Your vehicle report
2003 Mercedes-Benz E320
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 214
- Received Jan 2003 to Nov 2024
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline74 complaints · 35% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal17 complaints · 7.9% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly11 complaints · 5.1% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #24V874000Mercedes-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.
- Recall #19V918000Mercedes-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
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 8 crashes, 1 fire, 9 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 14 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 38 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 24 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 214 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 74 | 35% | – | |
| Brake booster fails, leaving stiff pedal | 17 | 7.9% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 11 | 5.1% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 7 | 3.3% | – | |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 7 | 3.3% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.8% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 6 | 2.8% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 6 | 2.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 6 | 2.8% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 5 | 2.3% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 4 | 1.9% | – | |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 4 | 1.9% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Parking brake fails to hold or release | 3 | 1.4% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #24V874000November 19, 202433,456 vehicles affected
visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
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.
A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #19V918000December 20, 2019747,928 vehicles affected
visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
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
A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN