2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Complaint Log

2003 E320 MERCEDES BENZ - FUEL TANK LEAKING - DEALERS WANTS TO CHARGE OVER $2,000 TO REPAIR. *TR

REFERENCE THE NHTSA ACTION# PE12001 THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUEL SENDING UNITS AND AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUEL PUMPS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK OF THIS CAR. WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS AND PRODUCES A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE AND AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. I HAVE REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE UNITS AND I HAVE OBSERVED STANDING GASOLINE ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS. THERE ARE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS INSIDE OF THESE UNITS AND THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SHORTING DUE TO THE LEAK. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY HAZARDOUS, LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. *JS

FUEL LEAK STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FUNCTIONED WITHOUT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR FLOORBOARD AND THE ODOR OF GASOLINE FUEL WAS PROMINENT IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL TANK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 169,500.

VEHICLE IS PARKED, STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. ESPECIALLY IF THE GAS TANK IS AT LEAST 3/4 QUARTER FILLED. *TR

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR AT DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. NO LEAKING FUEL DETECTED. ODOR SO STRONG THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

I BEGIN TO SMELL FUMES AFTER A FILL UP AND REPLACED THE FILLER CAP. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP WERE I PURCHASED THE CAR THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER WANTS $3,000.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING UNDER NORMAL WARE. *TR

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2012. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CANISTER REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE ($1000), AND AFTER THAT REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE BROUGHT IT INTO MERCEDES WHEN THEY REPLACED THE SBC BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO A RECALL AND WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE WASN'T AFFECTING ANYTHING, SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO REPAIR IT. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR A SMOG CHECK SO WE COULD RENEW OUR REGISTRATION IN JULY OF 2013 AND IT FAILED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE BEING OPEN. WE CANNOT GET THE ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF, SO WE CANNOT PASS A SMOG CHECK. WE ALSO CANNOT FILL IT UP ALL THE WAY BECAUSE STRONG FUMES FILL UP THE GARAGE AND GAS LEAKS OUT. WE WERE LOOKING UP AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY ON GOOGLE ON 11/10/2013 AND COME ACROSS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH MERCEDES BENZ ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE SO WE WILL FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR

THERE WAS GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND ACTUAL LIQUID FUEL WAS GOING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE STRONG AND INTENSE FUMES AND VAPORS ARE INSIDE THE CABIN AND APPARENT AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK ONLY HALF TO THREE-QUARTERS FULL. BOTH OF THESE POSE AN EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS A HEALTH RISK FROM CONSTANTLY INHALING GASOLINE FUMES. THIS ALLOWED FUMES TO LEAK INTO MY GARAGE AND PRESENTED A HUGE FIRE RISK HAD I NOT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT IN OCTOBER 2012 I PAID OVER $1,600 FOR A NEW FUEL TANK, IN APRIL 2013 I PAID OVER $1,200 FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP AND IN AUGUST 2013 I PAID OVER $700 FOR ANOTHER NEW FUEL PUMP. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN TAKING ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO RECTIFY AND REMEDY THIS SITUATION. CONSUMERS DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. UPDATE09/17/13*LJ UPDATED 09/24/2013 *JS *TR

STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM THE DRIVER'S REAR SIDE OF THE CAR, TRUNK AND INSIDE THE CAR. MY WIFE FILLED THE CAR WITH CLOSE TO FULL TANK DUE TO RECENT CA GAS PRICES JUMPING 50C IN ONE WEEK. I HAVE TRIED TO VENTILATE THE VEHICLE AND PARK OUTSIDE, BUT THE SMELL IS STILL VERY STRONG. THERE NEEDS TO BE RECALL FOR THE FAILING TANK OR SENDER UNIT. *TR

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED FULL OF FUEL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IS PRESENT INSIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE LOOKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND SEEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL ESCAPES FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. SINCE I NOTICED THIS I HAVE NOT FILLED MY CAR UP ALL THE WAY AS LONG AS I DON'T FILL IT MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS FULL THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR. *TR

