2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Complaint Log

MOST TIMES WHEN I FILL THE VEHICLE WITH GAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMANATES FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLES SPECIFICALLY AT THE LEFT REAR CORNER BUT IT CAN ALSO BE SMELLED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. MOST TIMES THE VAPOR WILL DISAPPEAR WITHIN A FEW DAYS. SOMETIMES (CURRENTLY) THE SMELL HASN'T DISAPPEARED IN OVER A WEEK (AND THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING ON LOW FUEL). *TR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR FLUID LEAKS AND ALSO CAUSING WARNING MESSAGE TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. NO EVENT CAUSED IT TO CRACK OR LEAK. HAD CALLED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE ADVISER HAD SAID MANY OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE HAS OCCURRED. NO CONSEQUENCES HAS HAPPENED FROM THE LEAK BUT IN A LUXURY CAR IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN DONE BUT DEALERSHIP COULD ONLY REPLACE IT AT A COST. *TR

I HAD REFUELED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF GAS FUMES WHEN I PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I ALWAYS USE THE AUTO SHUTOFF AT THE PUMP SO THERE WAS NO CONCERN FOR ME TO "TOP OFF" SOMETHING I NEVER DO. I NOTICE THAT IF I FILLED MY TANK CLOSER TO THE 3/4 OR BELOW LEVEL IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE. *TR

I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ 2003 E320, BATTERY DRAIN EVERY 6 HRS. BOUGHT NEW BATTERY STILL BATTERY DRAINS. SEEMS LIKE MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM: SEE FORUM: HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W203-C-CLASS/1196568-MERCEDES-C320-BATTERY-DRAIN-15.HTML THESE VEHICLES NEED TO RECALLED. ITS COSTING $115 PER HOUR FOR THE DEALER TO CHECK. THE PROBLEM IS COMMON AFTER MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AFTER 50,000 MILES OR 4 YRS. MY CAR HAS 76,000 AND BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE RIGHT REAR SENDING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,147 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN

AS A LOYAL MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER FOR YEARS IT PAINS ME TO WRITE THIS LETTER. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MBNA AND HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TWO FUEL CELL ISSUES IN TWO SEPARATE AMG CARS 6 YEARS APART. IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE COST BEFORE AND THIS TIME. IT SICKENS ME THAT MBNA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTS UTILIZED IN THESE AMG VEHICLES YET THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED. CUSTOMERS ARE NOT TOLD THAT THIS IS A FLAW THAT HAPPENS ON MANY OF THE AMG INSTEAD THEY ARE TREATED AS IF EACH ARE UNIQUE CASES. SHAME ON MBNA FOR TREATING SUCH LOYAL CUSTOMERS WITH SUCH DISREGARD AND NOT ADMITTING TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A LIMITATION THAT CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR THEIR SAFETY. IT PERSONALLY PLACED MY FAMILY IN HARMS WAY THIS PAST WEEKEND DURING A TRIP TO NAPLES FL. I THINK EACH EXECUTIVE OF MBNA SHOULD BE FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR FAMILY WITH THIS ISSUES SO THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL. FOR A COMPANY SO FOCUSED ON SAFETY...THEY ARE DROPPING THE BALL FOR THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND HIDING THE TRUTH. RESPECTFULLY I DEMAND THAT MBNA BE HELD DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND ADMIT THE ISSUE TO ALL AMG OWNERS 2003-2009. *JS

VERY STRONG GAS FUMES WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL. FUMES COMPLETELY PERMEATE MY TWO CAR GARAGE AND ALSO ENTER PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FUMES DISAPPEAR WHEN TANK LEVEL REACHES 7/8 FULL. THERE ARE SEVERAL POSTINGS ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES ON THE WEB REGARDING STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN THE TANK IS FULL ON E MODEL MERCEDES YEARS 2003 TO 2006. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH POTENTIAL FOR EXPLOSIVELY AND/OR FIRE. I CONTACTED MERCEDES REQUESTING THE ISSUANCE OF A SERVICE RECALLED BASED ON THE APPARENT HIGH INCIDENCE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN TAKING ANY ACTION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 12 IN BATON ROUGE, A DUMP TRUCK MERGED INTO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SPREADING SMALL ROCK SIZED DEBRIS EVERYWHERE. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE EXIT BEFORE MY PLANNED EXIT IN EFFORT TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE DAMAGE. I AVOIDED QUARTER SIZE ROCKS BY DRIVING SLIGHTLY ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I EXPERIENCED THE VIBRATION CREATED FROM THE SHOULDER GROOVES IN THE ROAD AND ONE SMALL RAISED BUMP FROM THE BLACKTOP. THIS LASTED A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN BAM!, THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I BECAME IMMEDIATELY DISORIENTED AS TO THE NATURE OF THE EVENTS. I PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED ANY DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR. THERE WAS NONE OTHER THAN SOME WINDSHIELD DINGS AND HOOD CHIPS TO THE PAINT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ABOUT ONE MILE HOME AND CONTACTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I DID NOT HIT ANY DEBRIS TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOR DID ANYTHING OTHER THAN SMALL ROCKS HIT MY CAR. I FEEL CONFIDENT THE RAISED BUMP ON THE BLACKTOP, GIVEN SIZE AND HEIGHT OF THE BUMP, SURELY COULD NOT CAUSE FOR THIS THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *TR

THE SBC IS THE PROBLE , AND I BELICE RHAT IT IS / WAS ON RECALL, I WANT YOU TO FIX THE PROBLEM . THANKS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND SPUTTER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, WHICH CAUSED THE TORQUE CONVERTER TO FAIL. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $3,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

DRIVING ON CITY SURFACE STREET. CAME TO FOUR WAY STOP. HEARD A POP LIKE THAT OF A TIRE OR BALLOON. CAR STARED TO MAKE WHISTLING NOISE. PULLED OVER AND SAW LEFT FRONT AIR SUSPENSION STRUT BOTTOMED OUT. TOWED TO DEALER AND ADVISED THAT LEFT FRONT AIRMATIC HYDROPNEMATIC STRUCT HAD FAILED. THAT AIR BLADDER HAD BLOWN. FURTHER THAT AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR WAS BURNED OUT. I HAD DRIVEN A TOTAL OF 50 YARDS FROM BLOW OUT. TOTAL PARTS AND LABOR OVER $2,500.00 FROM MERCEDES BENZ OF WALNUT CREEK. *TR

I PURCHASED THE MERCEDES BENZ E500 2003 ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO. I NOTICED ABOUT 21/2 YEAR THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEPT COMING ON EVEN AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED. THE BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AND MESSAGE STATES PLEASE STOP YOUR, THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES I WAS IN TRAFFIC. I COULD NOT STOP AND WHEN I TURN THE VEHICLE ON, THIS MESSAGE COMES ON THE DASH BOARD. WHEN I WENT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD MY SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NEVER TOLD BY ANY MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL. THEY JUST QUOTED ME PRICES ON REPLACING THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL, INSTEAD OF TELLING ME THERE WAS A RECALL. I NEED YOUR HELP, BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, NOR DID THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS TELL ME OF THE RECALL. PLEASE EMAIL AT [XXX] OR CONTACT AT [XXX]. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE FRONT RT. SIDE SUSPENSION BEGAN TO SINK. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO TAKE A LOOK AND NOTICED THE AIRBAG SUSPENSION HAD COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. I TRIED PRESSING A FEW BUTTONS TO RAISE THE SUSPENSION AND NOTHING. THE COLLAPSE OF THE AIRBAG SUSPENSION WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND WITH BRIEF NOTICE. *TR

2003 E500 WITH 64000MLS, MY FRONT AIR SUSPENSION STRUT BOTTOMED OUT FAILED WILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED.TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES AND IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; WE REPLACED THE 2 FRONT SHOCKS AND COMPRESSOR BUT 3 WEEKS LATER MY BACK SHOCKS FAILED TO. TOTAL COST O REPAIRS $3500 AND STILL NOT DRIVING ALRIGHT HARSH DRIVING AND LOTS OF VIBRATION. *TR

2003 E500 MERCEDES WITH A 60,000 MLS AT THE TIME THE AIR CONTROL IN THE BACK STARTED TO ACT BY IT SELF TURNING THE HEATER ON AT HIGH; IT WAS POSSIBLE TO RESET BY THE FRONT CONTROL BUT IT WOULD GO BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE DAY. KNOW THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT OF THE CAR HAS FAILED; REPAIR COST $2200 AND 2 WEEKS IN THE SHOP. *TR

THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR FOR THE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500 LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND JUMP. THE COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS AN CONTAINMENT AND RUINS THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH LATER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE RADIATOR. THESE THREE MAJOR PART INCLUDING GASKETS, HOSES, AND LABOR ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ALL THREE COMPONENTS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *TR

MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320, INWHICH THE FUEL FILTERS ARE LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT, HAD A POWERFUL GASOLINE ORDER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BENZ REPAIR SHOP STATED IT WAS A HAIRLINE FRACTURE IN THE FUEL FILTER AND IT WAS LEAKING GAS. THEY REPLACED THE FILTERS, BUT I'VE SEEN THEM REPLACE THE SAME TYPE FILTERS IN 2008 MODELS. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND A SAFETY HAZARD. IF ME OR MY SPOUSE HAD BEEN A SMOKER, OR CAUSED A SPARK, WE COULD'VE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A FATAL EXPLOSION. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY E-320 I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COME THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. AFTER I HEARD THE SOUND THE REAR SPEAKERS AND THE SUB WOOFER BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISED THAT SUGGESTED THEY WERE BUSTED. WHEN I STOP THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF I HEARD A BUZZING NOISE COME THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. NOW WHEN EVER I APPLY THE BRAKES I HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A FAULTY GROUND NOISE COMING THROUGH THE SPEAKERS. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON THE BRAKES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING BUT MB SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BY THE WAY THE TO DOOR SPEAKERS COST 189.00 DOLLARS A PIECE AND THE REAR SUB WOOFER COST 639.00 DOLLARS. I HAVEN'T STARTED THE RESEARCH ON HOW MUCH THE RADIO UNIT COST. THIS CAR HAS GIVING ME SEVERAL PROBLEMS. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LEMON.. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHEN THE CONTACT EXITED THE INTERSTATE, AN ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND, INDICATING THAT THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BRAKES WERE WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SBC CONTROLLER FOR FREE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VIN AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

MY CAR (2003 MERCEDES E500) HAS HAD 3 OF THE 4 AIRMATIC SHOCKS FAIL IN 50K MILES. EACH TIME, THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND MUST BE TOWED. TWO OF THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT WHEELS CANNOT BE TURNED WHEN THIS OCCURS WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE FENDER A DANGEROUS SITUATION. 1 OF THE REPAIRS WAS PERFORMED UNDER WARRANTY. THE OTHER TWO REPAIRS COST $3000. CALLS TO THE DEALER AND MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA TO REQUEST A WARRANTY REPAIR WERE REFUSED. REVIEW OF ONLINE FORUMS FOR MB OWNERS INDICATES MANY OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SRS SENSOR FAILED. THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SENSOR AT THE COST OF $857. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE MERCEDES BENZ AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEMS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, PLEASE CHECK CAR OWNER FORUMS AS THERE ARE MANY CARS AS NEW AS 2007 AND 2008'S THAT HAVE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SAFETY AND RELIABILITY ISSUES, THESE CARS ARE PRONE TO AIRMATIC SUSPENSION PROBLEMS FROM THE C CLASS SPORT MODELS TO THE E AND S CLASSES AS WELL, I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH MASS REPAIR AND SAFETY ISSUES, HOWEVER MOST OR ALL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSIONS WILL AT SOME POINT HAVE REPAIRS THAT CAN RESULT IN THE CAR DROPPING TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING, WE ARE SPEAKING CARS THAT ARE BY MOST STANDARDS CONSIDERED TO BE LOW MILEAGE VEHICLES, MY CAR HAS 64K MILES AND IS A MERCEDES 2003 E320, THE FRONT AIRSPRINGS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, YOU WILL RECEIVE A DASH WARNING ONLY AFTER THE SUSPENSION HAS GIVEN OUT,. THERE ARE 4 AIRSPRINGS FOR MY CAR AT A REPAIR COST FOR THE FRONT AIRSPRINGS AT A COST OF $1,500.00 PER SIDE, AND KNOWING THAT THERE ARE 2 MORE AIRSPRINGS IN THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT COULD GIVE OUT WITHOUT WARNING RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE ONCE AGAIN, SO YOU LITERALLY HAVE FOUR POSSIBILITIES OF SUSPENSION FAILURE, YOU WILL BE AT THE MERCY OF A FLATBED TOW TRUCK, AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CARS AS THEY SIT SO LOW TO THE GROUND THAT IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TOW, KNOWING THAT THE RUBBER BELLOWS ON THE SUSPENSION OF THESE CARS ARE VERY FRAGILE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED CAUSING MASS FAILURE OF THE AIRSPRING UNIT, THE UNIT IS SOLD AS A DEALER ONLY ITEM AT A COST OF $1,000.00 EACH FOR EACH FRONT SIDE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED..THE FACT IS THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS ARE FAULTY WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY MASS FAILURES....MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS TIME AND FAILED WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE HAD THE SUSPENSION FAILED OR DROPPED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, I AM BLESSED TO HAVE NOT HAD THE SUSPENSION FAIL WHILE DRIVING, AS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY SITUATION..... *TR

