Model year record
2003 Mercedes-Benz 500 recalls & problems
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz 500 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 11 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz 500.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Delivery › Fuel pump | 3 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Springs › Air suspension system; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint | 3 | 10,000 mi |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
| Seat belts | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Seat belts
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT EXTEND OUT AND DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING HOT WEATHER. *TR
- Fuel system, gasoline
IN JUNE 2012 THE CAR DID NOT PASS INSPECTION AND WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED A NEW GAS CAP. WE GOT A GAS CAP AND IT PASSED INSPECTION. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED COMPLETELY. IF WE ONLY FILL THE GAS TANK ABOUT 3/4 OR LESS, THERE IS NO GAS SMELL. WE RECENTLY HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE MECHANIC TOLD US THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND A SEAL/CAP IN AN OVERFILL TANK UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS LOOSE. WE REPLACED THE GAS CAP AGAIN AND THE CAP TO THE OVERFILL TANK WAS TIGHTENED. WE FILLED THE TANK FULL AND HAVE A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS SO THOSE REPAIRS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IN A REVIEW OF SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, WE SAW THAT NHTSA AND MERCEDES-BENZ…
- Suspension
WAS GOING DOWN ROAD AND FRONT STRUT BOTTOMED OUT BECAUSE OF AIR BELLOW FAILURE IN AIR LEVELING SYSTEM .MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM! *TR
- Fuel/propulsion system
BROUGHT CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION STICKER, WAS TOLD THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MALFUNCTION THAT ALLOWED GAS VAPORS TO ESCAPE FROM TANK. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN BUT TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED TO PASS INSPECTION!!! THE CAR WAS NOT MISUSED OR DRIVEN OFF ROAD OR ABUSED, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART MERCEDES PUT IN THEIR CARS AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. CHARGED $1,400 FOR REPAIRS. *TR
- Service brakes, hydraulic
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MERCEDES E500 DOWN A HILL WHEN THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY BY DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WARNINGS AND ADMONISHING TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND OUT THAT MERCEDES HAS A 'PROGRAM' FOR THIS FAILURE BUT DOES NOT TELL CAR OWNERS ABOUT IT UNTIL IT OCCURS. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT I HAD NO OTHER BRAKING CAPABILITY. *TR
- Electrical system
WHILE PARKED THE BATTERY DIED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *NM
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE STALLED INADVERTENTLY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO TOLD CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD RECALL REPAIRS DONE. CURRENTLY, STALLING PROBLEMS RECURRED. *AK
- Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball jointCrash
WHILE DRIVING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SNAPPED IN HALF, CAUSING A COLLISION. CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT THE FRONT END FELT LOOSE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.