Worst years for a Mercedes Benz 500
Owners have filed 122 complaints about the Mercedes Benz 500 with NHTSA across model years 1984 to 2003. More of them are about the electrical system than anything else.
Cleanest on record
2003 Mercedes Benz 50011 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.
Every Mercedes Benz 500 year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | C | 11 | 1 | 0 | 21,750 | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 2000 | D | 14 | 2 | 0 | — | Suspension |
| 1999 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | Body & Structure |
| 1998 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 1997 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1996 | — | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 1995 | C | 14 | 2 | 0 | 123,233 | Electrical System |
| 1994 | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | 140,000 | Electrical System |
| 1993 | C | 23 | 0 | 1 | 100,000 | Electrical System |
| 1992 | — | 20 | 0 | 1 | 99,500 | Electrical System |
| 1990 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Steering |
| 1985 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Airbags |
| 1984 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Suspension |
What breaks on a Mercedes Benz 500
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Worst in 1995
Worst in 2000
Worst in 2003
Worst in 1996
Worst in 1992
Worst in 1993
Worst in 1993
Worst in 1996
Worst in 1999
Worst in 1997
Worst in 1999
Worst in 1997
Worst in 1992
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz 500, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Compare the Mercedes Benz 500
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.