2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 vs 2005 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 Mercedes-Benz E500 | 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 125 | 140 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 74 | 85 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 91,800 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz E500 | Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 55 |
| Service Brakes | 29 | 34 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 23 |
| Suspension | 19 | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 9 | 13 |
| Stalling | 6 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 10 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500
2005 Mercedes-Benz E500
Compare all Mercedes-Benz E500 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.