2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 vs 2003 Nissan 350Z
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 SL500 | 2003 Nissan 350Z |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 80 | 275 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 45 | 108 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16 | 19–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 62,859 mi | 12,717 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz SL500 | Nissan 350Z |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 34 | 110 |
| Tires | 0 | 71 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 34 |
| Power Train | 4 | 34 |
| Engine | 2 | 27 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 34 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 20 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 7 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500
2003 Nissan 350Z
Compare all Mercedes-Benz SL500 vs Nissan 350Z 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.