2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class, and owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Cruise control (vehicle speed control)
Mercedes-benz is recalling certain model year 1999-2002 m-class and model year 2000-2003 m-class amg vehicles. The cruise control system in the affected vehicles allows the driver to disengage the system in a number of ways, including tapping the brake pedal, using the cruise control stalk, or braking the vehicle enough to reach a…
Remedy: Dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began during october 2011. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
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Hose, piping, and connections (steering)
Mercedes-benz is recalling 125,228 my 1998-2004 m-class vehicles. The hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler may not provide sufficient clamping force for this connection.
Remedy: An earlier recall repair performed on these vehicles may not be sufficient to prevent a future leakage or failure of the power steering hose connection (please see 03v121). Since it is not possible through inspection…
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Hose, piping, and connections (steering)
On certain passenger vehicles, the hose clamp used to secure the power steering fluid cooling hose to the power steering fluid cooler may not provide sufficient clamping force for this connection.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new hose clamp on the power steering hose to the power steering cooler. During clamp replacement, the power steering cooling hose will be inspected and replaced as necessary. Owner notification…
10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 22,677 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 3 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“After changing the serpentine belt, i have noticed that the crankshaft pulley was wobbling and the belt vibrating, i been doing some research and found that there has been a recalled for this issue, d”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 17, 2011 · Engine and engine cooling
“While driving in moderate traffic engine stopped. Driver (not me) was very scared and said an accident almost occurred as she maneuvered to breakdown lane without power and no power steering. Second o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 3, 2010 · Fuel system, gasoline
Compare Mercedes-Benz M Class model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercedes-Benz M Class model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class
How do I know if my 2003 Mercedes-Benz M Class 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 M Class; 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 03V121000).
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
- C3003,469 complaints
- E3502,170 complaints
- E3201,164 complaints
- ML350952 complaints
- GLK350904 complaints
- ML320742 complaints
- C250726 complaints
- C230657 complaints
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.