| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class repairs by problem area
Engine (29%)
Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)
Brakes and Traction Control (11%)
Suspension and Steering (21%)
Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)
Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (1%)
Other (5%)
Chart based on 154 repairs.
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class repair cost distribution
$2500+ (9%)
$1000 - $2499 (18%)
$500 - $999 (15%)
$100 - $499 (21%)
< $100 (37%)
Chart based on 114 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Engine not specified
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Florida, United States Sep 2008 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Oct 200892000 miUS $350 | Keyless door lock failed on driver's side. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Virginia, United States Apr 2014 - Apr 2014 | |||
| Apr 201480000 mi | engine mounts | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Spain Feb 2011 - Nov 2012 | |||
| Nov 2012260400 mi | Major transmission breakdown; Metal filings in trans. fluid due to pinion wear. Dealer quoted 8,000 Euro (10,000 U$) for repair. Car handed in exchange for new class C Merc. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Quebec, Canada Sep 2009 - Mar 2010 | |||
| Oct 200951460 miC $1200 | The HID bulb stopped working! 2 sides. Now all good. Plus new bulbs, 300$ the d2s. | ||
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan
supercharged 469hp 5.4L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Arizona, United States Jun 2007 - Apr 2017 | |||
| May 200717906 mi | Compressor pulley R&R and re-shimmed. Done under warranty. Low transmission fluid due to transmission leak. Leak found at parking lock seals. Electrohydraulic control unit and parking lock R&R and replaced seals. Covered under WARRANTY, no cost to me. | ||
| Jul 200721593 mi | Circulation pump found to be inoperable. DONE UNDER WARRANTY. | ||
| Jul 200834133 miUS $1038 | Belt tensioner was found to be faulty. Valve cover gaskets were leaking oil. Replaced gaskets. | ||
| Sep 200836101 miUS $1515 | Left front airmatic strut replacement as airmatic strut leaked to failure. A VERY common occurence on these vehicles. DONE UNDER WARRANTY | ||
| Jul 201056728 miUS $790 | Left and right side thrust arm balljoint boots torn. Both replaced. | ||
| Jun 201277400 miUS $164 | Altenator needed replacing. | ||
| Jan 201383720 miUS $76 | Valve cover gaskget replacement. | ||
| May 201387480 miUS $547 | Replaced thermostat. Replaced dehydrator and o-rings as well as o-rings going in to the condenser. A/C was blowing hot air intermittently. Evacuated and recharged. Leaking fuel tank and both fuel sending units. This issue has been reported to the NTSB and is an ongoing investigation due to it's widespread nature on the W211 E Class Mercedes. Purge valve was found to be not connected to intake manifold. Replaced purge valve connection (air intake P). Replaced Y-pipe intake pipe. | ||
| Jul 201388775 miUS $1475 | 3 out of 4 O2 sensors reported to be bad. Replaced all 4. Replaced gas filler cap as check engine light came on for minor purge system leak. | ||
| Aug 201497400 miUS $529 | As previously mentioned as a weak engineering point in my review of the E55, the component that went bad was the pressure reservoir on the SBC unit. I found the part on ebay for $529. This would have been a $1100 at the dealer. | ||
| Sep 201499000 miUS $405 | As previously mentioned as a weak engineering point in my review of the E55, the component that went bad was the right front airmatic strut. At the dealer this would be a $1500 job. I had mine rebuilt and did the work myself. | ||
| Dec 2016108000 miUS $1500 | Another airmatic strut failure, terrible system. Instead of replaicing the air strut only to have it fail in 2 years, I replaced all 4 corners with a coilover conversion. All airmatic struts were pulled out. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States Dec 2014 - Jun 2015 | |||
| Mar 2015153000 miUS $2300 | Airmatic brake system. | ||
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan
302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Tennessee, United States Nov 2012 - Nov 2013 | |||
