2003 Mercedes Benz E500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10137154 · 2005-09-20 (September 20, 2005)
I HAD AN ACCIDENT TODAY THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER WHERE ANOTHER CAR CRASHED INTO ME CAUSED CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT. THE OTHER CAR WAS GOING AT LEAST 40-50 MPH. THE OTHER CAR WAS NOT AS DAMAGED AS MINE AND NO INJURIES RESULTED YET. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161593 · 2006-06-29 (June 29, 2006)
BRAKES SQUEAL IN CONSUMER'S 2003 MERCEDES BENZ 3500. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE MOUNT, UPDATED SOFTWARE, REPLACED CALIPER,REPLACED FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS AS WELL AS CHANGED A SPRING CLIP. PROBLEM STILL PERSIST. *TS *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200944 · 2007-08-27 (August 27, 2007)
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE WEAR RESULTING IN INCREASED HYDROPLANING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209375 · 2007-11-19 (November 19, 2007)
DRIVING VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND BRAKE FAILURE. WARNING INDICATED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE STOP IMMEDIATELY. PEDAL PRESSURE WAS EXCESSIVELY HIGH RESULTING IN VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM SELF CLEARED BUT THEN REPEATED WITH LITTLE BRAKING AND VERY HIGH PEDAL FORCE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209375 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V918000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
NHTSA campaign record ↗22V954000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V874000 · Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Reported: 2024-11-19 (November 19, 2024)
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
NHTSA campaign record ↗