Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age, so 100% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 2 complaints.
What actually fails — and at what age
Systems by number of complaints, with the age at which each typically goes. The age column is the useful one — it tells you what to expect next on a car you already own, and what to inspect on one you are about to buy.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | — | — | |
| Power Train | — | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the 500's vehicle class.
| Same class as the 500 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz 500 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1 against 3.73 for the average car.
When do 500 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, followed by Power Train.
Will the warranty cover 500 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it.
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