| Nov 201369000 mi | Check ABS system--diagnose reason for warning light; determine covered by warranty and referred for dealer repair | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Colorado, United States Oct 2012 - Sep 2015 | |||
| Jan 201392700 miUS $300 | Exterior mirrors have taken a mind of their own. Change position when colder than 35f when going down the road. | ||
| Feb 201389100 miUS $300 | Exterior mirrors have taken a mind of their own. Change position when colder than 35f when going down the road. Dealer unable to fix. I found a factory reset on the instrument control panel and reset to factory settings. No problems since | ||
| Oct 201393000 miUS $3000 | check engine light Wipers would not work if turn signal was on to turn left | ||
| Dec 201393000 miUS $250 | check engine light .....again | ||
| Mar 201495000 miUS $2500 | Check engine light....again. Emission control gate. Also found leaky gas tank filler seal. leaking gas filler tube | ||
| Sep 2015103000 mi | Keyless door lock on rear driver side door inop | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Michigan, United States May 2015 - Apr 2016 | |||
| May 2015118000 miUS $400 | rusted exhaust pipe | ||
| Jun 2015118000 miUS $700 | Alternator replaced | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Nigeria Feb 2023 - Feb 2023 | |||
| Feb 2023148800 mi$25000 | Flooding in the front SAM and ECU | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in New Jersey, United States Feb 2018 - Jan 2022 | |||
| May 2018144000 miUS $250 | Failed inspection, so getting code from my diagnosis computer. I had to replace my egr valve and replace maf sensor. Which allowed the car to finally pass inspection | ||
| Jan 2022153000 miUS $525 | Replaced front airmatic shocks, air valve block, and pump. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Colorado, United States Sep 2008 - Mar 2013 | |||
| Apr 20083000 miUS $5000 | Replace the CD Changer & Radio | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Florida, United States Dec 2008 - Jan 2013 | |||
| Jan 200880000 mi | cd player and cd changer not working-not repaired yet | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Pennsylvania, United States Sep 2011 - Sep 2013 | |||
| Oct 201190000 miUS $1300 | Entire front suspension rebuilt, including tie rods, ball joints, struts, & control arms. Driver's door lock hammering - not locking. Cam sensor SBC Brake module timed out. Mercedes Benz extended the warranty period for this item up to 100k miles. Air suspension compressor line failure. Car dropped to a dangerous level while driving. Left front air suspension strut failed, required total replacement. | ||
| Aug 2012103600 miUS $2300 | Catalytic converter flange was cracked, causing an exhaust leak. Engine mount (hydraulic) leaked, causing engine to not sit level - likely causing the catalytic converter flange to crack. O2 Sensor failed. Replace spark plugs (16) and wires (16) Solenoids (5) in the transmission valve body need to be replaced. O2 Sensor failed (one of the remaining 3 that were not replaced previously). Hood and trunk lid paint was severely cracked, resprayed in OEM base/clear. | ||
| Jul 2013122000 miUS $2200 | Engine sensors engine mounts exhaust | ||
| Aug 2013122700 miUS $1100 | Transmission continually locked up in a gear, replaced the 'electrics kit' inside the valve body. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Saskatchewan, Canada Sep 2011 - Sep 2016 | |||
| May 201262480 miC $370 | Alarm error. Alarm would go off. Warranty company thought since the alarm is integrated with its electronics and the alarm is called a horn they did not pay. They don't fix horns. | ||
| Mar 201366960 miC $900 | Air bag sensor passenger seat. | ||
| Aug 201474140 miC $1000 | hose collapsed. The idler arm/sway bar bushing is an integrated piece. I haven't replaced it yet. The bushing is gone. It is common on these. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States May 2011 - Oct 2012 | |||
| Jul 2011104000 miUS $2600 | right front shock failed. motor mounts failed. crankshaft sensor failed. other sensors failed. Car towed twice. | ||
| Jun 2012118000 miUS $1200 | radio shorted and failed | ||
