Mercedes-Benz · S-Class · 2003
0
Recalls
74
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has no recalls and 74 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: electrical system (13 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S430. The contact stated he opened the hatch however, the hatch quickly closed independently. The contact stated he was able to hold the hatch before it closed totally. The contact stated that the passenger’s side spring was detached from the hatch. The contact stated he attempted but was unable to repair the passenger’s side spring. The contact called and made the local dealer aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,268.
DURING HOT WEATHER THE SEAT BELT GETS STUCK AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE SEAT BELT AT ALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED UNDER HOT WEATHER. THIS IS IN THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 1 YEAR.*DT CONSUMER STATED SEAT BELT GETS JAMMED WHEN TEMPERATURE GOES OVER 90 DEGREES AND IS UNABLE TO USE SEAT BELTS AS WELL AS PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BUT MALFUNCTIONING.*JB
SRS CODES IS BEING THROWN. IF YOU MOVE A LITTLE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IT TRIGGERS CODE TO BE THROWN. STARTED THROWING IT OUT OF NOW WHERE.
ELECTRICAL/FUSE/CLUSTER PANEL LIGHTS ARE OUT IN DASH VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. ALSO, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE SPEED/FUEL/GEAR SELECTION. THESE ARE BOTH SAFETY CONCERNS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. WE CAN SEND YOU A PICTURE OF THE DEAD DASH IF NEEDED. ALSO VIDEO OF A STUCK SEAT BELT. THANKS, KURT.
I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES S430. THE OTHER DAY MY WIFE WAS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WHEN IT JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. HOW DO WE ALLOW A VEHICLE TO OPERATE ON THE HIGHWAY THAT WOULD JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AT LEAST GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD. THANKS
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WENT BLANK NOTHING WORKS IN CLUSTER.DRIVINGHOUR OR TWO WENT BLANK NO REASON
THE SUSPENSION ON MY 2003 S 430 4-MATIC IS STATING STOP, TOO CLOSE. IT WILL NOT LIFT UP. IS THIS A RECALL ISSUE? PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER FAN MOTOR FAILED ON MY 2003 S430. WHICH IS DANGEROUS IN SEASONAL CLIMATE CONDITIONS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THIS PART 2X AT 700.00 ON BOTH OCCURANCES AT MY OWN EXPENSE WHICH I DONT UNDERSTAND WHEN THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE FOR PREVIOUS YEARS 2000,2001.. RECALL#2004 070010. I'VE ALSO HAD TO CHANGE MY SHIFTER GEAR BOX WHICH JAMS IN THE PARK POSITION AND DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO DRIVE THE VECHICLE THIS IS CAUSED BY A PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAK WITHIN THE GEAR BOX THIS ISSUE IS ALSO EXPENSIVE FOR JUST 1 FAULTY TRANS SHIFTER PIECE THAT CAN TOTALLY LEAVE YOUR CAR INOPERABLE.
WHILE DRIVING GETTING READY TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY MY 2003 MERCEDES S430 INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT OUT. THE GAUGES GOT STUCK ON WHAT THEY WERE WHILE DRIVING. I WASN'T ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING ON THE PANEL. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST SHOP AND THEY CHANGED THE FUSE, HOWEVER THE FUSE BLEW RIGHT BACK OUT EACH TIME THEY CHANGED IT. THE CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS CAR FOR 1 YEAR YET AND I AM LOST AT WHAT TO DO. THE SHOP SAID THE INSTRUMENT CHAISE WILL WORK BUT SOMETHING IS BLEWING THE FUSE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE ALUMINATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ANY HELP WITH THIS ISSUE IS HELPFUL.. PLEASE HELP AS THIS CAR HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE (INSTRUMENT PANEL, DOORS DON'T LOCK, PASSENDER SEAT MOVES AT WIERD TIMES, AND THE AIR STRUT BUSTED) INSTEAD OF A GOOD DREAM. I HAVE READ A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE IN THESE CARS. I WISH I WOULD OF SEEN THIS BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. MERCEDES NEEDS TO COVER THE COST IN FIXING THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ S55. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,563.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS FLASHED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE FRONT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS MECHANIC AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ S430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER SEIZED AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE TO ANOTHER GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL AND JERK THE SHIFTER IN ORDER FOR IT TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLICKER WHEN STOPPED AT LIGHT.
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE GETTING STUCK IN "PARK" AFTER MULTIPLE TRIES (SOMETIMES IN EXCESS OF 30 MINUTES) IT WILL RELEASE ALLOWING ME TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, ONCE AFTER GETTING IT TO SHIFT GEARS I DROVE AROUND THE CORNER FROM MY HOME AND PUT IT IN PARK AT THE STOP SIGN (PRIOR TO TAKING A TRIP FAR AWAY FROM HOME) IT BECAME STUCK AGAIN (OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC) AND IT TOOK ME OVER 30 MINUTES (AGAIN) TO GET IT TO SHIFT AGAIN, I DROVE BACK HOME! THE PSE PUMP THAT OPERATES THE TRUNK FAILED AND THE TRUNK AUTO RELEASES AND BECAUSE IT WORKS BY HYDRAULICS IT IS DIFFICULT TO OPEN (AND HOLD UP) WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOAD SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK. THE SUPERCHARGER BEARING WAS FAULTY AND CAUSED IT TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $14,000 HAVING REPAIRS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE AND I'VE ONLY OWNED IT FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS. THIS IS MAKING MY "DREAM CAR" DREAM A TOTAL NIGHTMARE!!!!!! *TR
WHILE MY DAUGHTER DRIVING MY CAR ABC LIGHT CAME ON AND SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL AND HAD ACCIDENT. CAR WENT OVER THE CENTER LINE, CLIMBED OVER BARRICADE AND DESTROYED THE CAR. INSURANCE COMPANY TOTLALED THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. WHILE DRIVING A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE BLEW UP AND CAR WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BOTTOM OF THE SUSPENSION, MERCEDES DOES NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILTY FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN I SEARCHED THE INTERNET I FOUND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINS FOR THE INCIDENTS LIKE THIS.
STARTED VEHICLE IN MY DRIVEWAY, SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES DARK. NO POWER MIRRORS, SEATS, NO RADIO, NO AIR. *TR
STARTED CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY, DASH GOES DARK. NO POWER WINDOWS, LOCKS, RADIO, AIR, SEATS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 74 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class are electrical system (13 reports), suspension (11 reports), seat belts (8 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.