2003 Mercedes Benz M CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
24,334 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 10 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 10.0% |
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 | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Seats: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10039003 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE (WITH MY 3 SMALL CHILDREN STRAPPED IN THE BACK), WHEN I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING. I PRESSED THE BRAKE HARDER, THE CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CEMENT MEDIAN, AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM SICK THINKING WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED. THE CAR IS 6 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR A PROBLEM I BELIEVE WAS THE BEGINNING OF THIS, I.E., WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE IT WOULD GO TO STALL, BUCK FORWARD AND THEN BE OK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND IT OR D…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,744 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045088 · 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 ML 350 DURING THE MEMORIAL DAY SALE FROM OUR LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER IN IOWA CITY, IA. THE SUV SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY. INITIALLY, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE SUV HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. EACH TIME, THE DAY AFTER I RECEIVED THE ML350 BACK, THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHERE THE SUV WOULD NOT START IN MY GARAGE (WHICH PRESENTED NO HAZARD). TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHERE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD - PARTICULARLY IF…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055079 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
HELLO, I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MERCEDES ML500 TRUCK FROM MILLENNIUM IN BRIDGEWATER, NJ [phone removed]. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS CONDENSATION BUILD IN IT ALL THE TIMES. WHILE THE DEALER SYMPTHISES WITH ME, THE DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE MERCEDES WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. MERCEDES SAYS IT IS NOT A PROBLEM. HOW CAN IT NOT BE A PROBLEM WHEN AT NIGHT IS PRESENTS A SAFTY PROBLEM AS IT IS LIKE DRIVING WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT ON, AND THE GLASS ON HEADLIGHT IS COVERED WITH CONDENSATION. S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060320 · 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)
THE TRANSMISSION OF THE SUV "JAMMED" WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. THE SUV WAS PREVIOUSLY MAKING SUDDEN JUMPS WHILE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTING THE GEARS. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM CORRECTLY. NOW THE VEHICLE IS WITH THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME THAT THERE WAS METAL DEBRIS IN THE TRASMISSION WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, COULD BE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065804 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MY 2003 ML500 MERCEDES - BENZ COMPUTER SHUT DOWN AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND WAS SCARED FOR MY LIFE THERE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND START THE CAR AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE BUT IT STOPED FOR JUST A SECOND OR TWO. THIS ISN;T AN LD CAR WITH ABOUT 25K MILES ON IT. FOR A 55 THOUSAND DOLLARS CAR TO DO THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120832 · 2005-05-13 (May 13, 2005)
- NO PRECURSORS OR APPARENT DAMAGE - DRIVERS SEAT HEATER FAILED RESULTING IN STRONG BURNING SMELL, AND SUPERFICIAL BURN TO LEFT UPPER LEG OF DRIVER
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152690 · 2006-03-14 (March 14, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH GOING AROUND A CURVE THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND THEN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL #03V121000 FOR THE STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST HOSE, PIPING AND CONNECTIONS. THE HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 5/2/2006 - THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED IN 2003 FOR THE HOSE CLAMPS. *NM CONTACT WAS TOLD BY MERCEDES THAT THIS FAILURE DID NOT INVOLVE THE CLAMP BUT THE HOSE WORE OUT. ALS…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199582 · 2007-08-14 (August 14, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML55. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH HE ENGAGED THE SEAT HEATER. THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS BECAME EXTREMELY HOT. HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE HEATER OFF. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE AND SPARKS. HE POURED WATER OVER THE SEATS AND THE SPARKS STOPPED. THE SEAT HEATER DID NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COILS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 28,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED SEAT AND E…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199582 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.
03V121000 · Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
Reported: 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Consequence: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOSE CLAMP ON THE POWER STEERING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING COOLER. DURING CLAMP REPLACEMENT, THE POWER STEERING COOLING HOSE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED AS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 16, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V465000 · Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
Reported: 2008-09-17 (September 17, 2008)
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING 125,228 MY 1998-2004 M-CLASS VEHICLES. THE HOSE CLAMP USED TO SECURE THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLING HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID COOLER MAY NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLAMPING FORCE FOR THIS CONNECTION.
Consequence: THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID MAY RESULT IN DIMINISHED POWER STEERING OVER TIME AND ULTIMATELY CAN DAMAGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: AN EARLIER RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT A FUTURE LEAKAGE OR FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE CONNECTION (PLEASE SEE 03V121). SINCE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE THROUGH INSPECTION TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC VEHICLES THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED, ALL VEHICLES REPAIRED PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 15, 2003, WILL BE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V208000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Reported: 2011-03-31 (March 31, 2011)
MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2002 M-CLASS AND MODEL YEAR 2000-2003 M-CLASS AMG VEHICLES. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, INCLUDING TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK, OR BRAKING THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO REACH A CERTAIN RATE OF DECELERATION. MERCEDES-BENZ HAS DETERMINED THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AS EXPECTED BY THE DRIVER, ALTHOUGH THE OTHER MEANS OF DEACTIVATING CRUISE CONTROL REMAIN FULLY OPERATIVE. SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THE DRIVER PUMPS THE BRAKES RATHER THAN APPLYING CONSISTENT PEDAL FORCE, THE LEVEL OF FORCE REQUIRED MAY BE UNUSUALLY HIGH.
Consequence: DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN DISENGAGING CRUISE CONTROL CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING OCTOBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
NHTSA campaign record ↗