2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 16about this part
- Share
- 36%of 45 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 14,205miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 16 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class, 36% of the 45 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 14,205 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I started smelling gas in the car cabin. There was gas on my driveway as well. The gas sign started to flash on my dash and the check engine light came on. Went to the dealership and they said there was a major leak in the purge system. They quoted me $3066.88. They should take responsibility and not pass it on to me.”
NHTSA complaint #10556255, filed 2013-12, 88,900 miles“Total brake failure. Mercedes benz 2003 e500.....I had just started the car, put it into drive and within 20 feet, I received a warning display to stop vehicle, brakes inoperative. I was able to stop car with parking brake. This car's braking system is a brake by wire type.”
NHTSA complaint #10060597, filed 2004-03, 8,945 miles“100% brake failure/lost I left my office at 02:30 am. 3.5 miles from home, as I'm driving up hill approximate speed of 55 miles per hr temp. Of 75 degrees dry road conditions. I approach one of the intersections as I press on the brake there is 100% brake failure the pedal feels normal not hard not soft normal, the warning system activates a red lettering display on the instrument panel stop! Vehicle brake (something) I cant remember the instructions other than stop vehicle but I could not stop at all. …”
NHTSA complaint #10086879, filed 2004-08, 41,900 miles“The 2003 mercedes benz e320 has a faulty gateway module and software. This module has resulted in problems being reported in my car that the brakes, self restraint system, telephone system, and tire pressure have failed. I have no way of knowing if the the safty systems are operational or not. At this point I am driving a car that says my srs system is not working. I have been in the mercedes shop no less than 4 times to have the problem repaired. It simply re-occurs after each repair. From research on the internet, this appears to be a common problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10000362, filed 2002-12, 2 miles“The warning light of brakes failure came on at highway exit at 65mph and the brake paddle hit the floor with no brakes. Pulled over and took the car to the dealer in mid march and was told by the dealer that this is the sbc pump that failed which would have been covered by mercedes benz under service bulletin no.: 484656 but the warranty expired on 02/28/13 and since I was 15 days over this will not be covered. …”
NHTSA complaint #10504889, filed 2013-03, 120,000 milesRelated recalls
- 05V133000Apr 1, 2005On certain vehicles, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may prematurely shift to the hydraulic back-up function mode, due to deterioration of the…Covers: Mercedes-Benz E Class 2003–2005, SL Class 2003–2005, CLS Class 2006
- 04V296000Jun 22, 2004On certain vehicles, the electronic monitoring system of the sensotronic brake control (sbc) is designed to monitor the pressure gradient within the high…Covers: Mercedes-Benz E Class 2003–2005, SL Class 2003–2004
Related service bulletins
- 10030964Jun 5, 2009Mercedes: the limited warranty on the sbc hydraulic unit for models 211, model 219 and models 230 was extended from the original 4 years/50,000 miles to 10 years with no mileage…
- 10017495Oct 4, 2005Parking brake fails to release / difficult to open.
- 10014573Mar 2, 2005Activation of the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system with das software 02/05. Mercedes-benz models 199, 211, 219, 230 my 2003-2006.
- 10011739Jan 31, 2005Voluntary recall campaign sensotronic brake control system.
Brakes: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class
11 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E Class
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology