There are 3 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I OWN A MB 2003 E500. WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR WOULD JERK BACK AND FORTH LIKE THE CAR IS STALLING FOR NO LONG THAN COUPLE SECS OR LESS. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THIS HAPPENS AT LOW ROLLING SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE YET TO FIND A PATTERN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ARM FOR THE CRUSIE CONTROL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE TURN SIGNAL ARM. SEVERAL TIMES A DAY I FIND THAT MY HAND (ALBEIT A SMALL HAND) ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER INSTEAD OF THE TURN SIGNAL - ESPECIALLY WHEN SIGNALLING LEFT. THIS ACTIVATES THE CRUISE CONTROL AT A TIME WHEN YOU ARE USUALLY GETTING READY TO SLOW DOWN FOR A TURN. I UNDERSTAND THAT BRAKING WILL TURN OFF THE CRUISE AUTOMATICALLY, BUT IT IS STILL AN INCOVENIENCE AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SAID THAT THE CARS ARE ALL PUT THROUGH MANY, MANY TESTS AND THIS PROBLEM DIDN'T SURFACE. A SOLUTION WOULD BE TOO SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF THE CRUISE HANDLE OR ANGLE IT MORE TOWARD THE DASH. POSSIBLY THIS WOULD ALLOW FEWER MISTAKES.
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE JERKED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NINE TIMES, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED LOST OF POWER STEERING DUE TO FLUID LEAKING INTO THE GROUND. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING GEAR BOX. ALSO, SUNROOF DOESN'T CLOSE. DEALER REPLACED SLIDING ROOF ANGLE BRACKET. *LA
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026