2003 Mercedes Benz G500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
37,941 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes 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 | 3 | 42.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 1 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Pinion Shaft | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 |
Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Abs Warning Light: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 1; Steering:Rack And Pinion:Pinion Shaft: 1; Structure: 1; Structure:Body:Door: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10029783 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR DOORS DO NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029784 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ABS LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039240 · 2003-09-21 (September 21, 2003)
ESP BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE 2003 G500 GOING DOWN HILL AROUND CURVES PAST 40 MPH IS A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. AUTOMATIC BRAKING ON THE LEFT TIRE TURNING TO THE RIGHT CAN THROW YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ESP NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049692 · 2003-12-13 (December 13, 2003)
I HAVE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ G 500. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND I HIT A BUMP IN THE WHOLE ROAD THE WHOLE STEERING UNIT IN THE TRUCK SHAKES AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL BECAUSE OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNDERS AT WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/FORUMS/THREAD-VIEW.ASP?TID=1124269&POSTS=16&FID=30&NP=1128200. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094235 · 2004-09-23 (September 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING RACK PINION SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167669 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ONE OF CONTACT'S CLIENTS SUFFERED 3RD DEGREE BURNS ON THE CALF OF THE LEG WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM A STAINLESS STEEL PORTION OF THE RUNNING BOARD. THE RUNNING BOARD WAS VERY HOT FROM THE SUN SHINING INSIDE THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE CLIENT'S LEG BEING BURNED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,941 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10763976 · 2015-09-15 (September 15, 2015)
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 AS THE 2ND OWNER. IT ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE SLIGHTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT KINDA MUSHY AND MY BRAKING WAS SLOWER THAN NORMAL. NEXT THING I SAW WAS MY DASHBOARD HAD A RED MESSAGE ON IT (BRAKE REDUCED BRAKING EFFORT) AHHHHHH I WAS FREAKED OUT AND GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK (I WAS AFRAID MY BRAKES WERE NOT GOING TO WORK AND I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10763976 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V303000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2008-07-07 (July 7, 2008)
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V366000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2010-08-05 (August 5, 2010)
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2010 G-CLASS VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A GRILL COVER FOR FRONT TURN SIGNAL PROTECTION THAT, WHILE PERMISSIBLE, MAY IMPACT OVER TIME THE SIGNAL'S ABILITY TO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108.
Consequence: THE SIGNAL LIGHT'S VISIBILITY TO OTHER MOTORISTS MAY BE REDUCED OVER TIME, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED TURN LIGHT UNITS OPTIMIZED FOR USAGE WITH GRILLS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AT THE END OF DECEMBER 2010 OR EARLY JANUARY 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