Mercedes Benz E500 transmission problems
20 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
460 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
91,691 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 397 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
20 of 460 complaints match this topic (4.3%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 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 10253997 · 2009-01-06 (January 6, 2009)
THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR FOR THE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500 LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND JUMP. THE COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS AN CONTAINMENT AND RUINS THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH LATER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE RADIATOR. THESE THREE MAJOR PART INCLUDING GASKETS, HOSES, AND LABOR ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ALL T…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371711 · 2010-12-19 (December 19, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING, RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES VIBRATIONS FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE LEAK ALSO CREATED A JERKING PROBLEM WHILE ACCELERATING IN THE LOW GEARS. THE ISSUE WITH THE FAULTY RADIATOR IS GOING TO TAKE OVER $10,000 TO REPAIR.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371711 at NHTSA ↗