AI Damage2000 Mercedes-Benz 500: common problems
Owners of the 2000 Mercedes-Benz 500 filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 22% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 22% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 6 Electronic stability control 11% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 11% of all complaints
- Suspension: 3 complaints (33% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 1 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 mercedes benz s 500. The contact stated that the key was able to be inserted in the ignition but could not be turned. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 120,000.
2000 mercedes benz sl 500 had the hood liners replaced three times in 5 years. The first hood liner became brittle and disintegrated. The second hood liner became powdery and literally fell apart less than 2 years after installation. The consumer was told the head liner was considered wear and tear.
While driving 40-45 mph suspension/automatic stability control light came on, vehicle became lower to the ground. Vehicle was towed to the dealer, who informed consumer that air suspension system needed to be replaced. 9-25-07 phone converstaion: was run off the road into a ditch.
The 4 original continental tires on this mercedes are worn out with the wear bars showing. The mileage is 17262. This was verified by the local mercedes dealer, sears & 2 of the 3 local continental tire dealers in this city. Everyone said this is common with these tires & no adjustment from the company is available.
When stopped on a hill, with engine running, in "drive" when brakes are released to proceed forward, the car rolls backward quickly, with tranmission acting as if in "neutral" and engine stalls after moving backward about ten feet. Driver loses all control and power over car.
When driving the automobile above 50 mph it sways from side to side and goes up and down. Consumer thinks something is wrong with the suspension.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 500 has 7 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Mercedes-Benz 500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (11%), stalls while driving (11%), vibration (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 Mercedes-Benz 500?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2000 Mercedes-Benz 500 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2000 models
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.