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Air bagsPart report

2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 Air bags Problems

Complaints
7about this part
Share
6%of 125 total for the year
Median mileage
90,600miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500, 6% of the 125 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,600 miles. 2 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 driving on interstate 12 in baton rouge, a dump truck merged into traffic in front of me spreading small rock sized debris everywhere. I decided to take the exit before my planned exit in effort to avoid any possible damage. I avoided quarter size rocks by driving slightly onto the shoulder where I experienced the vibration created from the shoulder grooves in the road and one small raised bump from the blacktop. This lasted a split second and then bam!, the driver side curtain airbags deployed. I became immediately disoriented as to the nature of the events. …”

NHTSA complaint #10279083, filed 2009-08, 113,100 miles

“I had an accident today the 20th of september where another car crashed into me caused considerable amount of damage to the front. The other car was going at least 40-50 MPH. The other car was not as damaged as mine and no injuries resulted yet. I am very concerned that the airbag system did not engage.”

NHTSA complaint #10137154, filed 2005-09

“The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the air bags on the driver’s side of the vehicle inadvertently deployed without warning. After the air bags were deployed, a message showing an air bag malfunction was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact received medical attention for ringing in his ear from the air bag deployment. The vehicle was not diagnosed because the dealer informed the contact that he had to pay for the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000.”

NHTSA complaint #11471996, filed 2022-07, 65,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz E500. The contact was driving 40 MPH when the driver's side front and rear air bags deployed without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,600 and the current mileage was 90,683. Updated 05/09/12 the consumer stated her daughter was injured when the air bags deployed for no reason. Updated 06/01/12”

NHTSA complaint #10448632, filed 2012-02, 90,600 miles

“The contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz E500. While the vehicle was parked, the front passenger side air bag and the driver side frontal air bag deployed without warning. The vehicle is currently with the dealer, but they have been unable to diagnose the cause of the failures. The current and failure mileages were 54,847.”

NHTSA complaint #10227175, filed 2008-05, 54,847 miles

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200648%
200564%
200411%
200376%

Other parts of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500

Fuel system
41 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsOther or unknown
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
4 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsElectrical system
2 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaintsEngine
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500

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