I BEGAN TO NOTICE STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE INTERMITTENTLY - I PARK THE CAR IN GARAGE DAILY BUT ONLY NOTICED GASOLINE ODOR SOME DAYS- TOOK TO DEALER DEC 2012 AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS FUEL LEAK AT FUEL RAIL PRESSURE REGULATOR - DEALER REPLACED FUEL RAIL AND REGULATOR- I THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED SINCE I DID NOT NOTICE GASOLINE ODOR FOR A WHILE- THEN STARTED TO HAVE INTERMITTENT GASOLINE ODOR AGAIN- NOTICED SMALL OIL LEAK UNDER ENGINE AND TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER FEB 2013 AND MENTIONED THAT I SMELLED FUEL ODOR AGAIN- DEALER LOCATED MINOR OIL LEAK AT REAR MAIN SEAL THAT DID NOT NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION AND DID NOT COMMENT ANYTHING FURTHER ABOUT THE GASOLINE ODOR- I MONITORED THE SITUATION FOR NEXT FEW WEEKS- MONTHS SINCE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO KEEP TAKING AUTO BACK TO DEALER - FINALLY FIGURED OUT THAT INTERMITTENT NATURE OF GASOLINE SMELL WAS RELATED TO FILLING TANK- NOTICED THE ODOR AFTER FULL FILL-UP,THEN STOPPED AFTER FEW DAYS- NO ODOR IF JUST FILL UP 1/2-3/4 TANK. *TR

WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK OF MY 2003 MBZ E320 THERE IS ALWAYS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. EMITTING FROM MY VEHICLE. *TR

IN HOT WEATHER OR WHEN I PUT MORE THAN HALF TANK OF GAS IN MY CAR, I HAVE VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE THE CAR AND FUEL DROPS UNDER THE CAR AND SMELL INSIDE. I'VE CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, THEY'VE SAID THAT RECALL ON MY CAR WAS FIXED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THAT'S THE END OF IT. BUT I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT, SINCE IT HAPPEN FIRST TIME, MY KIDS AND MY WIFE ARE NOR ALLOWED TO DRIVE WITH ME. I ONLY USE IT MYSELF TO GO TO WORK AND BACK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER FILLING GAS TANK. WHILE IN FOR SERVICE ON VEHICLE OTHER THAN GAS ODOR MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP FOUND GAS ON SKID PAN UNDER CAR WHILE ON RACK. HE SAID TANK OR POSSIBLE O RING MAY BE AT FAULT. THIS WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2012. AT THAT TIME I DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE REPAIRS DUE TO FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS. THIS JANUARY OF 2015 I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDENDUM STATING " SPECIFICALLY, THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER/SENDER, FUEL PUMP, AND RELATED GASKETS ( COLLECTIVELY THE "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS") FOR GASOLINE-FUELED, NON PZEV CERTIFIED MODEL YEAR 2003-2009 E CLASS AND 2006-2011CLS- CLASS VEHICLES WILL BE EXTENDED FROM ORIGINAL 4 YEAR/ 50,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO 15 YEARS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE." TODAY I LEFT MY 2003 E320 FOR SERVICE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING BUT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDENDUM! AS STATED ABOVE THE "FUEL FILTER/SENDER" IS COVERED UNDER THE ADDENDUM BUT DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. I UNDERSTAND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST MERCEDES CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IS THERE ANYTHING YOUR AGENCY CAN DUE SO MERCEDES HONORS THEIR ADDENDUM AND NOT CHANGE THE COVERAGE ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR CAR TORN APART. I DID SHOW LETTER TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE I LEFT THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. *TR

UPON FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THERE IS AN OBVIOUS ODOR OF FUEL WHICH IS NOTICED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BUT DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID ALL THE RECALLS OR SAFETY RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE ALREADY. BUT THE ODOR OF GAS IS VERY STRONG AND NOT RESOLVED YET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ 320E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

