2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 vs 2003 Nissan Altima
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 | 2003 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 125 | 883 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 74 | 101 |
| Investigations | 1 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 41 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 91,800 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz E500 | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 450 |
| Structure | 0 | 126 |
| Engine | 1 | 117 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 89 |
| Power Train | 10 | 34 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 | 28 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 9 | 0 |
| Stalling | 6 | 235 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 28 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 129 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 107 |
| Oil consumption | 0 | 40 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 36 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 21 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500
2003 Nissan Altima
Compare all Mercedes-Benz E500 vs Nissan Altima 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.