2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 vs 2003 Volkswagen Passat
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 Mercedes-Benz E500 | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 125 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 74 | 213 |
| Investigations | 1 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 91,800 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz E500 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 137 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 131 |
| Seats | 0 | 97 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 90 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 24 |
| Power Train | 10 | 35 |
| Service Brakes | 29 | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 39 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 9 | 0 |
| Stalling | 6 | 75 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 24 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 29 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 18 |
| Overheating | 0 | 18 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 13 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 11 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mercedes-Benz E500 vs Volkswagen Passat 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.