REFERENCE PE12001 GASOLINE STARTED POURING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNDER THE REAR SEAT BENCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. EXTREME GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME OF INCIDENT. ISSUE IS ONGOING. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL 2008020001 WAS DONE ON THIS CAR IN 2008. BUT THAT THE RECURRENT PROBLEM "FIX" WOULD BE OUT OF MY POCKET. I CALLED MBUSA AND DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAIN BUT THEY WOULD TAKE NO ACTION. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND RECURRENT ISSUE WITH THE E CLASS W211 MERCEDES BENZ FROM 2003 - ON. CARS THAT HAVE BEEN "FIXED" START DUMPING FUEL INTO THE CABIN WITHIN THE NEXT 10,000 MILES OR SO. ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS TO DRIVE OVER A LIT UP CIGARETTE AT LOW SPEED AND THE OCCUPANTS CAN BE IN DANGER OF BODILY INJURIES OR DEATH. *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP OF COURSE I EXPECTED TO HAVE TO HAVE MINOR WORK DONE ON IT. IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE HEATER DIDN'T WORK WHEN I HAD IT REPAIRED I WAS TOLD THAT SOME VALVE OFTEN GETS STUCK ON THESE CARS THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS RUN DIAGNOSTICS ON YOUR CAR WHETHER YOU WANT THEM TO OR UPON RUNNING THE DIAGNOSTIC I WAS ADVISED THE MY NEW USED CARD WOULD NEED ABOUT $6K IN WORK DONE FROM THE HOOD TO THE TRUNK I DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR AND GET THE MAJOR WORK DONE IN STAGES 1ST THING I HAD DONE WAS FRONT BREAK PADS AND ROTORS ALTHOUGH I OPTED TO HAVE THE WORK COMPLETED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND NOT THE DEALSHIP FOR OBVIOUS REASONS (COST) NOT ONCE DID THE DEALERSHIP COMPLETE RECALL REPAIR WORK OR EVEN MENTION IT TO ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL RECALLS AND MY CAR NEEDED TO HAVE THOSE REPAIRS COMPLETED BUT RATHER OVER CHARGED ME FOR BALL JOINTS PLUS SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT MORE THAN LIKELY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPAIRED. I FELT COMPLETELY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND RAISED MY CONCERN ADAMANTLY TO LITTLE AVAIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPRIRATION OF THE SAID 10YR EXTENDED WARRANTY WITH REGARD TO THE SBC FAILING NOT ONCE DID THEY MENTION OR REPAIR IT KNOWING FULL WELL THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF ME BRINGING MY CAR TO THEM WAS SPECIFICALLY DUE TO THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOME TYPE OF SENSOR NOT A BIG DEAL TO WORRY ABOUT THAT MY CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO STOP AND THERE WAS NO NEED TO REPLACE THE SAID SENSOR AN UNNECESSARY COST SINCE MY BREAKS WERE FINE I TOLD THEM MY BREAKS WEREN'T FINE IT WAS TAKING TOO LONG FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP THEY DID NOTHING THAT WAS 2012 THE CONDITION WORSENED AND THE LIGHT WENT FROM WHITE TO RED I DECIDED TO RESEARCH ONLINE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND CAME ACROSS 3 RECALLS I CALLED MBUSA THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY EXPIRED NOVEMBER 2013. *JS

STRONG GAS SMELL IN GARAGE AFTER FILLING GAS TANK. APPEARED TO COME FROM LEFT REAR SIDE OF THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSIS BY DEALER IS THAT THERE IS A CRACK IN THE UPPER PART OF THE GAS TANK. GAS TANK AND FUEL ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. ESTIMATE IS FOR $3,000. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND CUSTOMER MUST PAY FULL REPLACEMENT COST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF A FUEL LEAK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FIALURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2003 MB E500 WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND SHAKE @ AROUND 1500 RPM, THIS OCCURRED CONTINUALLY. MADE IT HOME AND GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM THAT SOMEHOW GETS INTO THE TRANSMISSION,CAUSING IT TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WHICH PRODUCES THIS FIERCE/POTENTIAL DANGEROUS STUTTER/JERKING. TO MY SURPRISE, MERCEDES BENZ IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS HAZARD AND HAS NOT HAD A RECALL/BULLETIN TO FIX THIS COMMON PROBLEM, LEAVING THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST ON THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE COST IS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH AND TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS COSTLY REPAIR IS UNFAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E CLASS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPEATED THE DEALER'S SENTIMENTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

I HAVE AN 03 MERCEDES E320 AND IT JUST STARTED LEAKING UNDER THE BACK SEAT LAST WEEK. I CAN SMELL THE VAPORS ONCE I REMOVED THE BACK SEAT I CAN SEE THE PUDDLE OF GAS. 88K MILES. SPOKE TO MB THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL. *TR

BACK IN JULY OF 2012 MY CAR STARTED TO GET SLUGGISH , MISSING AND JERKING I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO REPEAT THE PROBLEM, THEN AFTER TALKING WITH THEM THEY SAID YES THEY COULD FEEL IT THEN TOLD ME IT WAS SUSPENSION ALMOST 5K TO REPAIR , SO I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND TO FIND OUT THIS CAR HAD TRANS PROBLEMS WHERE THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRANS , (A PROBLEM THEY KNOW ABOUT) SO I CALLED MY SERVICE ADVISER TO DISCUS THE PROBLEM TO HEAR THEM SAY OH YEAH ITS A PROBLEM , REALLY? YOU WERE JUST GONNA CHARGE ME 5K TO FIX SOMETHING THAT WASN'T A PROBLEM NOW ITS THE TRANS REALLY, WELL IT TURNS OUT IT WILL COST 10K PLUS TO FIX THIS AND BENZ USA WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS OR THE DEALER FIRST YOU CANT TRUST ANY DEALER THEY WILL TRY TO RIP YOU OFF ALSO THE DEALER OR BENZ USA SHOULD BE FIXING THIS PROBLEM ITS A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING THEN WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED AND THEY WANT TO MAKE YOU PAY BIG DOLLARS THAT IS A BENZ PROBLEM NOT THE CONSUMER , WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THESE GUYS FIX THIS / THESE CARS?? PLEASE HELP *TR

AS REPORTED BY MANY MERCEDES OWNERS, OUR MERCEDES E500 HAS BEGUN THE DREADED LEAKING FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT. UPON LIFTING THE BACKSEAT AND TANK COVERS GAS IS POOLING AND LEAKING ALL OVER THE TOP OF THE TANK AND ONTO THE GROUND FROM THESE ASSEMBLIES. THESE PART APPEARS DEFECTIVE AND NOT SUITED TO BE OVERLOOKED BY NTSB. UNFORTUNATELY MY DEALER STATED THERE IS NOT A FORMAL RECALL YET ON THESE PARTS, BUT HAS HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES. WHAT DOES CONCERN ME IS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE E55 MODEL, BUT IN DOING THE RESEARCH JUST AS MANY E500 OWNERS OUT THERE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE GIVE THIS HIGH CONSIDERATION FOR A RECALL OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE WELL BEING OF OWNERS AND DRIVERS IS NOT WORTH THE RISK AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT MAY OCCUR FROM A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

MY PARENT FILLED UP THE CAR AND PARKED IN GARAGE. UPON RETURNING TO THE GARAGE, THEY EXPERIENCED THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLING THE GARAGE. THEIR HOME HEATING SYSTEM IS CONTAINED IN A SPACE ATTACHED TO THE GARAGE SO THEY HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT AN APPARENT FUEL LEAK. *TR

