AI Damage2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 filed 70 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 70
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 57% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 39% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 3% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 1% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 1% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 40 complaints (57% of all).
- Fuel system: 27 complaints (39% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (4% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (4% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (3% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 70 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 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.
No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to TSB: 2008-020001. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance.
The Alternator died after just over two years from being replaced by Mercedes part and labor causing a loss of electrical power and a loss of brake in the car.
While the vehicle was on the highway on a long road trip, there was an increasingly large rattle when the vehicle was under load. Eventually the rattle stopped. Then when I tried to fill up the car with gas, it leaked everywhere causing a massive fire hazard.
My vehicle is currently experiencing an srs warning light that the dealership, mercedes benz of south bay, diagnosed as being a passenger seat weight sensor failure.
Unknown to me, not receiving any letters about the issue since purchase, my car was out of the warranty period by 3 months when I got a check engine light. I had the check engine light read by a reputable gas-station shop, and they found an evap leak. This was no normal hose leak/gas cap open evap leak.
Upon driving it home from the state where I purchased it, I smelled a strong fuel smell. This is strong inside the cabin and also outside the cabin, to the point that others around the car noted the fuel smell. I can smell it while driving and when the car is stationary.
During initial warmup of vehicle (generally soaked at ambient temperatures 60f and below) a short term (5-8 seconds) unstable idle occurs 20-30 seconds after initial engine start and while in a forward drive gear.
This vehicle is equipped with sensotronic brake control system that has a service threshold. When this threshold is reached the brake system components may fail without warning causing a dramatic reduction of braking capacity. This occurs without warning and results in greatly increased stopping distance.
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 4,430 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the AMG E55 has 87 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 70, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- 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 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, fuel system, electrical system. Total complaints: 70. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (53%), warning lights, check engine (9%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55?
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 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 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 2003 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 2026-11-05.