107 of the
546 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz E500
are about the braking system —
20% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
This is not about an accident. It's about the vehicle's condition. Precisely, about the brake service warning. Red warning with beeping on dashboard saying I need to bring it to workshop for service. My wife was driving this car when she felt something was wrong with the car and she brought it to her trustful mechanic for check up right away sameday That mechanic gave up to look any further suggesting a visit to MB dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11706335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the pedal was stiff. The vehicle was taken to two dealers where it was diagnosed that the brake pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #11637872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Per incident was back glass detached from window and broke all over the road and on the back of my car while driving. 2: Sbcc pump goes in and out admittedly and type of a no brake issue at all hard as a rock will not move car only has 180,000 miles on it and it’s been doing that since 140,000 miles Which did cause me to get in a minor accident on the right side of the car the passenger side where now I’ve had to replace a fender and still have problems because of it
NHTSA complaint #11509075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that there was leakage coming from the driver’s and the passenger’s side sunroof. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer. The contact was informed that the only warranty would be for the module. The contact stated as he was driving the vehicle into the dealer service center the ESP warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after the ESP warning light disappeared, the brake warning light illuminated. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,648.
NHTSA complaint #11483387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. Suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and I overshot the turn. Then the car had no power. I was 36 miles from my home. I limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. There was absolutely no warning of any kind of brake problem. The car was driving just fine before this happened. I believe it could have been a much worse situation had I been in any kind of traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11475607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 25 MPH .SHE PUT ON THE BRAKES AND A BRIGHT RED SIGNAL APPEARED ON THE SCREEN AND THE CAR BRAKES FAILED .TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,MY WIFE DROVE INTO AN UPHILL PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT THE CARS BRAKES HELP .AFTER WE CALMED DOWN ,WE CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RIZZOLI'S MECEDEZ REPAIR 702 WEST GRAND AVE GROVER BEACH CA 93433 PHONE NUMBER 805-481-0832 WHICH WAS CLOSED AND THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THEIR PARKING LOT WITH THE KEYS LEFT IN THE DROP BOX .THIS WAS THE CLOSEST MERCEDES REPAIR PLACE WE COULD THINK OF IN OUR STATE OF SHOCK. WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT SBC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND IT WOULD COST $3453.06 TO REPAIR .I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A 25 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VIN NUMBER IN QUESTION .AFTER THE REPAIR I STILL NOTICED SOME CUSHIONING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR BRAKES DID WORK . RIZZOLIS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP .I CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ALPHONOS ,1423 CALLE JOAQUIN,SAN LUIS OBISPO ,93405 ,805 4382701 PRIOR TO GET THE CARS BRAKES REPAIRED AND THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL LISTED ON THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT HELP ME . I AM SEEKING REEMBERSEMENT OF THE COST OF REPAIR SINCE THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WOULD NOT HONOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE ON THE 25 YEAR WARRANTEE . THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11464802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the brakes became inoperable. The brake warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnose the failure to be the Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) electronic braking system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #11463277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the car has smelled like gas from the minute i received it. the previous owner told me that mercedes had quoted 5 grand to fix it so i would only put half a tank in at a time. turns out there was a warranty on it but has since expired. why wasn't it fixed for free when the previous owner brought it? this is very dangerous and can cause an explosion. the warranty should have been fixed rather than quoted and seems very greedy to not disclose that information but instead giving a quote. i have lung and heart problems and this is a definite safety issue that needs to be corrected regardless of the age of the car also brought it to dealership scared and they told me too bad it's been too long. how is a gas leak an ok thing to dismiss?????? i have been trying to get this fixed for years and this is my 2nd attempt for a recall with no response at all
NHTSA complaint #11447158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake malfunction warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the SBC hydraulic unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 04V296000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 199,700.
