Total Complaints
10 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ E350 · model year
2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350
10 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003MERCEDES-BENZE350 carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, 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 2003 E350 is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (2) and power train (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 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 E350. 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.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20210208SUSPENSION
ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION FAILED. CAR SUDDENLY LOWERED WHILE DRIVING. CHANGED AIR SHOCKED, FAILED AGAIN AFTER 2 YEARS. THIS CAR HAS ONLY LESS 93000 MILES. ALL MECHANICS ACROSS THE BOARD KNOW THIS IS THE PROBLEM MERCEDES HAS REFUSED TO TAKE CARE.
Mileage: 92,673
20200429FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL, I CAN SMELL GAS FROM THE DRIVERS PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS 3/4TH TANK, THE SMELL DISAPPEARED. AFTER RESEARCH ONLINE THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM IN THE RUBBER SEAL IN THE TANK. IT IS A FIRE ISSUE.
Mileage: 76,000
20200407AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING OR A CRASH. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. MERCEDES BENZ OF WALNUT CREEK (1301 PARKSIDE DR, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596, (844) 896-1941) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20200224ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VECHILE HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL TBAT I MAY BELIEVE IS BUILDING UP AS IT LEAKS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR
Mileage: 300,000
20200224FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VECHILE HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL TBAT I MAY BELIEVE IS BUILDING UP AS IT LEAKS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR
Mileage: 300,000
20200224SEAT BELTS
THE VECHILE HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL TBAT I MAY BELIEVE IS BUILDING UP AS IT LEAKS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR
Mileage: 300,000
20200218VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY). MERCEDES-BENZ OF MARIETTA LOCATED AT 810 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20200210ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2003 E320 SEDAN BATTERIES IS CONSTANTLY DRAINING AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS. I HAVE INCURRED COSTLY EXPENSES IN REPLACING BOTH THE REAR LOAD & FRONT SMALL AUXILIARY BATTERIES TO INCLUDE LABOR COST AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP. OCTOBER 2019 I TRIED TO ACCESS THE CAR USING THE KEY KNOB, HOWEVER NO POWER TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE NOR ACCESS THE TRUNK. NOVEMBER 2019 THE VEHICLE FOG, INTERIOR & REAR TAIL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON & OFF AND THE SECURITY ALARM BEGIN TO SOUND WITH A WEAK LIKE BATTERY SOUND WITHOUT THE USE OF THE SMART KEY, DECEMBER 2019 THE SAME OCCURRENCES BATTERIES WERE DRAIN, NO POWER & RECENTLY FEBRUARY 2019 SAME OCCURRENCES NO POWER TO VEHICLE. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW BATTERIES & A NEW ALTERNATOR & STILL THE SAME ISSUES OF BATTERY DRAINING. THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP HAS CONDUCTED A INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE TEST & ELECTRICAL TEST TO FIND NO ISSUES? THESE OCCURRENCES HAS COST ME EXCESSIVELY & I WANT MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
Mileage: 205
20140121POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT FORCE BEING APPLIED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2006 UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED BECAUSE HER RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,559. UPDATED 03/11/14*LJ THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND POWER STEERING HOSE BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/18/14
Mileage: 9,559
20140121STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ ML350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT RESUMED DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT FORCE BEING APPLIED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN 2006 UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED BECAUSE HER RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,559. UPDATED 03/11/14*LJ THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND POWER STEERING HOSE BE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/18/14
Mileage: 9,559
Compare 2003MERCEDES-BENZE350 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 have?▼
The 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 has 10 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E350 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.