| Oct 2012122000 miUS $3575 | radio failed due to short | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Tennessee, United States Aug 2008 - Apr 2009 | |||
| Sep 2008103000 miUS $1200 | Brake "collector" (a cylinder that is part of the SBC brake system) had gone bad and had to be replaced. My right front blinker bulb quit working, but would not come unscrewed from the housing. It required taking my front bumper off and replacing the entire housing. | ||
| Apr 2009118000 miUS $950 | 02 and crank sensors replaced. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States Oct 2010 - Aug 2017 | |||
| Feb 201174100 mi | Center brake light partially burned out. Replaced the assembly. | ||
| Mar 201174000 mi | Check engine light on. Engine running erratic. Replaced mass airflow sensor. | ||
| Apr 201175000 miUS $5000 | Transmission complete failure. Was determined the radiator had leaked coolant into the transmission | ||
| Oct 201293000 miUS $47 | Engine took a few more cranks to start. Check engine light came on. Error code indicated Crank position sensor. Replaced the Crank position sensor | ||
| Jul 201398200 miUS $47 | Drivers rear door lock was chattering when locking. Removed the door lock and replaced a broken spring. | ||
| May 2014102300 miUS $280 | Power steering fluid was leaking from the high pressure hose that goes from the pump to the rack and pinon. Hose was replaced. | ||
| Sep 2016106000 miUS $75 | Leaking windshield washer fluid from bottom of passenger front fender. Washer hose assembly was leaking. Replaced the washer hose assembly. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Louisiana, United States Aug 2004 - Jan 2013 | |||
| Oct 200422000 mi | Heater water control valve failed no heat. Repaired under warranty. Crack in ash tray cover repaired under warranty. Brakes pads every 25,000 miles at $450 / axle | ||
| Aug 200768000 mi | FRont ball joints failed warranty replaced. | ||
| Nov 200771000 mi | SBC pump for primary braking system failed. 7 days in shop for warranty repairs. Estimate cost $2500 pump $1000 Labor Total estimate $3500 | ||
| Jan 200873000 mi | Ignition switch key failed, Replaced under warranty. Car would start but convenience memory options would not. | ||
| Mar 200874500 mi | Driver side door lock actuator motor failure. Replaced under extended warranty | ||
| Mar 200981000 miUS $95 | OOPS forgot I changed spark plugs in March. OEM Bosch installed by owner. Also changed fanbelt but found the idle pulley bearing failed. RR Idle pulley bearing. This would have been warranty on the pulley but I had the belt off. | ||
| Apr 200983000 mi | Replace airmatic compressor and replace both rear axle air springs. warranty repair. Estimate total cost $3000 | ||
| Sep 200988500 mi | Both motor mounts failed. Replaced under CPO warranty both engine mounts and transmission mount due to excessive vibration. Engine vibration at Idle. Engine mounts leaking. Both engine mounts replaced and Transmission mount. Engine smooth again. Repaired under extended complete warranty. Estimate for dealer to repair $750 w/o warranty | ||
| Oct 200991000 miUS $59 | Fuel cap restraining strap broke. Thought just strap would be replaced. Had to replace entire cap. | ||
| Dec 2010102000 miUS $800 | Air Suspension Active Handling shock major component replacement. Rear Shock failed leaked oil. | ||
| Apr 2011107000 miUS $140 | AC quit cooling on 2600 mile trip in desert. Dealer diagnosed suction hose delamination internally, over $1000. Parts not available when time to leave on trip but recharged and system has continued to operate normally. Local dealer to check out for reocc | ||
| Nov 2011114400 miUS $1500 | Replace airmatic left front airspring/shock. Done buy owner. Replace airmatic left front airspring/shock. Done buy owner. | ||
| May 2012120500 miUS $20 | Starter drive failed causing poor disengagement of starter. Still working at time of replacement. | ||
| Aug 2012122800 miUS $670 | Right Airmatic front strut air bladder failed replaced entire strut assembly. | ||
| Nov 2012125000 miUS $630 | Starter was replaced due to noisy starter drive 90 days ago. This failure was total burn out of the starter which also killed the main battery. Both were replaced. | ||
| Dec 2012127000 miUS $450 | steering wheel tilt failed full up | ||