BEGAN NOTING A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE MY VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. ON INVESTIGATION THE BACK SEAT FOAM WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED FROM A LEAK AT THE SEAL ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK UNDER THE SEAT. RESULTED IN A COSTLY REPAIR BILL. AT THE TIME I READ ONLINE OF MANY, MANY SIMILAR SITUATIONS EXPERIENCED BY OTHER MB AMG E55 OWNERS, AS WELL AS THEIR FRUSTRATION THAT MB WAS NOT TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THUS, I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. NO PROBLEM SINCE, ALTHOUGH I AM HESITANT TO FILL THE TANK COMPLETELY AS MANY REPORT A RECURRENCE A COUPLE YEARS AFTER THEIR INITIAL REPAIR. PLEASE ADVISE IF MB RECOGNIZES THIS APPARENT DEFECT AND ISSUES A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK GAS STARTED TO DRIP FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE FLOOR. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH TO GO TO WORK MY CAR LOST THE BRAKES. THE DISPLAY SHOWED BRAKES DEFECTIVE. LUCKILY I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP THE CAR WITH EMERGENCY BRAKES. I DID DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CAR AND THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SBC UNIT AS MERCEDES-BENZ CALLS IT (THE BRAKE UNIT) WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE DEFECT AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING TO OTHERS IF THEY LOOSE THE BRAKES LIKE I DID WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS WELL AND REPLACED THE SBC PUMP.

IT STARTED WITH A ESP WARNING ON THE CLUSTER, WITH INCREASED BRAKE DISTANCE, AFTER RESTART THE WARNING WAS GONE, AFTER MANY MONTHS THE WARNING CAME BACK ON IN NOV OF 2013, WENT BACK OFF AND CAME BACK ON JAN 14 2014, CALLED THE MERCEDES DEALER IN NASHVILLE TN, WAS ADVISED THAT THE AUTO DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT, WHICH IS THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, BUT THE RECALL ENDED ON 11-12, WHICH I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A SAFETY RECALL CAN EXPIRE WITH MILEAGE OR DATE. THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT $2000.00 WITH NO MANUFACTURE SUPPORT OR HELP. MERCEDES HAS KNOW ABOUT THE BOSCH SYSTEM HAVE ONLY SO MANY BRAKE CYCLES, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN 2009 AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION ON THE RECALL. THIS IS NOT THE WAY A RECALL IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.. MERCEDES SAID SORRY, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, THIS IS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES. *TR

SRS LIGHT INDICATES MALFUNCTION. LIGHT COMES AND GOES AND APPEARS TO BE RANDOM. *TR

SENDING UNIT LEAKS GASOLINE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE LETTING IN INTENSE FUEL VAPORS AS WELL AS ACTUAL LIQUID FUEL INTO THE CABIN. FURTHERMORE THE FAULTY SENDING UNIT CAUSES A FUEL LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING PUDDLES OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE PARKED AND CONTINUING TO LEAK WHILE DRIVING. BOTH OF THESE POSE AN EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS A HEALTH RISK FROM CONSTANTLY INHALING GASOLINE FUMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING, THERE WAS STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,683. UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. UPDATED 06/01/12

