2003 Ford Taurus vs 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Ford Taurus | 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,223 | 26 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 64 | 38 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 56 | 0 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,284 mi | 93,835 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Taurus | Mercedes-Benz S430 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 316 | 2 |
| Suspension | 313 | 4 |
| Visibility | 191 | 0 |
| Structure | 111 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 97 | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 88 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 67 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 46 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Water leaks | 97 | 0 |
| Stalling | 95 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 43 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 21 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 17 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 0 |
2003 Ford Taurus
2003 Mercedes-Benz S430
Compare all Ford Taurus vs Mercedes-Benz S430 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.