2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 5%of 140 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 111,551miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500, 5% of the 140 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 111,551 miles.
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.
“Just received my E500 from the mercedes benz repair shop 2.5 weeks ago. They fixed the previous interior oil smell, however I noticed my alarm going off when I was driving or by itself sometimes while the car sat in the driveway. This happened two different days but the car still drove. Then I went to open my car yesterday morning on my way to work and the car has no power. I'm assuming the alarm eventually wore on the battery. Now I have no car to drive. Help!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10747712, filed 2015-08, 123,000 miles“I am referencing a mercedes benz service bulletin p-b-91.60/99e. The control cluster shows srs light being illuminated. I took my car into a mercedes dealer and paid to have care analyzed. The mechanic indicated my car has the following fault codes: DTC 9103 (the resistance value in the ignition circuit containing component r12/13 is too high) and DTC 9123 (the resistance value in the ignition circuit containing component r12/14 is too high). Both pertaining to a faulty scm harness located on the steering column. …”
NHTSA complaint #10777865, filed 2015-09, 100,102 miles“On three separate occasions, the engine suddenly shut off as the vehicle was decelerating to a stop. Twice it occurred as the vehicle was coming to a stop at a stoplight and once it happened as the vehicle was on an off-ramp, exiting I-95. On the first two occasions, at the stoplights, the vehicle restarted immediately. On the third occasion, on the off-ramp, the vehicle would not restart until it was allowed to cool for at least five minutes. This was particularly dangerous on the off-ramp. …”
NHTSA complaint #10731830, filed 2015-07, 134,750 miles“Controls on steering column periodically do not work. While most of these are convenience items, the horn also did not work. Happened 4 times--12/16 driving to work; 12/'20 driving to and from dulles airport; 12/26 in the morning. Each time the temperature was below 30 degrees f. Dealer serviced vehicle on 12/22--said wiring was repaired but experienced same problem again on 12/26. Restarting car does not reset the controls. Concerned about driving without an operable horn.”
NHTSA complaint #10104507, filed 2004-12, 2,700 miles“Driving down the road when an alert that the srs system had detected a failure and lit up on the gauge cluster. Had a an independent mercedes shop read codes which were: failure of supplemental restraint system on a 2005 mercedes E500 wagon. The srs light came on for no apparent reason. The car was taken to a mercedes dealer for repair. The wiring harness in the steering column that sends and receives data to drivers side airbag 1 caused a failure in what is known as the squib for the affected airbag. The dealer told me that in the event of a crash the airbag would not deploy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10331313, filed 2010-05, 77,100 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11015640Mar 5, 2025Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party…
- 11008091Sep 28, 2024Complaint During a phone call, the called party has difficulty understanding/cannot understand the driver, or interference/background noises are audible to the called party…
- 10186142Dec 9, 2020Unmotivated Reaction from Park Assist - model series 213 facelift / 238 facelift with option code 235 (active par- king assist) and option code 501 (surround view system)
- 10179951Jul 20, 2020AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster
- 10205233Aug 5, 2013Mobile phone cotacts are not transferred completely.
- 10037653Dec 10, 2010Mercedes-benz: there are electrical production quality issues that cause the air bag warning light to illuminate.
- 10033070Dec 16, 2009Xentry (mercedes): engine warning lamp is currently on or was on and a delay fault of the camshaft adjust to current or stored in the engine control unit. Models 171, 203, 209…
- 10028686May 6, 2009Mercedes: air matic visit workshop displayed within instrument cluster. Models 164, 211, 219, 221 and 251. Included 4matic, amg (compressor) amg, bluetec and wagon. Model years…
Electrical system: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500
76 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 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