2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 3%of 214 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 101,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320, 3% of the 214 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 101,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While I was driving the car in 35 miles speed, all of a sudden the brake system failed. I was unable to control my 2003 mercedes e 320 and I was almost dead crossing a heavy traffic area. Fortunately I turned the car left to a parking lot and changed the gear to parking to stop the car and to avoid getting in to the shop. I bought the mercedes with a trust, but I lost my trust. Not only that I am still waiting to get the repairing cost from mercedes due to the product defect.”
NHTSA complaint #10232428, filed 2008-06, 82,000 miles“I purchased my car from a used car dealership of course I expected to have to have minor work done on it. Immediately noticed that the heater didn't work when I had it repaired I was told that some valve often gets stuck on these cars the dealership always run diagnostics on your car whether you want them to or upon running the diagnostic I was advised the my new used card would need about $6k in work done from the hood to the trunk I decided to keep the car and get the major work done in stages 1st thing I had done was front break pads and rotors although I opted to have the work completed…”
NHTSA complaint #10608457, filed 2014-07, 120,000 miles“Complete brake failure. Almost crashed. I have numerous fault codes in computer, ABS code, sbc code, resivior code, etc, etc on a 58,000 milr car! They are telling me only one part has extended warranty and that is the sbc. Everything else I must pay for. The sbc effects all of these other parts and that is crap! Like which came first? The chicken or the egg. Why have you not effected a complete recall of this make & model as everyone is having the same problem. You and mercedes are going to get someone killed as the brakes go to manual and it's hard panic stoppng a 3400lb car!!!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10403336, filed 2011-05, 58,206 miles“Check engine light goes on and off for days at a time . Brake lights on dash stay on all the time ABS will also come on while driving and my car will stop . I have to force the car into park ... Pump my brakes the breaks make a sound and then they start working again .... There is a humming noice when I start my car as well as the seat belt light goes on and off even with my seals belt on.”
NHTSA complaint #11228682, filed 2019-07“Water gets in the trunk somehow and causes faulty wuthering sam boxes..creating electrical fire hazzard..can't seem to figure out how water gets in trunk and settles where spare tire sits near battery and electronic wiring”
NHTSA complaint #10873558, filed 2016-06Related service bulletins
- 10186135Dec 9, 2020If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
- 10151948Jul 19, 2018Display of suspension setting in head unit implausible
Electronic stability control: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320
88 complaintsBrakes
77 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsSuspension
11 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsEngine
7 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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