| Jan 2013116000 miUS $840 | The car has dual electrical systems for the electronic brakes. The computer controlling both systems failed and killed the battery at night. Replaced computer. Replaced battery Control module for total electrical system. | ||
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan
221-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States - Dec 2006 | |||
| Dec 200649000 mi | Heater core malfunctioned and brought in for warranty repair. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Maryland, United States Apr 2015 - Mar 2018 | |||
| Apr 2015141000 miUS $2800 | Replace ABS Bar needed to e replaced | ||
| Oct 2016165800 miUS $300 | Warning light indicating brakes instructing me to take to shop. Gone more than a week. When I got it back the warning lights were gone. No mention of any charges on the statement so I don't know what, if any, work was done. Warning message back in Feb. | ||
| Jan 2017167000 mi | I brought the car in for possible resolution of slipping transmission. MB diagnosed as firmware fix and kept my car for almost a week. | ||
| Feb 2017165000 mi | Passenger-side mirror wouldn't tilt with transmission in reverse after transmission firmware update. Analog clock wouldn't sync with digital input after transmission firmware update. | ||
| Mar 2018174000 miUS $700 | Batteries died. After replacing both, the batteries were dead 2 days later. Took b the va to shop 2 more times. Diagnosed as an open switch but decided to live with issue. Make certain I drive car every day and place batteries on trickle charge twice a week. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in New Zealand Aug 2008 - Mar 2016 | |||
| Sep 200851460 mi$1000 | Replaced front ball joints. | ||
| Aug 201583900 mi$750 | Bad shifting and hanging in gears. | ||
| Mar 201684320 mi$500 | Forward axilliary battery had dead cell and was draining main battery and causing error messages on control computer resulting in gearbox shifting issues both batteries replaced and error messages cleared and system reset. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Virginia, United States Apr 2017 - Jun 2018 | |||
| Jul 2017108000 miUS $2000 | SBS System Failure | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Texas, United States Aug 2008 - Dec 2011 | |||
| Sep 200867000 miUS $895 | Normal check up, but SBC Pump went bad, was replaced under MB extended coverage for this pump. Other work included normal A work up. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Washington, United States Jul 2014 - Dec 2019 | |||
| Apr 201562200 miUS $300 | front wheel bearings changed | ||
| Aug 201563700 miUS $450 | Lock actuator motor in driver's door changed | ||
| Dec 201675000 miUS $145 | Battery warning light but battery and alternator were ok. No definitive cause found but some computer updates added. | ||
| Jun 201999000 miUS $50 | center console wood trim fell off and replaced | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States Mar 2015 - Mar 2015 | |||
| Mar 2015120000 miUS $400 | Software reset | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Texas, United States Sep 2010 - Jul 2022 | |||
| Jan 201177000 miUS $873 | 1-replaced both front lower ball joints; 2-replaced rf lower force control arm assembly including contr arm strut w/bushing & ball joint | ||
| Jul 201180000 miUS $332 | replaced left front force control arm strut w/bushing amd ball joint | ||
| Jun 201493000 miUS $80 | Window washer fluid was leaking where the hose with the heater unit connects to the pump. Repaired by removing the heater unit from the hose and connected the hose directly to the pump. | ||
| Sep 201494000 mi | replaced both rear air springs Replaced air suspension pump assembly/compressor and suspension filter Driver head rest will not raise or lower. Did not fix. Driver seat will not automatically move into pre-set position. Mechanic could not determine exact cause so it was not fixed. Driver's visor will not stay in the "up" position. Decided not to replace. | ||
| Feb 201595000 miUS $296 | Replaced the driver's sun visor first reported in 2014 | ||
| Nov 2016102000 miUS $2080 | Brakes went out suddenly. Replaced Sensotronic Brake Control (SBC) Operating Unit to correct. | ||
| Dec 2016102000 miUS $263 | Replaced ACC Dual heater valve | ||
