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2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500, and owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
125
owner complaints to NHTSA
4 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

3 safety recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 24V874000 Reported 33,456 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an…

  2. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 22V954000 Reported 131,653 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands…

  3. Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)

    NHTSA 19V918000 Reported 747,928 vehicles potentially affected Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC.

    Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

    Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at…

125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 97,550 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 20 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the pedal was stiff. The vehicle was taken t”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 23, 2025 · Service brakes, hydraulic

“Air suspension in the rear suddenly failed making it impossible to drive, also triggered a red warning of "stop, car too low"”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 21, 2024 · Suspension

Compare Mercedes-Benz E500 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz E500 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2003 Mercedes-Benz E5003125
2004 Mercedes-Benz E5003142
2005 Mercedes-Benz E5003140
2006 Mercedes-Benz E500450
2007 Mercedes-Benz E50001
2008 Mercedes-Benz E50001
2009 Mercedes-Benz E50001

Checking a specific 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500

How do I know if my 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 19V918000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mercedes-Benz models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.