RoadVitals

2003 Mercedes-Benz G500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Sep 15, 2015
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz G500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes342.9%
  • Body & structure228.6%
  • Steering228.6%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 AS THE 2ND OWNER. IT ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND SEEMED LIKE A GREAT CAR. ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE SLIGHTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT KINDA MUSHY AND MY BRAKING WAS SLOWER THAN NORMAL. NEXT THING I SAW WAS MY DASHBOARD HAD A RED MESSAGE ON IT (BRAKE REDUCED BRAKING EFFORT) AHHHHHH I WAS FREAKED OUT AND GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK (I WAS AFRAID MY BRAKES WERE NOT GOING TO WORK AND I DIDN'T WANT TO PUT MY YOUNG SON OR ANYONE ELSE IN DANGER. THE BENZ DEALERSHIP DID A FULL INSPECTION AND FOUND THAT THE SBC (SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ALSO STATED THAT MB HAD A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PART, HOWEVER THAT I MISSED THE THE FRAME TO GET IT REPLACED. I CALLED THE MB CORPORATION AND SPOKE TO SEVERAL SERVICE REPS AND THEY ALL TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT REPLACED WITHIN THE RECALL TIME FRAME OF 10 YEARS. I EXPLAINED HOW COULD I HAVE KNOWN THIS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND I WOULD LIKE FOR MB TO REPLACE MY SBC UNIT OR AT LEAST GIVE ME A DISCOUNT. ANYWAY, AFTER 3 MONTHS OF CALLING AND RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE, I GAVE UP. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A WAY TO RUN A BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THEY KNOW THAT THIS SBC UNIT CAN AND DOES DEFAULT TO BASIC HYDRAULIC MODE, WHICH MAKES BRAKING SLOW AND UNSAFE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS USELESS TO ME AND HAS SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY AS THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES OFF AND ON AS I AM DRIVING. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MERCEDES BENZ, I BOUGHT IT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND NOW I SEE HOW MUCH THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS...I WILL ALSO NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR AGAIN WITHOUT CHECKING THIS SITE FOR RECALLS.

NHTSA ID 10763976 · filed Sep 15, 2015

ESP BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE 2003 G500 GOING DOWN HILL AROUND CURVES PAST 40 MPH IS A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. AUTOMATIC BRAKING ON THE LEFT TIRE TURNING TO THE RIGHT CAN THROW YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ESP NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED. *JB

NHTSA ID 10039240 · filed Sep 21, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ONE OF CONTACT'S CLIENTS SUFFERED 3RD DEGREE BURNS ON THE CALF OF THE LEG WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE FROM A STAINLESS STEEL PORTION OF THE RUNNING BOARD. THE RUNNING BOARD WAS VERY HOT FROM THE SUN SHINING INSIDE THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE CLIENT'S LEG BEING BURNED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID 10167669 · filed Sep 8, 2006

CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR DOORS DO NOT LOCK. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10029783 · filed Jul 22, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE STEERING RACK PINION SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID 10094235 · filed Sep 23, 2004

I HAVE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ G 500. WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND I HIT A BUMP IN THE WHOLE ROAD THE WHOLE STEERING UNIT IN THE TRUCK SHAKES AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL BECAUSE OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNDERS AT WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/FORUMS/THREAD-VIEW.ASP?TID=1124269&POSTS=16&FID=30&NP=1128200. *AK

NHTSA ID 10049692 · filed Dec 13, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .