2003 Mercedes-Benz E320 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 E320 | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 214 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 77 | 213 |
| Investigations | 1 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz E320 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 137 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 131 |
| Electrical System | 21 | 90 |
| Seats | 1 | 97 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 71 | 24 |
| Service Brakes | 57 | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 | 28 |
| Power Train | 11 | 35 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 21 | 75 |
| Brake problems | 21 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 29 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 13 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 24 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 18 |
| Overheating | 0 | 18 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 11 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz E320
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mercedes-Benz E320 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.