Most common 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 problems
Share of the 125 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E500 complaints by model year
Best E500 years: 2006, 2003. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 recalls (3)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
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
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500:
Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on January 23, 2012 as PE12-001 based on 20 consumer reports in model year (MY) 2003-2006 E55 AMG vehicles.Based on new reports in other E-Class vehicles, ODI upgraded the investigation to Engineering Analysis (EA) 13-003 on March 15, 2013, and expanded the scope to all E-Class vehicles through MY 2008.The complainants alleged a strong odor of…
What 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 41 →
My vehicle started puttering and finally shut off. I had it towed to the nearest Mercedes Benz shop located on independence drive in charlotte. After the diagnostic, I was told that the fuel pump was bad. I informed the service advisor colton and the service manager todd about the extended warranty on the components of the fuel system. I was denied warranty coverage because they stated that the fuel tank had to be cracked before they would honor the warranty. To my understanding if the item is a part of the fuel system components, it should be covered for the warranty. They refused to satisfy the warranty and I ended up not authorizing the repairs. Now because Mercedes will not repair the covered part, I have to take it to another repair shop to have it fixed. …
This vehicle has a very strong gasoline smell after I fill the tank. This smell is concentrated on the driver side by the rear wheel. I do not have the money to repair or diagnose the vehicle. Although, Mercedes has issued an extended warranty to 15 years unlimited miles for "covered fuel tank components". The Mercedes dealerships are not able to tell me what the severity or the specific reason for my fuel leak/smell without paying a large diagnostic fee/ w no guarantee of warrantied service. I would like them to share specific information about this problem with me without charging diagnostic fee.
Brakes all 38 →
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 service center the ESP warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after the ESP warning light disappeared, the brake warning light illuminated. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,648.
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 manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Suspension
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 independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.
Car display panel showed "stop, car too low". The front left portion of the car was low and the tire almost touched the tire fender. Tried to drive the car to shop but can hear the tire scratched the fender when made turns. Towed the car to shop next day. Shop told me the air suspension was bad and needed to replace strut and recommended to replace both front two struts. This could be a very dangerous situation if it happened on freeway. Car could loose balance at high speed. Tire could bust at high speed. Checked online and saw many people had same problems. Now I remember that a friend in taiwan has collected more than 500 Mercedes struts in his shop. He told me that this had been a well known problem for Mercedes 500 series. Why Mercedes did not recall cars for repair??? Too expensive and can not afford to do it for Mercedes?? It cost me $2,850 to replace the front two struts. …
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 a good car?
Based on 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 E500 rates average: 36% fewer complaints than a typical year of the E500 at the same age. It is one of the best E500 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500?
The fuel & propulsion system — 41 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (38) and suspension (19).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004 and 2005. See the full Mercedes-Benz E500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.