2005 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Chevrolet Malibu | 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 975 | 140 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 630 | 85 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 46 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 34 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 18 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 90,000 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Mercedes-Benz E500 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 506 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 180 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 153 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 32 | 55 |
| Service Brakes | 43 | 34 |
| Power Train | 65 | 6 |
| Seats | 62 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 37 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 101 | 0 |
| Stalling | 65 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 59 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 40 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 34 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 32 | 10 |
| Won’t start | 17 | 0 |
| Overheating | 12 | 0 |
2005 Chevrolet Malibu
2005 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.