2000 Mercedes Benz 500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 7 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Structure: 1; Suspension:Front:Springs:Air Suspension System: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10101389 · 2004-11-19 (November 19, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH SUSPENSION/AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE BECAME LOWER TO THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK 9-25-07 PHONE CONVERSTAION: WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. AIR SUSPENSION WORKED FINE BEFORE, AFTER CRASH LIGHT WAS ON AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. [SMCH]
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124695 · 2005-05-26 (May 26, 2005)
2000 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 HAD THE HOOD LINERS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 5 YEARS.*MR THE FIRST HOOD LINER BECAME BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATED. THE SECOND HOOD LINER BECAME POWDERY AND LITERALLY FELL APART LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD LINER WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453566 · 2012-03-30 (March 30, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE INSERTED IN THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 716765 · 2000-01-03 (January 3, 2000)
MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS INOPERABLE. DRIVER LOSES ALL TECHINCAL INFORMATION AND OPERATING STATUS OF VEHICLE. DURING DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, AN ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT OF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER FROM "DRIVE" TO "NEUTRAL" AND BACK TO "DRIVE" RESULTS IN TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING IN "DRIVE" UNTIL THE CAR SLOWS TO 20MPH. DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER CAR UNTIL IT REACHES THE 20MPH RANGE AND THE TRANSMISSION THEN ENGAGES IN GEAR. WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, IN "DRIVE" WHEN BRAKES A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751350 · 2001-08-29 (August 29, 2001)
THE BAS AND ESP SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN ISSUING VISUAL WARNINGS FOR MONTHS, CAR HAS BEEN IN MANY TIMES TO REVIEW PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESSFUL REPAIRS. ON 8/29/01 I APPLIED THE BRAKES ABOUT 1/2 INCH, IN PREPARATION OF STOPPING FORM A 5MPH ROLE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR STOPPED INSTANTLY AND THE CAR BEHIND ME RAN IN TO MY CAR CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759466 · 2002-03-17 (March 17, 2002)
THE 4 ORIGINAL CONTINENTAL TIRES ON THIS MERCEDES ARE WORN OUT WITH THE WEAR BARS SHOWING. THE MILEAGE IS 17262. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, SEARS & 2 OF THE 3 LOCAL CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALERS IN THIS CITY. EVERYONE SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE TIRES & NO ADJUSTMENT FROM THE COMPANY IS AVAILABLE. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT 4 TIRES WORN OUT AT 17,000 MILES IS A JOKE ON THE CONSUMER, & I THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.*AK (TIRESIZE: P22560H16)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8020396 · 2002-10-08 (October 8, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVNG THE VEHICLE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOYED AT 200 MPH CAUSING A LOT OF PHYSICAL THE DAMAGE ON THE CONSUMER. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8020396 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.