2003 Mercedes-Benz E350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Air Bags: 1; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2020: 5; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues 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 10560805 · 2014-01-21 (January 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT FORCE BEING APPLIED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2006 UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFA…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,559 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11308122 · 2020-02-10 (February 10, 2020)
MY 2003 E320 SEDAN BATTERIES IS CONSTANTLY DRAINING AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS. I HAVE INCURRED COSTLY EXPENSES IN REPLACING BOTH THE REAR LOAD & FRONT SMALL AUXILIARY BATTERIES TO INCLUDE LABOR COST AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP. OCTOBER 2019 I TRIED TO ACCESS THE CAR USING THE KEY KNOB, HOWEVER NO POWER TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE NOR ACCESS THE TRUNK. NOVEMBER 2019 THE VEHICLE FOG, INTERIOR & REAR TAIL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON & OFF AND THE SECURITY ALARM BEGIN TO SOUND WITH A WEAK LIKE BATTERY SOUND WITHOUT THE USE OF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 205 miles reported. Look up ODI 11308122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11309878 · 2020-02-18 (February 18, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY). MERCEDES-BENZ OF MARIETTA LOCATED AT 810 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11309878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11311029 · 2020-02-24 (February 24, 2020)
THE VECHILE HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL TBAT I MAY BELIEVE IS BUILDING UP AS IT LEAKS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR
Owner-reported narrative. 300,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11320399 · 2020-04-07 (April 7, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING OR A CRASH. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. MERCEDES BENZ OF WALNUT CREEK (1301 PARKSIDE DR, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11320399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322779 · 2020-04-29 (April 29, 2020)
WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL, I CAN SMELL GAS FROM THE DRIVERS PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS 3/4TH TANK, THE SMELL DISAPPEARED. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM IN THE RUBBER SEAL IN THE TANK. IT IS A FIRE ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395323 · 2021-02-08 (February 8, 2021)
ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FAILED. CAR SUDDENLY LOWERED WHILE DRIVING. CHANGED AIR SHOCKED, FAILED AGAIN AFTER 2 YEARS. THIS CAR HAS ONLY LESS 93000 MILES. ALL MECHANICS ACROSS THE BOARD KNOW THIS IS THE PROBLEM MERCEDES HAS REFUSED TO TAKE CARE.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,673 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395323 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.