MERCEDES-BENZ 500 · model year

2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 500

14 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000MERCEDES-BENZ500 carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 500 is suspension with 1 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:drum:drum (1) and power train:axle assembly (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2000 500. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

14
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
TIRES1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)1
STRUCTURE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20120330ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE INSERTED IN THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20050602STRUCTURE

2000 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 HAD THE HOOD LINERS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 5 YEARS.*MR THE FIRST HOOD LINER BECAME BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATED. THE SECOND HOOD LINER BECAME POWDERY AND LITERALLY FELL APART LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD LINER WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

20050602UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2000 MERCEDES BENZ SL 500 HAD THE HOOD LINERS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 5 YEARS.*MR THE FIRST HOOD LINER BECAME BRITTLE AND DISINTEGRATED. THE SECOND HOOD LINER BECAME POWDERY AND LITERALLY FELL APART LESS THAN 2 YEARS AFTER INSTALLATION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD LINER WAS CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. *JB

20041119SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH SUSPENSION/AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE BECAME LOWER TO THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK 9-25-07 PHONE CONVERSTAION: WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. AIR SUSPENSION WORKED FINE BEFORE, AFTER CRASH LIGHT WAS ON AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. [SMCH]

Mileage: 50,000

20041119ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH SUSPENSION/AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE BECAME LOWER TO THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK 9-25-07 PHONE CONVERSTAION: WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. AIR SUSPENSION WORKED FINE BEFORE, AFTER CRASH LIGHT WAS ON AND VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. [SMCH]

Mileage: 50,000

20021008CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVNG THE VEHICLE SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHICH CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOYED AT 200 MPH CAUSING A LOT OF PHYSICAL THE DAMAGE ON THE CONSUMER. MR

20020318TIRES

THE 4 ORIGINAL CONTINENTAL TIRES ON THIS MERCEDES ARE WORN OUT WITH THE WEAR BARS SHOWING. THE MILEAGE IS 17262. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, SEARS & 2 OF THE 3 LOCAL CONTINENTAL TIRE DEALERS IN THIS CITY. EVERYONE SAID THIS IS COMMON WITH THESE TIRES & NO ADJUSTMENT FROM THE COMPANY IS AVAILABLE. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT 4 TIRES WORN OUT AT 17,000 MILES IS A JOKE ON THE CONSUMER, & I THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.*AK (TIRESIZE: P22560H16)

20010904CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BAS AND ESP SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN ISSUING VISUAL WARNINGS FOR MONTHS, CAR HAS BEEN IN MANY TIMES TO REVIEW PROBLEM WITH NO SUCCESSFUL REPAIRS. ON 8/29/01 I APPLIED THE BRAKES ABOUT 1/2 INCH, IN PREPARATION OF STOPPING FORM A 5MPH ROLE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR STOPPED INSTANTLY AND THE CAR BEHIND ME RAN IN TO MY CAR CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE.*AK

20000103POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS INOPERABLE. DRIVER LOSES ALL TECHINCAL INFORMATION AND OPERATING STATUS OF VEHICLE. DURING DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, AN ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT OF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER FROM "DRIVE" TO "NEUTRAL" AND BACK TO "DRIVE" RESULTS IN TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING IN "DRIVE" UNTIL THE CAR SLOWS TO 20MPH. DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER CAR UNTIL IT REACHES THE 20MPH RANGE AND THE TRANSMISSION THEN ENGAGES IN GEAR. WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, IN "DRIVE" WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED TO PROCEED FORWARD, THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARD QUICKLY, WITH TRANMISSION ACTING AS IF IN "NEUTRAL" AND ENGINE STALLS AFTER MOVING BACKWARD ABOUT TEN FEET. DRIVER LOSES ALL CONTROL AND POWER OVER CAR. *AK

20000103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

MAIN INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND REMAINS INOPERABLE. DRIVER LOSES ALL TECHINCAL INFORMATION AND OPERATING STATUS OF VEHICLE. DURING DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, AN ACCIDENTAL MOVEMENT OF THE GEARSHIFT LEVER FROM "DRIVE" TO "NEUTRAL" AND BACK TO "DRIVE" RESULTS IN TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING IN "DRIVE" UNTIL THE CAR SLOWS TO 20MPH. DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER CAR UNTIL IT REACHES THE 20MPH RANGE AND THE TRANSMISSION THEN ENGAGES IN GEAR. WHEN STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH ENGINE RUNNING, IN "DRIVE" WHEN BRAKES ARE RELEASED TO PROCEED FORWARD, THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARD QUICKLY, WITH TRANMISSION ACTING AS IF IN "NEUTRAL" AND ENGINE STALLS AFTER MOVING BACKWARD ABOUT TEN FEET. DRIVER LOSES ALL CONTROL AND POWER OVER CAR. *AK

19991228SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHEN DRIVING THE AUTOMOBILE ABOVE 50 MPH IT SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND GOES UP AND DOWN. CONSUMER THINKS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION. *AK

19991103SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A VIOLENT VIBRATION, THAT COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REAR BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY IS REACHING EXTREME TEMPERATURE., CAUSING METAL PARTS TO CRYSTALIZE AND THE RUBBER TO BURN. THE WHOLE REAR AXLE BREAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19991103SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A VIOLENT VIBRATION, THAT COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REAR BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY IS REACHING EXTREME TEMPERATURE., CAUSING METAL PARTS TO CRYSTALIZE AND THE RUBBER TO BURN. THE WHOLE REAR AXLE BREAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19991103POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE GOES INTO A VIOLENT VIBRATION, THAT COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE REAR BRAKE DRUM ASSEMBLY IS REACHING EXTREME TEMPERATURE., CAUSING METAL PARTS TO CRYSTALIZE AND THE RUBBER TO BURN. THE WHOLE REAR AXLE BREAKING SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Compare 2000MERCEDES-BENZ500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 have?
The 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 has 14 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 500?
The most-complained component for the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 is SUSPENSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 2000 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.