2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Powertrain & Transmission Problems

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON A LONG ROAD TRIP, THERE WAS AN INCREASINGLY LARGE RATTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER LOAD. EVENTUALLY THE RATTLE STOPPED. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO FILL UP THE CAR WITH GAS, IT LEAKED EVERYWHERE CAUSING A MASSIVE FIRE HAZARD. WHILE THIS WAS PUT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 15 YEARS BY MERCEDES BENZ, A 2003 MODEL IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3 YEARS. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AS IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN RURAL MONTANA ON A ROAD TRIP (I'M FROM WA) AND POSED A MASSIVE FIRE HAZARD IN THE BLAZING HEAT OF SUMMER. I HAD TO TOW IT BACK ON A UHAUL TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR A POTENTIAL FIRE. EVEN THE MECHANICS AT A NEAR-ISH (200 MILES AWAY FROM THE MONTANA HIGHWAY I BROKE DOWN ON) WERE HESITANT TO EVEN MOVE THE CAR DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS OR BEEN GIVEN A MUCH LONGER EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO THE SHAKE, NOW THE BRAKES WILL NOT LET GO WHEN I TRY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THIS WOULD NORMALLY BE A SEPARATE ISSUE, BUT IF IT CREATES A SPARK NEXT TO THE FUEL ISSUE, IT COULD MEAN THAT THE CAR IS QUITE LITERALLY A BOMB IF DRIVEN. THE WHOLE INTERIOR SMELLS LIKE FUEL AS WELL. MERCEDES SEEMS TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM BY COMPLYING WITH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FUEL TANK AND ADDING THE WARRANTY BUT REFUSES TO DO A RECALL OR LONGER EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO GREED. THIS CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS LIKE MY OWN AND EVEN WORSE ONES WHERE THE FUEL MAY IGNITE IN THE FUTURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBINE SENSOR, THE WHEEL, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND THE COIL PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

ON JUNE 6, 2013, WHILE BRAKING ON APPROACHING INTERSECTION, BRAKES FAILED AND TRANSMISSION LOCKED. MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER, M-B GREENWAY, HOUSTON, TX, WHERE THE SERVICE ADVISOR EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESSURE RESERVOIR OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE UNIT HAD FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,350. I COMPLAINED THAT THE SBC UNIT WAS THE SUBJECT OF NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 05V0133 AND TWO MBUSA RECALL CAMPAIGNS (2005070007 AND 2005110001) RESULTING IN THE EXTENSION OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY OR REPLACE THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT, BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC CODE REQUIRED BY MB USA, LLC FOR A DEALER TO FILE A WARRANTY CLAIM UNDER THE NHTSA 05V033 CAMPAIGN DID NOT APPEAR ON THE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. I PAID THE DISPUTED $1,350 CHARGE AND DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 6 MILES ON JUNE 6, 2013, AND THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED. MERCEDES CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TOWED IT BACK TO M-B GREENWEAY, WHERE THE SERVICE STATED THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT HAD FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2,030. I COMPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS MANDATED AT NO COST BY NHTSA 05V0133, BUT SHE SAID MB USA LLC WOULD ALLOW THE DEALER TO HONOR THE SBC WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS "DRIVEN OUT OF THE SHOP." SHE ALSO REFUSED TO CREDIT THE $1,350 CHARGE I PAID FOR THE SBC PRESSURE RESERVOIR REPLACEMENT, BUT OFFERED TO "DISCOUNT" THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE SBC UNIT TO "$1,799." *TR

CAR IS USED ONLY FOR WORK AND MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING FOR APPOINTMENTS. AT 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE E320. AN INVESTIGATION REVELED THAT A VALVE HAD FAILED IN THE RADIATOR CAUSING COOLANT FROM THE ENGINE TO MIX IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH IN TURN BURNT OUT PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO THERE IS HESITATION WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR SOMETIMES SPUTTERS TO SHUT OFF WHEN STOPPING. *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

IN JUNE OF 2010 I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CAR AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT HEAVY AND AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT DOWN SUDDENLY OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESS LIGHTLY FROM A STOP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE NOW IN THE WINTER MONTHS. I KNOW THE CAR IS A POTENTIAL DANGER BUT HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUT TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE HELP! *TR

I HAVE AN 03 MERCEDES E500. AT ABOUT 65000 ML I HAD GLYCOL IN MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE. I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES SARASOTA AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST $5000 AND THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS READING THE MERCEDES WORLD FORUM AND I SEE THAT LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THE AND COST ME $3000 AT AAMCO. I HOPE MERCEDES WILL ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS A VERY LOUD NOISE CAME M THE ENGINE. WHEN TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK

GENERALLY CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HESITATES TO MOTION WHEN IMMEDIATELY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE IN GEAR VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES, RESULTING IN A JERK.*AK

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE, IT HESITATED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CONTROL MODULAR WAS REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE TWICE. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME DOWN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED A MERCEDES-BENZ E320 IN JUNE 2003 AND HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE AN ISSUE INVOLVING UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION AND SPEED "SURGES" SINCE SEPTEMBER 2003. THE CONDITION SEEMS TO BE MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS APPROACHING LOW SPEEDS OR IN A DOWNHILL PLANE THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DURING FIVE (5) SERVICE APPOINTMENTS AND HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THEY ARE AWARE OF THE UNCONTROLLED POWER, OR ACCELERATION, FLUCTUATIONS. THEY HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE USING M-B ADVICE; WITHOUT SUCCESS. M-B REPRESENTATIVES HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS CONDITION EXISTS AS WELL; BUT, THAT IT IS NOT A "WARRANTABLE DEFECT." THIS "SURGING" HAS FURTHER DEVELOPED INTO "BUCKING" ON SEVERAL OCCCASIONS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA REGARDING THE E320 WHERE THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP IS DESCRIBED. I DO BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE INABILITY TO CONTROL THE POWER / SPEED FLUCTUATIONS OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD AND SLOWS UNEXPECTEDLY. UPON ACCELERATION WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH AS IT IS ABOUT TO STALL.