MERCEDES BENZ E500 AIRMATIC STRUT COLLAPSE. LOW MILEAGE: 43000 AT TIME OF FAILURE. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN STRUT FAILED. CAR LEANED TO RIGHT & MADE AN EMERGENCY STOP. MERCEDES BENZ CHARGED $1100 FOR REPLACEMENT PART, I INSTALLED. IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW: PROTECTIVE BELLOWS FAILS & CONTAMINATES AIR BAG. *TR

ON-BOARD COMPUTER GIVES AN "SRS MALFUNCTION - VISIT WORKSHOP!" MESSAGE, DESPITE BEING EVALUATED AND RESET BY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PROBLEM APPEARS TO EXIST FOR MANY OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BETWEEN 2005 AND 2015, I SMELLED GAS INSIDE OF MY CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK. GAS SOAKED MY BACK SEAT AND CARPET BEHIND DRIVER'S SEAT, AND LEAKED OUT THE RIGHT (DRIVER'S) SIDE OF THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK INTO THE MERCEDES DEALER IN SUGAR LAND ON APRIL 9, 2008, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. AFTER THEN, I AVOIDED FILLING UP THE TANK. ON DECEMBER 12, 2012, I FILLED THE TANK BY ACCIDENT AND THE FUEL SOAKED BY BACK SEAT AND LEAKED OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP, AND THE FUEL PUMP SEAL WAS REPLACE.THEN ON JULY 1, 2014, THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FUEL PUMP RELAY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E 320 ON APRIL 3,2008. ALL OF A SUDDEN A SIGN APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD THAT BRAKE WAS DISABLED AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A BRAKE AND STILL IT WAS RUNNING. SOME HOW I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT ON LEFT AND STOPPED IT BY CHANGING THE GEAR TO PARKING. IF IT WAS HAPPENING AFTER 10 SECOND IT WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES IN HIGH SPEED IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND I WOULDN'T BE IN THE FACE OF THE EARTH TODAY. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF 2003 E 320 WAS IN RECALL. WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS REPLACED BEFORE AND THERE IS NO MORE WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY $2500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM FROM MY POCKET. I AM SO UPSET ABOUT THIS INCIDENT - MORE THAN THE MONEY - THE NEGLIGENCE OF MERCEDES BENZ CAN RISK THE LIFE OF MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME DRIVING MERCEDES 2003 E320 MODEL WITH FAULTY BRAKE WHICH BREAK DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE GOING IN HIGH SPEED. WHAT SHALL I DO IN THIS MATTER? *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E 320 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A SIGN APPEARED ON THE DASH BOARD THAT BRAKE WAS DISABLED AND I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A BRAKE AND STILL IT WAS RUNNING. SOME HOW I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT ON LEFT AND STOPPED IT BY CHANGING THE GEAR TO PARKING. IF IT WAS HAPPENING AFTER 10 SECOND IT WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES IN HIGH SPEED IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION AND I WOULDN'T BE IN THE FACE OF THE EARTH TODAY. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF 2003 E 320 WAS IN RECALL. WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS REPLACED BEFORE AND THERE IS NO MORE WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY $2500 TO FIX THE PROBLEM FROM MY POCKET. I AM SO UPSET ABOUT THIS INCIDENT - MORE THAN THE MONEY - THE NEGLIGENCE OF MERCEDES BENZ CAN RISK THE LIFE OF MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME DRIVING MERCEDES 2003 E320 MODEL WITH FAULTY BRAKE WHICH BREAK DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE GOING IN HIGH SPEED. WHAT SHALL I DO IN THIS MATTER? *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN 35 MILES SPEED, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL MY 2003 MERCEDES E 320 AND I WAS ALMOST DEAD CROSSING A HEAVY TRAFFIC AREA. FORTUNATELY I TURNED THE CAR LEFT TO A PARKING LOT AND CHANGED THE GEAR TO PARKING TO STOP THE CAR AND TO AVOID GETTING IN TO THE SHOP. I BOUGHT THE MERCEDES WITH A TRUST, BUT I LOST MY TRUST. NOT ONLY THAT I AM STILL WAITING TO GET THE REPAIRING COST FROM MERCEDES DUE TO THE PRODUCT DEFECT. *TR

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. PEDAL HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AND STOPPING DISTANCE IS NOTICEABLY INCREASED. IT SEEMS TO FIT INTO THE PROBLEMS LISTED WITH TWO RECALLS ON 2003 E500. 04V296000 AND 05V133000. CONTACTED MERCEDES AND WAS TOLD NEVER HEARD OF THIS CONDITION, THEN I GAVE THEM THE RECALL NUMBERS. I WAS THEN PUT ON HOLD FOR APPROX. 20 MINUTES AND THEN WAS TOLD NO OPEN RECALL ON THIS UNIT,AND I SHOULD CONTACT DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT MERCEDES HOTLINE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT HELP. CONTACTED MERCEDES AGAIN TO BE TOLD TO SEE DEALER. I ALSO ASKED IF IT COULD BE CHECKED OR TESTED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WAS WHAT THE RECALL LISTED AND IF SO POSSIBLY GET SOME ASSISTANCE FROM MERCEDES. AND IF IT WAS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM THEN CHARGE ME. THE DEALER SAID NO,AND IF I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THEIR ANSWER MAYBE I SHOULD SEE AN ATTORNEY. CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TROUBLE TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THEIR RECALL. *TR

IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: PE12001 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICING UNDER (EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN # 2008-020001) AND FUEL SENDER UNIT WAS REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AT WHICH POINT THE SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE RETURNED AND THERE ARE NOTICEABLE LEAKS ON BOTH THE FUEL SENDER AND FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE DEALER SERVICE THE PART UNDER THE RECALL AS THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE FAULTY AS THEY WERE NO DIFFERENT THEN THE PARTS THEY REPLACED. THEY ALSO NOTED THAT THE PUMP MAY BE CRACKED. *TR

MY 2003 MERCEDES E320 HAD LESS THAN 40,000 MILES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION AND STRUTS STARTED TO PRESENT PROBLEMS. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 78,000 MILES, I'M BEING TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE PARKING PRAWNS DUE A LEAK IN THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE BUSHING ON THE LEFT SIDE ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I JUST HAD A BUSHING REPLACED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, WHICH WAS A BIT PRICEY. WHEN THEY REPLACED ONE OF THE BUSHINGS UNDER WARRANTY A FEW YEARS AGO, THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THEM. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED NUMEROUS WITH THIS CAR. I PURCHASED IT WITH ONLY 37 MILES ON IT IN SEPTEMBER 2003, BUT REPLACEMENT OF A NUMBER OF PARTS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY NOW LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR WAS A LEMON FROM THE BEGINNING. IS IT NORMAL TO HAVE THE AIR PUMP REPLACED AT 73,000 MILES? AGAIN, THAT WAS A PRICEY REPAIR -- $1100.00. *TR

E 320 MERCEDES 2003 CAR FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG SRS LIGHT ON DASHBOARD APPEARED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1,000 TO ASSESS AND CORRECT PROBLEM. AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED AND HAVE NEVER BEEN USED. I NEVER FIXED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD FALL UNDER MERCEDES CARE. THIS IS OF CONCERN SINCE IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIRBAGS DEPLOY MY PASSENGER MAY BE CRITICALLY HURT. *TR

THE CAR HAD A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE CAUSE FOR THAT WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT YET THE DEALER HAS NO INTEREST IN REPAIRING THE ISSUE UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SEEMS AN ISSUE AS SERIOUS AS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK WOULD BE COVERED. *TR

I OWN A MB 2003 E500. WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE CAR WOULD JERK BACK AND FORTH LIKE THE CAR IS STALLING FOR NO LONG THAN COUPLE SECS OR LESS. I'VE ONLY NOTICED THIS HAPPENS AT LOW ROLLING SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE YET TO FIND A PATTERN. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

FUEL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE NEAR REAR LEFT TIRE. FOUND FUEL AROUND FUEL SENSOR UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT. MOST EVIDENT AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. FIRST DISCOVERED LEAK AT 70K MILEAGE AND AGAIN ON 128K. *TR

STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER FILLING. THE SMELL LASTS AT LEAST 2-3 DAYS BEFORE DISSIPATING AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE FILL IT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

