2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
69
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
6
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
The 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS has received a total of 69 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. 6 technical service bulletins have been issued by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Electrical System (7 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulic (6 complaints), and Fuel System Gasoline (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS, potentially affecting up to 348,345 vehicles.
Recall 08V303000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
| 404 vehicles affected
Defect: MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP...
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
View full details →Recall 05V133000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 204,000 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM MAY PREMATURELY SHIFT TO THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP FUNCTION MODE, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTION, OR DUE TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP.
Consequence: IN THE HYDRAULIC BACK-UP MODE, THE DRIVER HAS BRAKING POWER SUFFICIENT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH GREATER BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL WILL BE NOTICEABLY LONGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET AND REPLACEMENT GROUND WIRE TO THE SBC PUMP UNIT ON ALL VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONALLY DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SBC PUMP UNIT IN SL VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A LIMITED PRODUCTION PERIOD. THE...
View full details →Recall 04V296000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 143,387 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) IS DESIGNED TO MONITOR THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WITHIN THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IF AN UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS DETECTED, THE SYSTEM WILL SWITCH, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, INTO THE HYDRAULIC FUNCTION MODE.
Consequence: IF VEHICLES ARE NOT ROUTINELY SERVICED AND HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH MILEAGE COMBINED WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF BRAKE ACTUATIONS, OR A HIGH BRAKE ACTUATION FREQUENCY, THE PUMP MOTOR OF THE SBC MAY RUN OUT OF PERMISSIBLE TOLERANCES, THEREBY TRIGGERING THE HYDRAULIC FUNCTION MODE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT, REPLACING IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21M 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
View full details →Recall 03V289000 — STEERING
| 554 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE NUT ON THE BOLT WHICH CONNECTS THE STEERING GEAR TO THE STEERING COUPLING MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED CORRECTLY.
Consequence: THE LOOSENING OF THE NUT COULD RESULT IN A SLIPPING OF THE CONNECTION OVER TIME, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND TIGHTEN THE NUT ON THE BOLT IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 21, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
69 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
MY WHOLE GARAGE SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE WHENEVER WE FILL UP THE GAS TANK. THE SMELL WILL REMAIN UNTIL WE DRIVE THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, CONSUMING PERHAPS 1/4 OF THE TANK. THIS HAS BEEN ON-GOING ONLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. *JS
I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THE CAR CABIN. THERE WAS GAS ON MY DRIVEWAY AS WELL. THE GAS SIGN STARTED TO FLASH ON MY DASH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK IN THE PURGE SYSTEM. THEY QUOTED ME $3066.88. THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT PASS IT ON TO ME. *TR
I STARTED SMELLING GAS IN THE CAR CABIN. THERE WAS GAS ON MY DRIVEWAY AS WELL. THE GAS SIGN STARTED TO FLASH ON MY DASH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK IN THE PURGE SYSTEM. THEY QUOTED ME $3066.88. THEY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT PASS IT ON TO ME. *TR
STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EVIDENT AFTER FILL UP. THIS COINCIDED WITH ACCURACY ISSUES OF THE FUEL GAUGE, WHERE VEHICLE NOW RUNS OUT OF GAS WHEN GAUGE INDICATES 1/4 TANK. THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS HAPPENS NOW REPEATEDLY WITH EVERY FILL UP, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME FORM OF LEAKAGE AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. *TR
I PURCHASED THE MERCEDES IN APRIL 2013 OF THIS YEAR AND LESS THAN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE CAR I HAD MAJOR REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR. I SLIGHTLY SMELLED FUEL VAPORS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR HOWEVER I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A POSSIBLE AFTER EFFECT OF ME REFUELING THE CAR. OVER THE COURSE OF TWO MONTHS THE FUMES BECAME WORSE AND WORSE AND I STAY WITH A MIGRAINE EVERYDAY. TODAY WAS UNBEARABLE AS IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND IT IS BECOMING HARD TO CONCENTRATE AND IT FEELS LIKE MY HEAD IS ABOUT TO BURST. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER AS THIS IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE! THE PEOPLE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND I WANTED TO RETURN THE CALL ALTOGETHER! I PLAN ON GOING TO THE DEALER, AND TO THE DOCTOR. *TR
Safety Rating for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC has issued 6 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
2005100009 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSPECT REAR SAM CONTROL MODULE, REPLACE IF NECESSARY. A FAULT IN THE REAR SINGLE ACQUISITION AND ACTUATION MODULE (REAR SAM) MAY UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSE THE FUEL GAUGE TO NO LONGER REGISTER THE PROPER FUEL LEVEL IF THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED. *TT
422065 — PARKING BRAKE
PARKING BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE / DIFFICULT TO OPEN. *TT
424658 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ACTIVATION OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) SYSTEM WITH DAS SOFTWARE 02/05. MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS 199, 211, 219, 230 MY 2003-2006. *TT
5421111 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CENTRAL LOCKING AND/OR TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ARE NONFUNCTIONAL; FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR IS INEXACT; REAR LAMPS ARE CONTINUOUSLY LIT; ANTITHEFT ALARM SYSTEM SOUNDS FALSE ALARMS. *TT
540071B — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAN B BUS CAUSING NUMEROUS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES / SRS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATION. *TT
070021D — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE TICKING (PISTON SLAP) NOISE COMPLAINTS WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 1200 AND 3000 RPM. MODELS E500, SL500, CLK500 MY2003. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS
- 1998 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 31 complaints
- 1999 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 20 complaints
- 2000 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 61 complaints
- 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 33 complaints
- 2002 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 8 complaints
- 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS (current)
- 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 19 complaints
- 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 10 complaints
- 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 11 complaints
- 2008 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS — 5 complaints
Other MERCEDES BENZ Models
- MERCEDES BENZ C300 — 4,886 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ E350 — 2,649 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ E320 — 1,515 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ ML350 — 1,236 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ ML320 — 1,087 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ GLK350 — 1,031 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ C250 — 898 total complaints
- MERCEDES BENZ C230 — 879 total complaints