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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
4%of 140 total for the year
Median mileage
66,422miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500, 4% of the 140 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 66,422 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.

“I was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. Suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and I overshot the turn. Then the car had no power. I was 36 miles from my home. I limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. There was absolutely no warning of any kind of brake problem. The car was driving just fine before this happened. I believe it could have been a much worse situation had I been in any kind of traffic.”

NHTSA complaint #11475607, filed 2022-07, 156,000 miles

“After coming to a stop at an entrance to a busy highway, my 2005 E500 just barely moved onto the busy highway, and would not accelerate. The transmission was stuck in one of the higher gears. I pulled the car to the shoulder, turned off the ignition, and restarted it. After restarting, it worked normally. This has occurred numerous times since then. There seems to be some sort of electrical problem with this transmission. This is seems particularly dangerous when trying to merge into traffic from a stop, or crossing a busy intersection. …”

NHTSA complaint #10450273, filed 2012-03, 56,000 miles

“I took my car 2005 E500 for regular maintenance at the dealer and was told the ball bearings needed to be replaced in july 2011. Then after checking everything out, the dealer told me the fuel ring under the seat needs to be replaced. Cost usd 600. Also there was gasoline seeping out of car onto the driveway when car was parked. I started smelling gasoline smell in march 2012. I took the car again to the dealership in july 2012 and this time they replaced the fuel system. Cost usd 2100. There were puddles of gasoline in my garage after the service. I was told there might be gasoline smell. …”

NHTSA complaint #10550436, filed 2013-10, 51,000 miles

“On the day of the incident, the car gear was shifted to drive, but rather than going forward, it proceeded to roll backwards on the incline on which it was parked as if it were in neutral. The car was then towed to the nearest dealer and the service department said that a clip in the gear box had broken and had to be replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10159237, filed 2006-06, 8,287 miles

“Code: 4a30 engine control module not identified or incorrect control module. Code: 54f0 can communication with control unit transmission control is sporadically disturbed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10553464, filed 2013-11, 76,845 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200624%
200564%
200475%
2003108%

Other parts of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500

Fuel system
76 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsAir bags
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