Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension7
- Electrical system6
- Air bags4
- Seat belts4
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Structure2
- Interior lighting2
- Equipment2
- Power train2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 8 2003 S-Class vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class failed the safety check 1.50% of the time — 29% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 122,514 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class cars on Dutch roads are the 3.7 petrol (180 kW, 241 hp), 5.0 petrol (225 kW, 302 hp) and 5.5 petrol (368 kW, 493 hp), out of 5 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7 petrol | 180 kW 241 hp | 65 |
| 5.0 petrol | 225 kW 302 hp | 64 |
| 5.5 petrol | 368 kW 493 hp | 35 |
| 3.2 diesel | 150 kW 201 hp | 33 |
| 5.4 petrol | 368 kW 493 hp | 22 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
249 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 41% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €175,606.
Most common APK defects
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm89
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen89
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde80
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect64
- Band onvoldoende profiel54
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm45
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld42
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling33
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
411 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 608 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 792 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 72% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2003 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 13.1% | 21.6% |
| Suspension | 8.2% | 16.4% |
| Tyres | 5.3% | 6.3% |
| Brakes | 5.1% | 13.9% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.4% | 3.1% |
| Visibility | 3.2% | 7.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
101 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 264,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
10 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
| 2008290 15 Aug 2008 | Other Certain vehicles equipped with Active Body Control (ABC) the sensors on the front struts may not operate within tolerances. As such, the sensor signal may not … |
| 2007195 14 Jun 2007 | Steering On certain vehicles equipped with an 8-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution … |
| 2004184 3 Jun 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the trunk lid springs could fail in the closed trunk lid position due to extensive exposure to very high temperatures. This failure only o… |
| 2004153 6 May 2004 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with a 12-cylinder engine, corrosion may occur in the inner steel portions of the Active Body Control's high pressure distribution … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, CORROSION MAY OCCUR IN THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL'S (ABC) HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY CAUSING DETERIORATION OF THE HOSE.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mercedes-Benz told its dealers about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10136035 | Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper |
| 10030939 | MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE |
| 10030929 | MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE |
| 10025845 | MERCEDES BENZ: WATER IN TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON EITHER RIGHT SIDE OR LEFT SIDE. *PE |
| 10019996 | HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR FOG LAMP IS ALWAYS EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. *TT |
| 10014583 | SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT |
| 10014547 | HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE HEARD ON TELEPHONE/VCS/TELE AID CALLS. *TT |
| 10009985 | THE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC DISTRIBUTION HOSE OF THE ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE TO HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN OF ACTIVE BODY CONTROL (ABC) (12 CYLINDER ONLY). *NM |
| 10009891 | THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION DUE TO EXTENSIVE EXPOSURE TO VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES. VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN. COVER LETTER, RECALL CAMPAIGN BULLETIN AND LETTER TO OWNERS. *TT LITERATURE FROM WARRANTY SERVICES GROUP REGARDING LABOR TIME INFORMATION. *TT |
| 10009820 | REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation