AI Damage2003 Mercedes-Benz G500: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz G500 filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 43% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 29% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 29% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Steering: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (29% 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
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
Consumer states that while driving abs light comes on. Dealer notified.
Consumer states that rear doors do not lock. Dealer notified.
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 12,539 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the G500 has 3 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mercedes-Benz G500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, steering, structure. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (29%), warning lights, check engine (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Mercedes-Benz G500?
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 G500 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 2026-11-06.