2004 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2004 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 | 2004 Chevrolet Malibu | 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,147 | 142 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 629 | 78 |
| Investigations | 4 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 47 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 92,042 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 798 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 151 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 84 | 0 |
| Power Train | 64 | 7 |
| Seats | 69 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 56 |
| Suspension | 31 | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 30 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 184 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 82 | 0 |
| Stalling | 51 | 7 |
| Check engine light | 46 | 6 |
| Clunking / rattling | 46 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 38 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 13 | 0 |
| Overheating | 12 | 0 |
2004 Chevrolet Malibu
2004 Mercedes-Benz E500
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu 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.