2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Electrical System Problems

The Alternator died after just over two years from being replaced by Mercedes part and labor causing a loss of electrical power and a loss of brake in the car.

*1. The Fuel Tank and components and/or system failed or malfunctioned. *2. After filling the gas tank, the odor of strong pungent gasoline fumes fills the cabin of the and lingers for some time in the car and garage until the gasoline level goes down after being driven for a few miles. *3The car has been taken to a certified Mercedes Benz Dealership Service Center and was told that the problem was the gas tank and system/components. *4.The car was inspected by a certified Mercedes Benz Dealership Service Center Mechanic *5. There were NO warning lamps or messages on the dashboard or message center on car. The only symptoms of the problem was the strong odor of gasoline fumes after fuel fill ups.

Everytime I get in my car, the battery is dead! I have purchased several brand new batteries, and the same thing! I purchased a new battery, and my wife and I went on vacation, and as we was headed back home, we began to smell a real foul oder! We stop to the gas station, and looked everywhere, but didn't see anything! As we continue to drive, and turned in the drive way the battery light came on! I opened the trunk, and there was the foul smell, and the battery was so hot it could have caught fire, luckily we was home

I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 25 MPH .SHE PUT ON THE BRAKES AND A BRIGHT RED SIGNAL APPEARED ON THE SCREEN AND THE CAR BRAKES FAILED .TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,MY WIFE DROVE INTO AN UPHILL PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT THE CARS BRAKES HELP .AFTER WE CALMED DOWN ,WE CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RIZZOLI'S MECEDEZ REPAIR 702 WEST GRAND AVE GROVER BEACH CA 93433 PHONE NUMBER 805-481-0832 WHICH WAS CLOSED AND THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THEIR PARKING LOT WITH THE KEYS LEFT IN THE DROP BOX .THIS WAS THE CLOSEST MERCEDES REPAIR PLACE WE COULD THINK OF IN OUR STATE OF SHOCK. WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT SBC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND IT WOULD COST $3453.06 TO REPAIR .I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A 25 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VIN NUMBER IN QUESTION .AFTER THE REPAIR I STILL NOTICED SOME CUSHIONING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR BRAKES DID WORK . RIZZOLIS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP .I CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ALPHONOS ,1423 CALLE JOAQUIN,SAN LUIS OBISPO ,93405 ,805 4382701 PRIOR TO GET THE CARS BRAKES REPAIRED AND THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL LISTED ON THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT HELP ME . I AM SEEKING REEMBERSEMENT OF THE COST OF REPAIR SINCE THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WOULD NOT HONOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE ON THE 25 YEAR WARRANTEE . THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

MY 2003 E320 SEDAN BATTERIES IS CONSTANTLY DRAINING AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS. I HAVE INCURRED COSTLY EXPENSES IN REPLACING BOTH THE REAR LOAD & FRONT SMALL AUXILIARY BATTERIES TO INCLUDE LABOR COST AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP. OCTOBER 2019 I TRIED TO ACCESS THE CAR USING THE KEY KNOB, HOWEVER NO POWER TO ACCESS THE VEHICLE NOR ACCESS THE TRUNK. NOVEMBER 2019 THE VEHICLE FOG, INTERIOR & REAR TAIL LIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON & OFF AND THE SECURITY ALARM BEGIN TO SOUND WITH A WEAK LIKE BATTERY SOUND WITHOUT THE USE OF THE SMART KEY, DECEMBER 2019 THE SAME OCCURRENCES BATTERIES WERE DRAIN, NO POWER & RECENTLY FEBRUARY 2019 SAME OCCURRENCES NO POWER TO VEHICLE. I HAVE PURCHASED NEW BATTERIES & A NEW ALTERNATOR & STILL THE SAME ISSUES OF BATTERY DRAINING. THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP HAS CONDUCTED A INSUFFICIENT VOLTAGE TEST & ELECTRICAL TEST TO FIND NO ISSUES? THESE OCCURRENCES HAS COST ME EXCESSIVELY & I WANT MERCEDES BENZ MANUFACTURER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN A RECALL TO ALL CONSUMERS WITH THIS MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ELECTRICAL ISSUES OUT OF THE CONSUMER CONTROL. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE & EXPECTS MERCEDES TO OWN UP TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE SLOGAN. I REQUEST A RESPONSE FROM MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS TO THOROUGHLY INSPECT MY VEHICLE THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT I PURCHASE & MAKE GOOD ON THIS REOCCURRING BATTERY DRAIN ELECTRICAL ISSUE.

MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN SRS WARNING LIGHT THAT THE DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH BAY, DIAGNOSED AS BEING A PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FAILURE. THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MODELS, WHICH UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I BELIEVE IS THE CASE, AND QUOTED ME OVER $4,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS FAILURE TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG UNLESS THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED. MY UNDERSTANDING, HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKING FOR ANOTHER OEM FOR 15 YEARS, WAS THAT AIRBAGS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS FAILURE IS SO COMMON WORLDWIDE THAT AFTERMARKET COMPANIES SELL "EMULATOR" KITS THAT TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND MAKE THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONAL FOR APPROXIMATELY $100. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE OF A CRUCIAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND SHOULD REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS BECAME INOPERATIVE, AS WELL AS THE HORN AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO READ ANY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ FORT WAYNE (7227 WEST JEFFERSON BOULEVARD, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA 46804, (877) 455-9123) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V028000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH HOUSTON LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS) WHO INDICATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC SBC BRAKE PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SBC BRAKE PUMP WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2011. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED, INCLUDING THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,801. UPDATED 09/05/17*LJ *CN *TR

THE VECHILE HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL TBAT I MAY BELIEVE IS BUILDING UP AS IT LEAKS IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR

WATER GETS IN THE TRUNK SOMEHOW AND CAUSES FAULTY WUTHERING SAM BOXES..CREATING ELECTRICAL FIRE HAZZARD..CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW WATER GETS IN TRUNK AND SETTLES WHERE SPARE TIRE SITS NEAR BATTERY AND ELECTRONIC WIRING

TAKATA RECALL, ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH FUEL CAP AND EVACUATION SYSTEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE'S "SERVICE BRAKES-VISIT WORKSHOP" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

VEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT IF IT HAD OCCURRED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. MERCEDES BENZ OF WEST CHESTER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE OCCURRENCE WAS STORED IN VEHICLE ELECTRONICS. THE FAULT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. MERCEDES DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR GETS HOT WHEN ENGINE RUNNING AND CAUSES INTERNAL RESISTANCE TO RISE TO THE POINT OF SHORTING OUT. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT A FAILURE OF THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY BUT RATHER SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE RESTARTED ONCE IT WAS STOPPED IN ORDINARY OPERATION. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!

THERE IS A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO TURN OFF, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS PROPERLY SEATED. *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

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

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

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE ON THE CAR STOPS IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I COULD NOT MOVE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL LANE FOR HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLES WHICH WAS ALSO BARRICADED. I IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON MY FLASHERS AND COMMENCED TO CHANGE LANES TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. WHERE THIS ALSO OCCURRED WAS WHERE AN ON-RAMP CONNECTS WHICH ADDED ON ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE AND LUCKY THAT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS IN THE DALLAS AREA DURING RUSH HOUR IT IS VERY HARD TO JUST CHANGE TO ONE LANE WITH A RUNNING CAR LET ALONE CHANGING LANES 3 TIMES PLUS DEALING WITH MERGING TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT RUNNING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE THE DEFECT. IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY FLAW BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER TO COMPLETELY STOP AN ENGINE WHEN A DEFECT OCCURS ON A SENSOR. IN THIS CONDITION THE VEHICLE SHOULD ONLY TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CAR OFF TO PLACE THE OPERATOR INTO A POTENTIAL DEADLY SITUATION.