Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 vs 2004 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.

Metric2003 Mercedes-Benz E5002004 Mercedes-Benz E500
NHTSA complaints125142
Recall campaigns33
Service bulletins (TSBs)7478
Investigations11
Crash reports43
Fire reports02
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)1717
Median reported mileage91,800 mi92,042 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentMercedes-Benz E500Mercedes-Benz E500
Fuel/propulsion System2756
Service Brakes2919
Fuel System, Gasoline1430
Suspension1923
Power Train107
Service Brakes, Hydraulic87
Electrical System27
Air Bags71

Symptoms owners describe

Brake problems90
Stalling67
Loss of power50
Check engine light06
2003 Mercedes-Benz E500
2004 Mercedes-Benz E500

Compare all Mercedes-Benz E500 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.