NHTSA lists 28 complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S Class, 0 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as MERCEDES BENZ S CLASS.
At a glance
Complaints
28
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
2
Injuries
3
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
19,924
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
10
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
SUSPENSION
7
25.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
21.4%
AIR BAGS
4
14.3%
SEAT BELTS
4
14.3%
EQUIPMENT
3
10.7%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
3
10.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
7.1%
INTERIOR LIGHTING
2
7.1%
POWER TRAIN
2
7.1%
STRUCTURE
2
7.1%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
SUSPENSION
FRONT
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE
2
POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
STRUCTURE
BODY
2
SUSPENSION
REAR
2
AIR BAGS
FRONTAL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TRUNK LID
1
SEAT BELTS
FRONT
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.
Date: 2007-06-12. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SUSPENSION.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. LEAKING FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE TRUNK LID SPRINGS COULD FAIL IN THE CLOSED TRUNK LID POSITION.
Consequence: IF THE TRUNK LID IS MANUALLY LIFTED, IT MAY NOT REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION AND COULD CAUSE INJURY IF IT COMES DOWN WHILE SOMEONE IS REACHING INTO THE TRUNK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH TRUNK LID SPRINGS. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES- BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
1 investigations; 0 open.
PE07042
Opened: 2007-08-14. Closed: 2007-11-20.
AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILURE
THE SUBJECT S-CLASS VEHICLES CONTAIN A COMPRESSED AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM THAT USES AIR STRUTS ON EACH OF THE FOUR WHEELS IN LIEU OF TRADITIONAL SPRINGS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS.THESE AIR STRUTS USE COMPRESSED AIR TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND CONTROL RIDE HEIGHT.IN THE EVENT OF THE LOSS OF AIR FROM THE SYSTEM, AN ALERT WILL FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING THE DRIVER TO EITHER DRIVE CA
Systems: SUSPENSION.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
10 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
VISIBILITY
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1
EQUIPMENT
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
PARKING BRAKE
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
SUSPENSION
1
10136035
Date: 2014-06-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.
Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper
10030939
Date: 2009-07-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: PARKING BRAKE.
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 CO
10030929
Date: 2009-06-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
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 AN
10025845
Date: 2008-07-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
MERCEDES BENZ: WATER IN TAIL LAMP HOUSING ON EITHER RIGHT SIDE OR LEFT SIDE. *PE
10019996
Date: 2006-04-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.
HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR FOG LAMP IS ALWAYS EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. *TT
10014583
Date: 2005-03-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: VISIBILITY.
SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT
10014547
Date: 2005-03-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
HIGH-PITCHED WHINING NOISE HEARD ON TELEPHONE/VCS/TELE AID CALLS. *TT
10009985
Date: 2004-08-31. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SUSPENSION.
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
Date: 2004-08-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
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
Date: 2004-08-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
REPLACEMENT OF ABC PRESSURE SUPPLY VALVE UNIT HYDRAULIC LINE. *TT
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.