2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class vs 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class
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 | 2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class | 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 36 | 28 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 13 | 10 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 0 | 0 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 98,000 mi | 57,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz S Class | Mercedes-Benz S Class |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 21 | 6 |
| Suspension | 5 | 7 |
| Interior Lighting | 7 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 | 2 |
| Structure | 1 | 2 |
2001 Mercedes-Benz S Class
2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class
Compare all Mercedes-Benz S Class vs Mercedes-Benz S Class 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.