2003 Mercedes Benz E320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E320 years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 214 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320. That ranks 2nd out of 15 E320 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (71 complaints, 33%), typically at around 104,000 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 1 fire, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 214owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 71 | 33% | 104,000 | “fuel tank” (28%) | $3,950 |
| Service Brakes problems | 57 | 27% | 120,645 | “sbc unit” (23%) | — |
| Electrical System | 21 | 10% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 19 | 9% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 8% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 18 | 8% | 57,210 | — | — |
| Power Train | 11 | 5% | 23,195 | — | — |
| Suspension | 11 | 5% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 7 | 3% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 7 | 3% | 125,800 | — | — |
| Equipment | 5 | 2% | 52,539 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 2% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 2% | 86,150 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 2% | 200 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 1% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 1% | 7,600 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 1% | 1,164 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 1% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 1% | 41,750 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 1% | 1,060 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 0% | 148,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 0% | 53,404 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | 140,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Mercedes Benz E320 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly
Problem: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank (EA13003) — opened Mar 15, 2013, closed Dec 19, 2014.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I inherited my dad's 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 when he passed away last year. He kept the car in pristine condition. About a month ago while driving it, I noticed a strong smell of gasoline in the cabin of the vehicle. The odor is strong just after filling the tank, and then it disappears at appox. 3…
MB USA is not honoring Recall [redacted] for 25 years per NHTSA Bulletin. The Mercedes Benz Representative said that the recall is closed for a 2003 car, but which should not be closed until 2028 for my car. The Mercedes Benz Representative agreed that she does see the car matches the 2003-2006 E…
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-320. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the braking system became inoperable. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated after the failure. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: [redacted]. The contact called the…
Report number: cal-03-07 new car assessment program (ncap) frontal barrier impact test
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor throughout the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a fuel leak coming from underneath the vehicle, above the fuel tank. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer…
Other Mercedes Benz E320 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 E320 | 8 | 3 |
| 2008 E320 | 10 | 3 |
| 2007 E320 | 17 | 4 |
| 2006 E320 | 41 | 4 |
| 2005 E320 | 231 | 3 |
| 2004 E320 | 203 | 2 |
| 2003 | 214 | 2 |
| 2002 E320 | 23 | 0 |
| 2001 E320 | 38 | 0 |
| 2000 E320 | 44 | 0 |
| 1999 E320 | 83 | 0 |
| 1998 E320 | 37 | 0 |
| 1997 E320 | 63 | 0 |
| 1996 E320 | 45 | 0 |
| 1995 E320 | 96 | 0 |
See all Mercedes Benz E320 problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, service brakes, electrical system problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 71 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E320 model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.