Mercedes Benz 500 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 51 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file for the Mercedes Benz 500, across 7 model years (1995–2003). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (11). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Mercedes Benz 500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No 500 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 500: 11 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 500: 9 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1997 500: 8 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mercedes Benz 500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
All Mercedes Benz 500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 500 | 11 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
| 2000 500 | 9 | 0 | — | Suspension | |
| 1999 500 | 7 | 0 | — | Equipment | |
| 1998 500 | 2 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1997 500 | 8 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1996 500 | 6 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 1995 500 | 8 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Mercedes Benz: all Mercedes Benz models · Mercedes Benz VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes Benz 500 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2003 (11), 2000 (9), 1997 (8). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mercedes Benz 500?
Electrical System, with 7 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Mercedes Benz 500 have?
0 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.