2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 24 of 74 complaints (32%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Body, Seats & Latches include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 120 in 2002 to 74 in 2003.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | vs. 2003 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,300–4,850 | 4,300–4,850 | 4,300–5,550 | 4,100–5,950 | 4,100–5,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 16–18 | 16–18 | 14–18 | 13–19 | 13–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–16 / 20–23 | 13–15 / 20–22 | 12–15 / 17–22 | 11–16 / 17–24 | 11–16 / 17–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494–555 | 494–555 | 494–635 | 468–684 | 468–684 | |
| Complaints filed | 183 | 120 | 74 | 50 | 26 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
Electrical: 24 of 74 NHTSA complaints (32%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class get?
EPA rates it 14–18 MPG combined across 6 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class?
EPA estimates $4,300–$5,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.3L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | 18 mpg (high) | $4,300 (low) | 494 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 4.3L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 15 mpg (high) | 20 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 523 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 20 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 5.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 14 mpg | 19 mpg | 16 mpg | $4,850 | 555 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 5-spd | 8 | 5.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 13 mpg | 20 mpg | 15 mpg | $5,150 | 592 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 12 | 5.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Large Cars | 12 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | 14 mpg (low) | $5,550 (high) | 635 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 24 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
SUSPENSION; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · Campaign 07V263000 · Jun 25, 2007
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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK · Campaign 04V285000 · Jun 24, 2004
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.
SUSPENSION · Campaign 04V228000 · May 12, 2004
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER 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 HEAT AND HUMIDITY. OVER TIME, CORROSION MAY DETERIORATE THE INNER STEEL PORTIONS OF THE HOSE.
Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN ABC HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAKAGE. UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS AND LEAD TO A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW, CORROSION RESISTANT ABC HIGH-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION HOSES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 31, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.