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE RED DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BRAKE FAILURE STOP IMMEDIATELY VISIT WORKSHOP. THE RED EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT AND THE AMBER ABS LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFT INTO LOWER GEARS AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STOP USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SINCE THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND I HAD THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AND THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE SBC CONTROL UNIT. THEY ALSO VERIFIED THAT ALL RECALL SERVICE FOR THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION OR AT A HIGH SPEED I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE CAR DEVELOPS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. OTHER OWNERS OF MERCEDES E CLASS VEHICLES HAVE INVESTIGATED WHERE THE SMELL IS COMING FROM AND FOUND THAT GASOLINE IS POOLING UP UNDER THE REAR SEAT ON THE FUEL SENDER UNIT. WHEN I WENT TO MY DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IN FACT WAS THE FUEL SENDER UNIT THAT WAS CAUSING THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE MY GARAGE, AND SOMETIMES CAR. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE LIVE WIRES NEAR THE POOLING GAS AND THE FACT THAT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS SO STRONG LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MERCEDES NEEDS TO ADDRESS RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE KIDS THAT ARE IN THE CAR 3 TIMES A DAY AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THEM IN THE CAR. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG GAS FUMES WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED WITH FUEL. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN STARTING MY VEHICLE, THE DASHBOARD WOULD GO COMPLETELY RED, FOLLOWED BY BEEPING AND AN ESP WARNING, SAYING LIMITED BREAKING. THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AT THAT POINT. SOMETIMES I WOULD ALREADY HAVE THE SHIFT ENGAGED BEFORE THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND WOULD HAVE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. WE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE RECALL REGARDING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM AND TOOK THE CAR TO A MERCEDES DEALER FOR REPAIR. WE WERE ADVISED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IF THE RECALLED PART WAS THE PROBLEM, THEN THE DASHBOARD WOULD LIGHT UP AND WE'D HAVE NO BRAKES. WE EXPLAINED THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL THEY SAW THAT HAPPEN THEMSELVES. AFTER KEEPING THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS, THEY RETURNED IT SAYING IT WAS THE RESERVOIR WHICH WOULD COST APPOX. $1800 TO REPLACE. WE CALLED MERCEDES CORPORATE ABOUT THIS ALSO, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO CALL US BACK. LOOKING INTO THE RECALLED UNIT, IT APPEARS THIS IS ALL ONE SYSTEM AND THEREFORE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAD THE CAR FOR A COUPLE WEEKS WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT UNTIL THIS WEEKEND WHEN I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND AFTER ABOUT A HALF HOUR OF NOT BRAKING THE DASHBOARD LIT UP RED WHILE I WAS DOING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. I TRIED TO BRAKE, BUT THERE WERE NO BRAKES. FORTUNATELY IT WAS VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND VERY FEW PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE AND USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON ABOUT FIVE TIMES, IT FINALLY STOPPED WARNING ME AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AND PARK THE CAR SAFELY. IF THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS KNOWN AS FAULTY AND WAS PART OF A MASSIVE RECALL, WHY CAN'T I GET MY CAR FIXED? *TR

SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR CHECKED AND FOUND A POOL OF GAS ON TOP OF FUEL SENDER BELOW THE REAR SEAT BEHIND DRIVER SIDE. *TR

FUEL PUMP AND ASSEMBLY WERE LEAKING FUEL INTO CABIN AREA DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN AND PLASTIC PARTS. *TR

REFERENCE TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. THE SEAL ON MY FUEL SENDING UNIT BEGAN LEAKING. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THIS IS A NON-STRESSED ITEM. THE SEAL THAT ISOLATES FUEL IN THE TANK FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT HAS FAILED. GASOLINE LEAKS AROUND THE SENDING UNIT SEAL AROUND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS CONNECTED TO THE SENDING UNIT. THIS LEAK ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SEAL WITH NO INPUT OR OUTSIDE ACTION. AFTER FUELING, A FUEL SMELL AND FUMES CAN BE SMELT IN THE CABIN. WHEN THE ACCESS PANEL IS OPENED BELOW THE REAR SEAT, POOLING FUEL CAN BE SEEN. THIS FUEL HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *JS

PLEASE REFERENCE THE NHTSA ACTION# PE12001 SPONTANEOUS FUEL LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK UPON FILLING UP. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, THEY STATED FUEL NOTED ON TOP OF TANK. REQUIRED FUEL SENDER UNIT REPLACEMENT, NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL SMELL WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING RAW FUEL UNDER CAR CAUSING EXPLOSION HAZARD THAT COULD LEAD TO FATALITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING, AND IT GAVE ME A MALFUNCTION MESSAGE STATING THAT THE DISPLAY IS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAY DOESN'T READ THE PROPER LEVEL, THE BACKUP LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THE SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE, THE WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE FEATURES OF AUTO ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL TILT, THE MIRRORS, AND THE SEATS ARE NOT WORKING. CHECKED FOR RECALLS, FOUND A SIMILAR RECALL IN JULY OF 2008, BUT THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED! *TR