AI DamageMercedes-Benz 500: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Mercedes-Benz 500 across 14 model years: 99 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 43% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 7% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 6% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 6% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 43 complaints (43% of all).
- Suspension: 7 complaints (7% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 7 complaints (7% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (6% of all).
- Equipment: 6 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1984–1993
- 5.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl 1992
- automatic, 4-speed 1984–1993
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 99 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving the lower ball joints on the passenger side snapped in half, causing a collision. Consumer complained to the dealer that the front end felt loose while driving. Vehicle was taken to the dealership three times. There were no injuries.
Consumer states that while drivng the vehicle she was involved in a collision which cause the air bags to deployed at 200 mph causing a lot of physical the damage on the consumer. Mr
On 8/29/01 I applied the brakes about 1/2 inch, in preparation of stopping form a 5mph role in a parking lot and the brakes went to the floor, the car stopped instantly and the car behind me ran in to my car causing minor damage.
Turning into parking lot vehicle surged 80 mph twice, resulting in two accidents, driver suffered injuries in second accident.
Wire harness defect causing short in system smoke inside the vehicle while driving on a county road immediately pulled over cutting other drivers off just to get vehicle in a safe and secured location.
Since then we have had a strong fuel smell when the gas tank is filled completely. If we only fill the gas tank about 3/4 or less, there is no gas smell. We recently had the car serviced and the mechanic told us the gas cap needed to be replaced and a seal/cap in an overfill tank under the rear seat was loose.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.