FaultScore

Worst years for a Mercedes Benz E500

Owners have filed 546 complaints about the Mercedes Benz E500 with NHTSA across model years 2003 to 2009. More of them are about the fuel & propulsion than anything else.

Avoid

2005 Mercedes Benz E500

168 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly fuel & propulsion.

Cleanest on record

2006 Mercedes Benz E500

59 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mercedes Benz E500 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.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2009 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
2008 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
2007 1 0 0 Fuel & Propulsion
2006 A 59 1 0 80,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2005 C 168 4 0 100,051 Fuel & Propulsion
2004 C 173 3 2 87,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2003 B 143 6 0 90,378 Fuel & Propulsion

What breaks on a Mercedes Benz E500

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Fuel & Propulsion 240 44.0%

Worst in 2004

Brakes 107 19.6%

Worst in 2005

Suspension 58 10.6%

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2004

Worst in 2003

Electrical System 19 3.5%

Worst in 2004

Airbags 18 3.3%

Worst in 2003

Other & Unspecified 12 2.2%

Worst in 2003

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 7 1.3%

Worst in 2003

Acceleration & Cruise Control 6 1.1%

Worst in 2005

Wheels 5 0.9%

Worst in 2006

Stability & Traction Control 5 0.9%

Worst in 2003

Equipment & Accessories 5 0.9%

Worst in 2004

Steering 4 0.7%

Worst in 2006

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mercedes Benz E500, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Feb 2004 peak 15 May 2026

Mercedes Benz E500 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mercedes Benz E500

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.