH HIM YET. HE HAS ALSO REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT UNIT WHICH CONTROLS ALL THE LIGHTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433623 · 2011-10-31 (October 31, 2011)
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERY TIME I FILL UP AND UNTIL I DRIVE ABOUT 50 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A GERMAN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT IT IS A CRACKED GAS TANK AND THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES E-CLASS MODELS FROM 2003-2005. THE SMELL APPEARS TO BE EMANATING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE IN EUROPE AND ASIA BUT THAT MERCEDES NEVER ISSUED A RECALL IN THE US FOR THIS ISSUE DESPITE BEING EXTREMELY PERVASIVE. I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND I AM INCREASINGLY CONCERNE…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459332 · 2012-05-23 (May 23, 2012)
AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK GAS STARTED TO DRIP FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE FLOOR. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459332 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113493 · 2005-03-04 (March 4, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS A VERY LOUD NOISE CAME M THE ENGINE. WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243988 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)
I HAVE A MERCEDES-BENZ 2003 E500 THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE VALEO RADIATOR THAT CAUSED GLYCOL CONTAMINATION LEAKAGE INTO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. MY UN-DRIVABLE CAR NOW HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE BECAUSE OF POWER LOSS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. INABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR KEEP UP THE MINIMUM SPEED OF THE POSTED HIGHWAY SIGNS IS COMMON. I ASKED MBUSA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND INITIALLY THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTED. AFTER FINDING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN P-B-27.55/50F DATED MARCH 24, 2006 THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT BUT DEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216517 · 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)
I OWN A MB 2003 E500. WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR WOULD JERK BACK AND FORTH LIKE THE CAR IS STALLING FOR NO LONG THAN COUPLE SECS OR LESS. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THIS HAPPENS AT LOW ROLLING SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE YET TO FIND A PATTERN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216517 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244054 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)
I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500 WHICH WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR MY TRANSMISSION STARTED LOSING POWER ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MAKING A LOUD ROAR FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE CAR THEN STARTED STUTTERING WHILE AT 60MPH WHICH POSED A DANGER TO MYSELF , MY FAMILY, AND CARS AROUND ME. THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED CARS BEHIND ME TO HIT ME BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND IT TURNED OUT THAT GLYCOL LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO A FAULTY VALEO RADIATOR IN MY 2003 MERCEDE…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351139 · 2010-08-22 (August 22, 2010)
I WAS TRAVELING ON I-65 FROM LAFAYETTE TO INDIANAPOLIS IN MY 2003 E-500 MERCEDES- BENZ. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY'S POSTED 70 MPH SPEED THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED FROM THE FAST, LEFT LINE THAT I WAS TRAVELING INTO THE RIGHT LINE CASING THE OTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE RIGHT LINE TO TURN INTO AN EMERGENCY SHOULDER AND CONSEQUENTLY IN TO THE DITCH IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE MANEUVER. THE REASON FOR MY VEHICLE'S SUDDEN CHANGE IN STEERING AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTIC WAS AN UNEXPECTED, INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE OF AN AIR STRUT ON THE FRONT/RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11287533 · 2019-12-06 (December 6, 2019)
I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A CITY STREET WHEN I HEARD A CLICK/ CRACK, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT WASN'T A CASE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL (I DO KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE). I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, SURVEYED THE DAMAGE, THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO REVERSE IT AND PARK THE CAR BEHIND THE ACCIDENT. THE STEERING WAS F…
Owner-reported narrative. 122,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11287533 at NHTSA ↗