| Mar 2017103000 miUS $176 | right front headlight Xenon low beam out/replaced bulb | ||
| Oct 2017106000 miUS $1751 | Left front air strut would not rise. It failed. Replaced left front air strut assy. $1,130 Brake warning light message. Replaced brake lamp switch. $72 and related labor for checking why brake warning message sometimes came on, then went away---$105---total investigation labor and cost to replace brake lamp switch--72+105=$177. Replaced both upper ball joints. $314---plus wheel alignment due to replacing either ball joints or left front strut assy--$130 | ||
| May 2018108022 miUS $778 | replaced crankshaft position sensor replaced left front lower control arm and related 4 wheel alignment | ||
| Jun 2022121000 miUS $2000 | Converted the suspension from air to shocks, struts, and coil springs because the air system that came with the car kept going out. replace right front lower control arm. ball joint. | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Ontario, Canada Feb 2012 - Dec 2012 | |||
| Aug 201288600 miC $245 | the codes had to be reset because the dash message said go to shop for brakes | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States Aug 2008 - Oct 2017 | |||
| Aug 200939000 mi | Car was leaking oil. Dealer said it was the transmission fluid sensor. Drivers side vents never blew cold air. Don't know what they did but they fixed it. | ||
| Sep 201262000 mi | Car was having a jolt and vibration thru the steering wheel while braking. Independent mechanic said it was due to warped rotors and also the SBC pump had reached its threshold but was still covered under warranty. | ||
| May 201368700 mi | SBC pump was going out. | ||
| Jul 201594800 miUS $1200 | water pump failed | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in New Jersey, United States Jul 2010 - Aug 2014 | |||
| Sep 201077000 miUS $500 | Replaced failed generator | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Massachusetts, United States May 2011 - Nov 2013 | |||
| Jun 2011101000 mi | flaky wiper function, bad turn/wiper switch | ||
| Jun 2012110000 miUS $2081 | Replace rear coil springs (broken). Replace front control arm bushings and one ball joint. 4 wheel alignment plus anual service | ||
| Aug 2012111200 miUS $346 | replace EGR valve | ||
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Washington, United States May 2011 - Mar 2021 | |||
| Jan 201287000 mi | I got a message stating "brakes, visit workshop" I had an independant garage pull the full code with the STAR diagnostic system to find the SBC unit was beyond is lifespan. Dealer replace no charge to me. New unit functions quieter than old. I got a message stating "brakes, visit workshop" I had an independant garage pull the full code with the STAR diagnostic system to find the SBC unit was beyond is lifespan. Dealer replace no charge to me. New unit functions quieter than old. | ||
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Great Britain Oct 2010 - Jun 2014 | |||
| Apr 201131000 mi | The thermostat gasket was leaking, it was thought at first to be head gasket. I was also advised that i required front near side suspension leg, two rear suspension legs, rear brake pads, front brake pads and discs, and a service. | ||
| Jun 201131000 mi | Required a software update for the brakes, SBS message came up while driving in a car park, and applied the brakes. | ||
| Mar 201435750 mi | Engine management light was lit, star diagnostics said it was cam sensor Cam Sensor plus sender unit | ||
2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
6-cylinder automatic 2WD
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Florida, United States Aug 2009 - Jun 2011 | |||
| Sep 200954000 miUS $1900 | Replaced the main and auxiliary batteries ourselves then went for service because electrical still acting up (car going dead). The computer diagnostic found no electrical problem, all batteries and systems functioning. Car still sitting dead in my garage. Headlight. | ||
| Jul 201055000 miUS $2300 | Battery would lose charge within 24 hrs. Repaired air conditioning control unit, which was discharging the battery. Also replaced oil sensor unit and front control module, which were faulty. | ||
See TrueDelta's information for all Mercedes-Benz models.
