Mercedes-Benz E500 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 457 consumer complaints across the 4 model years of the Mercedes-Benz E500 (2003–2006) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 142. Across all years, the part named most often is fuel system (230 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All E500 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 50 | 79,000 | 4 | 95 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 140 | 99,250 | 3 | 85 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 142 | 90,800 | 3 | 79 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 125 | 90,600 | 3 | 76 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Fuel system230 48%
- Brakes105 22%
- Suspension55 11%
- Transmission and drivetrain25 5.2%
- Electrical system19 4.0%
- Air bags18 3.7%
- Engine17 3.5%
- Other or unknown12 2.5%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2006: “I have had the same thing lately with my car as recall dated 12/20/2019. My sunroof has been leaking a little all the liner in my car is starting to fall down. It started with the sunroof and the mechanical part of the roof is deteriorating. I had to take off the panel for the sunroof because it was molding and not closing properly.”
NHTSA complaint #11299237, filed 2020-01, 80,000 miles2003: “Vehicle started flashing a red warning sign while driving at which point I lost all brakes it was only right that I used a runaway ramp at the moment otherwise the car would have not stopped. I turned off the vehicle and then upon restarting everything brake related disappeared. Also this has happened a few times already.”
NHTSA complaint #11350363, filed 2020-08, 146,753 miles2005: “I was driving my 2005 E500 4matic mercedes hit a giant pot hole busting my left passenger rim n wheel. Suspension malfunction begin by the car not rising due to a malfunction. Reported the incident to scdot on 12/5/2019. My claim was denied. I received a letter stating the pot hole was fixed a d they were unaware of the damaged road because no other reports was made about the gigantic pothole.”
NHTSA complaint #11321351, filed 2020-04, 175,542 milesOther Mercedes-Benz models
3,963 complaintsMercedes-Benz E350
2,215 complaintsMercedes-Benz E320
1,164 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML350
952 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLK350
901 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML320
740 complaintsMercedes-Benz C250
725 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLC 300
657 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology