Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
*1. The Fuel Tank and components and/or system failed or malfunctioned. *2. After filling the gas tank, the odor of strong pungent gasoline fumes fills the cabin of the and lingers for some time in the car and garage until the gasoline level goes down after being driven for a few miles. *3The car has been taken to a certified Mercedes Benz Dealership Service Center and was told that the problem was the gas tank and system/components. *4.The car was inspected by a certified Mercedes Benz Dealership Service Center Mechanic *5. There were NO warning lamps or messages on the dashboard or message center on car. The only symptoms of the problem was the strong odor of gasoline fumes after fuel fill ups.
Everytime I get in my car, the battery is dead! I have purchased several brand new batteries, and the same thing! I purchased a new battery, and my wife and I went on vacation, and as we was headed back home, we began to smell a real foul oder! We stop to the gas station, and looked everywhere, but didn't see anything! As we continue to drive, and turned in the drive way the battery light came on! I opened the trunk, and there was the foul smell, and the battery was so hot it could have caught fire, luckily we was home
Vehicle engine suddenly and without warning stopped running while being driven. This could have caused a serious or fatal accident if it had occurred on a major highway. Mercedes Benz of west chester replaced the crankshaft position sensor. The occurrence was stored in vehicle electronics. The fault was an electrical short in the crankshaft position sensor. Mercedes determined the crankshaft sensor gets hot when engine running and causes internal resistance to rise to the point of shorting out. Mercedes Benz stated that a failure of this part should not have shut the vehicle off completely but rather should have resulted in the vehicle not being able to be restarted once it was stopped in ordinary operation. This is very dangerous!
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. While driving at night, the instrument panel lighting failed. The contact was unable to read any of the instrument panel gauges. The vehicle was taken to Mercedes-Benz fort wayne (7227 west jefferson boulevard, fort wayne, indiana 46804, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the instrument panel needed to be replaced. The instrument panel was not replaced. The manufacturer was notified. The dealer informed the contact that the instrument panel was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 06V028000 (interior lighting); however, the repair did not correct the failure. The failure mileage was 101,200.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes Benz E320. While parked, the vehicle's "service brakes-visit workshop" light illuminated. The warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact also stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.
While traveling in the far left lane on a four lane highway the engine on the car stops in addition to the check engine light coming on. I could not move to the left shoulder because it was an additional lane for high occupancy vehicles which was also barricaded. I immediately placed on my flashers and commenced to change lanes to get off of the highway. Where this also occurred was where an on-ramp connects which added on another obstacle in an attempt to get off of the highway. It was very fortunate and lucky that no accident occurred as in the dallas area during rush hour it is very hard to just change to one lane with a running car let alone changing lanes 3 times plus dealing with merging traffic from an on-ramp with a car that is not running. After having the car towed to the dealer, the crank shaft sensor was found to be the defect. …
2003 E320 Mercedes brake failure!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I bought this car in 07 with 65,000 miles a good deal. Fine car! However...today while driving to work a red brake failure warning...flashes across the screen and my car would not stop!!! I am rolling across a small country rd bridge and thankfully am at the bottom of a steep hill. The brake pedal just flopped..nothing.. I managed to get it into park and get out with the car still running!!! I've had it towed two hours away...while waiting on my husband to get home to go the dealership with me, I located about 3 recalls on this model.. Question... What responsibility does this used import car dealer have to me as a customer? …
It started with a ESP warning on the cluster, with increased brake distance, after restart the warning was gone, after many months the warning came back on in nov of 2013, went back off and came back on jan 14 2014, called the Mercedes dealer in nashville tn, was advised that the auto did have a recall on the sbc unit, which is the ABS brake system, but the recall ended on 11-12, which I do not understand how a safety recall can expire with mileage or date. The repair will cost about $2000.00 with no manufacture support or help. Mercedes has know about the Bosch system have only so many brake cycles, I purchased this vehicle used in 2009 and have never received any information on the recall. This is not the way a recall is supposed to work.. Mercedes said sorry, that's not good enough, this is the safety of my family and others that own these vehicles.
While driving my e-320 I heard a loud popping sound come through the speakers. After I heard the sound the rear speakers and the sub woofer began to make a noised that suggested they were busted. When I stop the car and shut it off I heard a buzzing noise come through the speakers. Now when ever I apply the brakes I hear what sounds like a faulty ground noise coming through the speakers. There have been recalls on the brakes electrical system that sounds just like the problem that I am having but mb said my car is not included in the recall, by the way the to door speakers cost 189.00 dollars a piece and the rear sub woofer cost 639.00 dollars. I haven't started the research on how much the radio unit cost. This car has giving me several problems. What a beautiful lemon..
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning while turning. The contact stated that all of the power windows became inoperative, as well as the horn and brakes. The vehicle continued to accelerate independently and was unable to be stopped. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery and alternator warning indicators flashed on the instrument panel. The contact replaced the battery and the alternator, but the failure recurred. The battery was disconnected and reconnected several times in an attempt to correct the failure. A dealer and the manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was unknown.
Electrical complaints in other E320 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320, 10% of the model year's 214 complaints. The component named most often is 12v/24v/48v battery (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.