2003 Mercedes Benz E500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (27) · Fuel/Propulsion System (26) · Suspension (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mercedes Benz E500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
101 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2024-11-19 · campaign 24V874000 · 33,456 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2022-12-23 · campaign 22V954000 · 131,653 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2019-12-20 · campaign 19V918000 · 747,928 vehicles
Defect: 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
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (77)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Service Brakes 2026-09-22 · LI42.10-P-078779 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint repeat workshop visit for vehicle vibration while braking from 60mph. note: although the symptom is similar to a tire or wheel vibration, it is usually readily noticeable that it is distinctly different if it happens at all times or only while braking. cause although the cause of the vibra
Structure:body 2026-09-14 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Structure:body 2026-08-06 · LI82.62-P-078631 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint clanking noise from the area of the speakers in the doors. cause under analysis. remedy to narrow down the cause, first of all remove the door trim. • if the noise continues to occur even with the door trim removed, then continue the diagnosis working towards the speaker and if necessary,
Power Train 2026-07-14 · LI35.30-P-058566 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
single throttle lift-off clunking noise from the side shaft when moving off (audible at the outboard end). the noise is heard once in each instance when changing direction of travel. note: sound file in attachment cause if the complaint is eliminated by experimentally loosening the outboard collar n
Visibility/Wiper 2026-05-19 · LI82.30-P-059239 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint there are several types of complaint about noises or poor windshield wiper wiping performance: a: wiper blades squeaking, chattering, shuddering b: the windshield is not wiped completely (streaking) c: during the downward movement water is pulled back onto the windshield from the a-pillar
Exterior Lighting 2026-04-16 · LI82.10-P-078301 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
complaint headlamp, front fog lamp leaky or fogged. cause fogging of the headlamps is a natural phenomenon, which can occur under certain climatic conditions. it does not lead to any technical impairment of the headlamp. if a pressure compensation diaphragm is fitted in the housing cover, then the l
Showing the 6 most recent of 77 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-23 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 45,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e500. the contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the pedal was stiff. the vehicle was taken to two dealers where it was diagnosed that the brake pump needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the fai…”
2024-04-21 · Suspension“air suspension in the rear suddenly failed making it impossible to drive, also triggered a red warning of "stop, car too low"…”
2022-09-07 · Service Brakes · 97,648 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e500. the contact stated that there was leakage coming from the driver’s and the passenger’s side sunroof. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer. the contact was informed that the only warranty would be for the module. the contact stated as he was driving the vehicle into the dealer se…”
2022-07-01 · Air Bags · 65,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e500. the contact stated while driving 75 mph, the air bags on the driver’s side of the vehicle inadvertently deployed without warning. after the air bags were deployed, a message showing an air bag malfunction was displayed on the instrument panel. the contact received medical attention for ringing in his ear …”
2022-05-16 · Service Brakes“i own a 2003 mercedes benz e500. my wife was driving the car about 25 mph .she put on the brakes and a bright red signal appeared on the screen and the car brakes failed .to avoid an accident ,my wife drove into an uphill parking lot where the car came to a stop without the cars brakes help .after we calmed down ,we called aaa and had the car towed…”
2022-05-03 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 98,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e500. the contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph, the brakes became inoperable. the brake warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnose the failure to be the sensotronic brake control (sbc) electronic braking system. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufactur…”
2021-11-02 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking“ i am in immediate need of a confirmation that mercedes benz usa or any dealership performed a sensotronic brake control services on my 2003 e500 mercedes benz relative to safety recall #2005110001. is mzbusa required to report all vehicles that were serviced under this recall? please , if service was completed, provide the dates(s) and p…”
2021-07-22 · Suspension · 139,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 mercedes-benz e500. the contact stated while driving 45 mph, the air bag suspension detached from the subframe which caused the shock to lean into the tire. the rear driver’s side wheel ceased turning. the contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independe…”
2020-10-01 · Service Brakes · 150,250 mi“mzb issued a 25-year-warranty/safety recall extension on my 2003 e500 mzb car; #2005110001 -for the sensotronic brake system. around august 2020 i was driving on surface street when suddenly the dashboard started flashing red warnings and the speed immediately reduced and transmission was locked in first gear. i was almost rear-ended and managed t…”
2020-08-20 · Service Brakes · 146,753 mi“vehicle started flashing a red warning sign while driving at which point i lost all brakes it was only right that i used a runaway ramp at the moment otherwise the car would have not stopped. i turned off the vehicle and then upon restarting everything brake related disappeared. also this has happened a few times already.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.