NHTSA complaint #11425955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MZB ISSUED A 25-YEAR-WARRANTY/SAFETY RECALL EXTENSION ON MY 2003 E500 MZB CAR; #2005110001 -FOR THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM. AROUND AUGUST 2020 I WAS DRIVING ON SURFACE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING RED WARNINGS AND THE SPEED IMMEDIATELY REDUCED AND TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED IN FIRST GEAR. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND MANAGED TO PULL CAR CURBSIDE. I THEN SLOWLY DROVE CAR HOME, AND THE NEXT DAY CONTACTE A MASTER ASE MZB MECHANIC AND HAD CAR TOWED THERE IN TEMECULA. HE DETERMINED THE SBC UNIT WAS THE CAUSE AND EVEN CALLED MZB TEMECULA TO ASSURE THEY HAD THE PART. HE THEN INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS UNDER A 25-YEAR RECALL EXTENSION TO REPAIR THE SAFETY- HAZARD ISSUE. DEALER AND MZB USA REFUSES TO REPAIR - THEY SAY SINCE THEIR COMPUTER DOES NOT SHOW FAULTS, THE CODES THAT THE ASE MASTER MECHANIC ( WHO IS KNOW TO TEMECULA MZB SERVICE MANAGER FOR YEARS) SENT TO THEM DO NOT MATTER...ONLY THEIR SYSTEM CODES. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE FREEWAY DRIVES ARE ESSENTIAL AND FREQUENT; A SBC LIMP MODE BREAKDOWN WOULD PUT MINE AND OTHERS LIVES IN DANGER. MZB TEMECULA AND MZB USA IN GEORGIA TOLD ME THAT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM UNLESS IFTHE SYSTEM GOES DOWN AND I HAVE TOWED TO THEM.
NHTSA complaint #11362237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE STARTED FLASHING A RED WARNING SIGN WHILE DRIVING AT WHICH POINT I LOST ALL BRAKES IT WAS ONLY RIGHT THAT I USED A RUNAWAY RAMP AT THE MOMENT OTHERWISE THE CAR WOULD HAVE NOT STOPPED. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN UPON RESTARTING EVERYTHING BRAKE RELATED DISAPPEARED. ALSO THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES ALREADY.
NHTSA complaint #11350363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES LOST POWER AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE 'STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ENCINO (888-280-0902, LOCATED AT 16721 VENTURA BLVD, ENCINO, CA 91436). THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEYES EUROPEAN MERCEDES-BENZ (818-574-5053, LOCATED AT 5400 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RECOMMENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #11289647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SBC ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED NEEDED REPLACEMENT & SWITCH MB SAID THIS WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR MY YR VEHICLE. MERCEDES BENZ FINALLY TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM AND STATED IN DOCUMENT AUGUST 2018 THAT THEY ARE COVERING THE COST AND LABOR TO THIS PROBLEM FOR UP TO 25 YEARS IN MODEL YEAR. BUT YOUR SITE DOES NOT SHOW A RECALL ON THIS?? LIMP MODE AND FAULT LIGHTS FLASHED SBC/ABS UNIT FAILED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. PLEASE, FILE MY COMPLAINT SINCE I AM GOING AFTER MERCEDES BENZ LOCAL DEALER FOR MY REFUND OF CASH FOR THIS PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #11133247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED INTO PARK AND COASTED WITH THE PARK PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND 'THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT POWER TO STOP' APPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PENTATONIC BRAKE CONNECTION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #11113048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, IN WET CONDITIONS AT SPEEDS OF 65MPH+ ,THE ESP&ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP. WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF INTERSTATE AND HAD CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THE ABS BRAKE MODULE ESP CONTROL HAD TO BE REPLACED $1,100.00. SINCE HAVING THAT DONE THE CAR IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP BECAUSE NOW THE SBC MODULE NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH IS ANOTHER $1,600.00.
NHTSA complaint #11102906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500W, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EPC WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EPC UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #11093239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS EXITING THE INTERSTATE FREEWAY ONTO A FRONTAGE ROAD (TRAVELLING ~45MPH). A WARNING MESSAGE SAID THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT HAD LOST ALL BRAKING POWER. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTED TO A LOW GEAR WHICH HELPED SLOW ME DOWN. I CAME TO A STOP IN A SAFE LOCATION, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN I RE-STARTED THE CAR, NORMAL BRAKING FUNCTION RETURNED. THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. A HYDRAULIC UNIT OF SOME SORT NEEDED REPLACING.
NHTSA complaint #11089142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ADVISORY BRAKE MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER LANE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING COULD ONLY BE PERFORMED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V296000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY REPAIR FOR THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL FAILURE HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,386.
NHTSA complaint #11084598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING MESSAGE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP ILLUMINATED CONCERNING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR VARIOUS BRAKE FAILURES, BUT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF VALENCIA, 23355 VALENCIA BLVD, SANTA CLARITA, CA 91355, 661- 753-5555) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC), BUT DID NOT SPECIFY IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE A SOLUTION COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SBC UNIT AND THE PUMP, WHICH BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11084189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.