2003 Honda Accord vs 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500
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 Honda Accord | 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,987 | 125 |
| Recall campaigns | 13 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 382 | 74 |
| Investigations | 5 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 153 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 18 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–26 | 17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,000 mi | 91,800 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 924 | 10 |
| Air Bags | 318 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 143 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 142 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 95 | 4 |
| Steering | 90 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 81 | 2 |
| Structure | 73 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 104 | 6 |
| Shifting problems | 92 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 75 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 68 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 58 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 45 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 31 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 0 |
2003 Honda Accord
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500
Compare all Honda Accord vs Mercedes-Benz E500 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.