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1997 Mercedes Benz 500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
19948
19956
19968
19972
19987
19999
2000
Compare all 500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
2Equipment
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Steering
1Tires
1
All reported categories
Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

8 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2000
Air BagsInjury

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER. YH

NHTSA ODI #551702

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2000
Tires

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. SPARE TIRE IN THE TRUNK APPEARED BENT AS IF VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856116

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1999
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. NO ACCIDENT OR OTHER EVENT CAUSED DEPLOYMENT; ENGINE WAS OFF, VEHICLE NOT MOVING, VEHICLE NOT STRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #712780

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

REPEATED TIME ENGINE WON'T START NO POWER FOURTH TIME @ DEALERSHIP SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707358

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Equipment

A/C VENT IN REAR LEAKS. YH

NHTSA ODI #608999

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Unknown Or Other

CLOCK FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #608988

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607490

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
SteeringVisibility

THE STEERING FLUID DRAINED COMPLETELY OUT.

NHTSA ODI #519054

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.