Total Complaints
6 filings
MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ · model year
2003 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003MERCEDES-BENZMERCEDES BENZ carries 6 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, 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 2003 MERCEDES BENZ is unknown or other with 2 filings, followed by tires:sidewall (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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 2 investigation files overlapping the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ. 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.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
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 |
|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080107SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
BURNT HOLE FROM SEAT WARMER ON DRIVER'S SEAT LEFT SIDE. BURNT RIGHT THROUGH COAT AND JEANS. *TR
20050520ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DT: CONSUMER SMELLS A GAS ODOR IN THE CAR. SHE HAS HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM SINCE SHE BOUGHT THE CAR.*AK
20050506SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN BAD FROM THE TIME SHE PURCHASED THE CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 17,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME WAS @3,4000 MILES, BUT SHE HAS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Mileage: 16,886
20030328UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED TO THE RIGHT AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE'S ESP(TILT SAFETY) SYSTEM ACTIVATED. DEALER FIRST DIAGNOSED THAT OPERATION WAS IMPROPER, BUT THEN STATED IT WAS NORMAL. *JB
20030328UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN CONSUMER EXITED FROM HIGHWAY, AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE'S ESP(ANTI-TILT ) SYSTEM ENGAGED. DEALER AT FIRST ADVISED THAT OPERATION WAS IRREGULAR. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT, THE DEALER STATED THE OPERATION WAS NORMAL. VEHICLE IS A 2003 MERCEDES G500. *JB
20030108TIRES:SIDEWALL
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH, CONSUMER HEARD A "ROARING" NOISE AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION NOTICE THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. DEALER CAME TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSED "THE INBOARD SIDEWALL WAS SPLIT FROM THE WHEEL TO THE TREAD". TIRES WERE ORIGINAL. VEHICLE IS A 2003 MERCEDES E500. TIRE INFO: CONTINENTAL CONTITOURING CONTACT ECO PLUS 245/45R17 DOT NO. LMUXPXBU4402 **TS**TT
Mileage: 300
Compare 2003MERCEDES-BENZMERCEDES BENZ to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ have?▼
The 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:SIDEWALL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES BENZ 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.