BURNT HOLE FROM SEAT WARMER ON DRIVER'S SEAT LEFT SIDE. BURNT RIGHT THROUGH COAT AND JEANS. *TR

I HAVE A MERCEDES-BENZ 2003 E500 THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE VALEO RADIATOR THAT CAUSED GLYCOL CONTAMINATION LEAKAGE INTO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. MY UN-DRIVABLE CAR NOW HAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE BECAUSE OF POWER LOSS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. INABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR KEEP UP THE MINIMUM SPEED OF THE POSTED HIGHWAY SIGNS IS COMMON. I ASKED MBUSA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND INITIALLY THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM EXISTED. AFTER FINDING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN P-B-27.55/50F DATED MARCH 24, 2006 THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO ME, LEAVING IT UP TO A LOCAL DEALER TO HANDLE THE MATTER. THE LOCAL DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST ME EXCEPT PERFORMING THE $200 GLYCOL BULLETIN TEST AND DESCRIBED THE COST FOR REPAIRS. MY CAR GLYCOL CONTAMINATION TEST RESULT COMPARED TO THE CHART WAS DEEP PURPLE AS A RESULT OF THE GLYCOL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTAMINATION LEVEL BEING ABOVE 400 MG/LITER WHICH IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OF RUSTED TRANSMISSION AND SHOWING GLYCOL CONTAMINATION STARTED MONTHS EARLIER TO THE NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. ALSO THE BULLETIN OUTLINES TEST KITS SOLD TO DEALERSHIPS IN PACKS OF 30'S. THE BULLETIN ALSO SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT INTERMITTENT AND CAN BE REPRODUCED AT ALL TIMES. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DUE TO POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500 WHICH WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR MY TRANSMISSION STARTED LOSING POWER ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND MAKING A LOUD ROAR FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE CAR THEN STARTED STUTTERING WHILE AT 60MPH WHICH POSED A DANGER TO MYSELF , MY FAMILY, AND CARS AROUND ME. THIS PROBLEM ALMOST CAUSED CARS BEHIND ME TO HIT ME BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND IT TURNED OUT THAT GLYCOL LEAKED INTO MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO A FAULTY VALEO RADIATOR IN MY 2003 MERCEDES E500. I WAS TOLD THE TRANS WAS COMPLETELY SHOT AND HAD TO PAY OVER 10K FOR THE TRANS, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND THE RADIATOR. THE MECHANIC ALSO SHOWED ME A TECH BULLETIN P-B-27.55/50F AND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MERCEDES DEALER THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME DOUBLE OF WHAT MY MECHANIC CHARGE ME AND I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. THEY DID NOT OFFER TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE EVEN THOUGH THEIR RADIATOR WAS FAULTY. MY CAR ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE TRANS GOING OUT ON ME. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURE AS THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGES IF THERE IS NOT A RECALL ACTION TAKEN. *TR

DRIVING VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND BRAKE FAILURE. WARNING INDICATED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE STOP IMMEDIATELY. PEDAL PRESSURE WAS EXCESSIVELY HIGH RESULTING IN VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. PROBLEM SELF CLEARED BUT THEN REPEATED WITH LITTLE BRAKING AND VERY HIGH PEDAL FORCE. *TR

EACH TIME I FILL UP THE GAS TANK TO CAPACITY, THE FUEL TANK EMITS VAPORS. IT SEEMED SOMEWHAT TOLERABLE IN THE PAST, THOUGH THIS PAST WEEK, IT WAS ENOUGH TO GO THROUGH WALLS AND UP 2 STORIES. IT'S PAST TOLERABLE AND JUST DOWNRIGHT UNACCEPTABLE NOW. I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY OWNER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FRANKLY I'M AMAZED A COMPANY WITH THE "PEDIGREE" OF MERCEDES BENZ HAS ALLOWED THIS TO GO UNSOLVED ACROSS THE MARKET. *TR

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE WEAR RESULTING IN INCREASED HYDROPLANING. *JB

I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES E-500. BOTH SUN VISORS FAILED IN 2007 AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THEY SIMPLY SEIZED IN PLACE AND CAN NOT BE MOVED. MERCEDES HAD REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VISORS AS PART OF THE WARRANTY CITING MILEAGE LIMITATIONS. THE REPAIR COST IS OVER $800. I THINK VISORS AND OTHER INTERIOR EQUIPMENTS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 YEARS! *TR

SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE WHILE DRIVING WITH LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 CUSTOM ORDERED. THERE ARE ERRATIC, INCONSISTENT,INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS OF DEFECTIVE BRAKE OPERATION, RADIO,CD,SEAT CONTROLS,INSTRUMENTATION,WINDOWS CONTROL,TIRE PRESSURE INDICATION, RESTRAINT SYSTEM,TRANSMISSION OPERATION, SRS SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR RANDOMLY. TWICE,WHEN I NEEDED TO BRAKE QUICKLY THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKE ASSIST FEATURE DID NOT WORK. THE CAR'S BRAKES ARE TERRIBLE AND UNRELIABLE, AND CONSTITUTE SAFETY DANGER ON THE ROAD. THERE ARE NUMEROUS MALFUNCTIONS REPORTED BY CAR INDICATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALL OR MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GATEWAY MODULE*SOFTWARE*.THE CAN-BUS SYSTEM ON CAR,WHICH ALSO CONTROLS BRAKES,DOES NOT HAVE CORRECTLY-OPERATIONS OF WARE,AND IT AFFECTS MOST ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONS IN THE CAR. THERE ARE DATA COLLISIONS AND PACKET CONFLICTS ON THE BUS BECAUSE THE SOFTWARE IS NOT WRITTEN CORRECTLY OR THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE IS OVERLOADED. READING OVER THE 55 2003 E320 COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE,IT IS CLEAR THAT MOST OF THEM ARE DUE TO THIS SOFTWARE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE SELLING DEALER ,MERCEDES BENZ OF SAN DIEGO,*OVER 50 TIMES*DURING THE YEARS 2003-2007 WITH NO SOLUTION. THE CAR WARRANTY IS SET TO EXPIRE IN A WEEK, AND THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT YET FIXED. THE NHTSB DEMAND MERCEDES BENZ EITHER REDESIGN THE SYSTEM OR REWRITE THE SOFTWARE AND TEST IT FOR ABOUT 40,000 HOURS, OR REPLACE THE VEHICLES WITH POST-2003 E-CLASS MODELS, FREE OF CHARGE THE NHTSB HAS BEEN DUPED BY MERCEDES BENZ INTO BELIEVING THAT REPLACING HARDWARE COMPONENTS SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS THE NHTSB SHOULD TEST THE NETWORK SOFTWARE BY EXAMINING DATA FLOWS AND FUNCTION CALLS DURING THE OPERATION OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SYSTEM FEATURES OF AN E320 AND DIAGNOSE FOR DATA COLLISIONS AND PACKET CONFLICTS DURING AUTOMOBILE FEATURE OPERATION. *JB

AFTER SPENDING $600 OF SERVICE ON A 2003 MERCEDES E320, THE RADIO COMMAND CENTER START TO ACTING UP. IT WILL SHUT DOWN ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. TURN BACK ON, AND SHUT DOWN ITSELF AGAIN. MERCEDES OF BELLEVUE INSIST THIS IS OUT OF WARRANTY SERVICE. THE RADIO WAS FINE BEFORE SERVICE D., AND NOW THEY EXPECT US TO PAY EXTRA 3 HOURS FOR TESTING RADIO? *JB

TL* - THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT FELT IT SHOULD BE FIXED DURING A RECALL IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON 12/29/06 THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY AT THE DEALER.*AK UPDATED 2/6/2007 - THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST WERE PERFORMED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE SBC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REFLASHED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED TWO RECALL LETTERS WERE RECEIVED REGARDING THE BRAKES, #05V133000 AND #04V296000. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE REPAIR WORK DID NOT NEED TO BE COMPLETED. THE CONTACT THEN ALERTED THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE WORK WAS NOT DONE, AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIPS DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE WORK NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED.

SRS LIGHT CAME AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT AFTER FOUR DAYS AGAIN THE LIGHT AND WARNING CAME ON. *JB

MY CAR HAS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AS I WAS DRIVING. THEN AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING IT STOPPED ON THE STREET. ALSO IT JERKS AND HESITATES OFTEN. I AM AFRAID ITS GOING TO STOP ANYTIME. THE DEALER WILL NOT GIVE ME A NEW CAR OR MY MONEY BACK. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 16 DIFFERENT TIMES AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 45 DAYS TOTAL. MY LEASE IS GOING TO BE UP IN ABOUT 4 MONTHS, I THINK THAT IS MY THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. *JB