2005 Mercedes Benz E500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (53) · Service Brakes (34) · Fuel System, Gasoline (16)
🧭 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
123 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 (88)
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 88 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-12-20 · Service Brakes“this is not about an accident. it's about the vehicle's condition. precisely, about the brake service warning. red warning with beeping on dashboard saying i need to bring it to workshop for service. my wife was driving this car when she felt something was wrong with the car and she brought it to her trustful mechanic for check up right away samed…”
2025-07-22 · Fuel/Propulsion System“car smells like gas. constantly a couple machanic. did some repairs. but there’s a small leak as well from a smoke test. gas leaks in more than one area. oil leaks everywhere. evap leak didn’t pass smog. then went to a smog station and repair. check engine light back on again. i saw mercedes had an extended warranty to avoid recalling several safet…”
2024-05-23 · Unknown Or Other“2005 e500 mercedes benz,after full tank of gas i filled. i noticed very strong gas inside my car and outside. it can catch on fired. cause cancer and lung issues.…”
2023-12-21 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 40,000 mi“the contact owns a 2005 mercedes-benz e500. the contact stated that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. there was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. the contact refueled the vehicle and there was an abnormal odor of fuel outside of the vehicle. there were no warning lights illuminated. the contact called the local dealer, who stated ther…”
2023-02-25 · Service Brakes · 180,000 mi · 💥 crash“per incident was back glass detached from window and broke all over the road and on the back of my car while driving. 2: sbcc pump goes in and out admittedly and type of a no brake issue at all hard as a rock will not move car only has 180,000 miles on it and it’s been doing that since 140,000 miles which did cause me to get in a minor accid…”
2023-02-25 · Air Bags“had a minor accident no airbags deployed sitting in car i don’t know a month later something around that sitting in car key not in the ignition sitting in the driver seat when all of a sudden a big bang happened and blue out both side airbag by the sunroof sunroof. was very loud and knocked my head sideways. nothing had touch the car car hadn’t bee…”
2022-11-08 · Unknown Or Other“several times if the vehicle is not driven in a day or two the battery would be dead.i had to replace the battery twice in 2 years. i now receive a message (check battery) every time i start the vehicle. i bought a battery charger that i keep with me all the time. once a month i put the vehicle on a battery charger, and if i’m not going to use it f…”
2022-07-24 · Service Brakes · 156,000 mi“i was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and i overshot the turn. then the car had no power. i was 36 miles from my home. i limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. there was absolutely no…”
2022-07-08 · Suspension“i was sold this car and because i did not know what the red "stop car too low warning" meant when i was driving it home, i was not only scammed by the used car dealership with no recourse, but i also was tricked into driving this car while it was not supposed to be driven for safety, per the manual of the vehicle. i will include a picture of the sa…”
2022-04-28 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the 2005 e500 w211 gas tank cracks leaking fuel sending unit and fuel pump. the odor of gas permeates the cabin, recall campaign number 2008-020001, and it’s extension information of 15 years dated jan. 2015 signed by ralph s. fisher gm customer assistance center. the dealer in hawai’i refuse to honor the recall warranty. it’s traveling a bomb. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.