2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a fuel leak, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. A diagnostic test revealed an Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) control system leak. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.

I was driving my car and the inside started to smell like gasoline, and after that I noticed it was leaking from outside, and when I started to investigate, it started to come from it looked like my fuel pump on the drivers side, fuel started to leak out the fuel pump or fuel tank and leaking to the outside to the rear left side of the car

PZEV fuel tank leaks at top but is not repairable. Replacement requires complete tank replacment which is not economically feasilble. This forces owners to continue to operate vehicle with fuel leakage since repair of the tank is not possible. In older models a simple gasket change would resolve such leaks, in the PZEV tank leaks can not be repaired and thus are left uncorrected. Many of these vehicles are now owned by minority owners who are unable to pay $5000 to repair a defective design. MB refuses to support owners.

I recently started smelling gas in my car after refueling. I was told by my mechanic that Mercedes was replacing fuel pumps and fuel tanks free of charge . Mercedes Benz customer care has advised this isn't so. This is an expensive repair and I am hoping Mercedes Benz can cover the cost of this repair and if not, offer substantial assistance.

In June 2017, I received a letter from Mercedes-Benz of America informing me that the warranty of the fuel system in my vehicle is extended to 15 years. In that same year, I had my whole fuel tank replaced by an authorized Mercedes Benz dealer in San Jose, California due to strong smell of fuel by the rear wheel well on the driver side of the car. The repair was fully cover by MB-America under this extended warranty. On November 3, 2022, I experienced the same fuel smell from the same place of the car (i.e., driver side rear wheel well) and was told that the repair will not be cover at all, even though the fuel system in my car is only 5 years old. I am writing to suggest that you impose a 15 years warranty on the fuel leak replacement parts. MB needs to stand behind their product if it was their OEM parts and done by their authorized dealer. In my case the new fuel smell was due to a cracked Fuel Pump Assembly (Part # 211 470 60 94) which was found in the brand new fuel tank installed in my car in 2017. My car is now repaired at a local shop at a fraction of the cost that MB-San Jose would have charged me. My hope is for you to help future similar customers who will experience similar issue avoiding this unjust expense. Thank you very much, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Noticed strong gasoline odor in left rear wheel well after filling the vehicle with fuel. Since the vehicle had just been repaired for an unrelated issue at a local Mercedes dealer, I took it back to them for troubleshooting. They diagnosed the problem as a leak at the seal on the fuel pump in the tank. I researched this issue and found it is a recurring problem for which Mercedes had offered a warranty extension of 15 years. This extension expired for my vehicle in July 2020. Cost to repair was $3,256 as after a 10% discount. I was not informed of this issue or the extended warranty despite having the vehicle serviced at Mercedes dealers multiple times since purchasing it in 2008.

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated that while the vehicle parked, fuel was noticed leaking from the vehicle onto the driveway. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.

Leaking fuel tank and gaskets. A strong smell of fuel internally in the vehicle and externally with a full tank of fuel. Mercedes Benz Warrantee extension PE#12001 "Covered Fuel Tank Components." Mercedes Benz denied claim because of PZEV vs non-PZEV type of vehicle. Both vehicles PZEV and non-PZEV, both use the same plastic gas tank, sending units, and fuel pump in their respective vehicles. How did NHTSA agree to cover non-PZEV vehicles only.

I NOTICED THAT ANOTHER OWNER OF A 2006 E350 NOTED THAT HE/SHE HAD A FUEL LEAK. I HAVE HAD ONE, TOO. THE EXTENDED WARRANTEE RAN OUT IN 2020, SO MERCEDES WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. BUT IF THEY KNEW FOR 15 YEARS THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE CARS. AND IF THEY AREN'T GOING TO RECALL IT, THEY SHOULD COVER REPAIR EXPENSES. THIS IS A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT'S LIKELY THAT OUR TANK HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE. WE'VE SMELLED GAS FOR ABOUT A YEAR, BUT DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS LEAKING UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THERE WAS A CLEAR PUDDLE IN THE GARAGE.

VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES, WE STARTED NOTICING AN INTERMITTENT STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN IN THE SPRING OF 2020. WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND MERCEDES HAD ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THIS ISSUE. UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO COVID. WHEN WE DID GET IT DIAGNOSED RECENTLY, WE WERE INFORMED THE REPAIR WOULD EXCEED $3400 AND WE WERE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE REPAIR CONSISTS OF REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS. MERCEDES BENZ NA HAS OFFERED US A $400 DEALER SERVICE CREDIT. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS REPAIR AND THEREFORE HAVE A VEHICLE WE ARE UNABLE TO SAFELY OPERATE. WE HAVE READ REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS ISSUE WHERE FUEL IS SITTING ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK RIGHT BELOW THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS.

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE AFTER BEING DRIVEN. SMELL PROMINENT AT LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL.

THERE IS FUEL LEAKING AND FLOODING ON TOP OF THE DRIVER SIDE FUEL SENDER UNIT UNDERNEATH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT WHERE IT IS LOCATED AT THE FUEL TANK. THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY A NHTSA FUEL LEAK INVESTIGATION FOR THESE WITH THE 2003-2008 E CLASS VEHICLES WHICH WAS LATER CLOSED DUE TO A RECALL BEING ISSUED. MY VIN DOES NOT SEEM TO BE PART OF THE RECALL GROUP, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REMAINS THE SAME AS EVERYTHING DETAILED IN THE REPORT AND FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION DONE BY THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FOR REPORT VRTC-DCD-3206 EA13-003 IN DEC 2014. (ALSO ATTACHED). THE FUEL SEAPS OUT TO THE TOP OF THE SENDING UNIT DUE TO A FAILED PRESSURE SENSOR OR OTHER PART IN THE SYSTEM WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. WHEN THE TANK IS LATER LESS FULL AS A RESULT OF CONSUMPTION, THERE IS NO LONGER AN ISSUE WITH FUEL SPILLING OUT OF THE TOP AND FUMES GETTING INTO THE CABIN. VIDEO OF THE AREA WIPED SHOWS HOW IT IMMEDIATELY RETURNS TO THE TOP. THE PHOTO ATTACHED IS OF THE FUEL COMING BACK AFTER BEING WIPED UP.

MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350 HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE, PARTICULARLY STRONG AFTER FILLING THE TANK. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN NHTSA CLOSING THE PROBE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT EXTENDED. THIS IMPLIES THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THEIR AGREEMENT OR THE PROBE SHOULD BE REOPENED?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALTER'S MERCEDES-BENZ OF RIVERSIDE (951-441-6182, LOCATED AT 3213 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP LEAKED FUEL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUPPORTED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,877.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL FROM THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS A POOL OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH LEAKED INTO THE REAR SEATS. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A FUEL ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A DRIED FUEL FILM ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE'S ACCESS PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WEST COVINA (2010 E GARVEY AVE S, WEST COVINA, CA 91791, 626-859-1200). THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER OF AN ARTICLE FROM NHTSA THAT STATED THEY WOULD OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (P-BQ-FUEL-3WA) TO THEIR CONSUMERS REGARDING THIS DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE SPECIFIC DEFECT PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A QUOTE FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER SHOULD COVER THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOCAL DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND HAD THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,647.

EXTREME SMELL OF FUEL WHEN MAKING SHARP OR EXTENDED TURNS (FREEWAY ON/OFF RAMPS). ESPECIALLY, WHEN FULL TANK IS FULL. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND MBUSA WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 15 YEAR ' FUEL LEAK' EXTENDED WARRANTY! PLEASE NOTE THE PUDDLING OF FUEL NEAR THE BOTTOM OF WIRE HARNESS IN PICTURE ATTACHED.

ALSO I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME IN THE RECALL DATED 3/15/2013. AFTER TAKING A LONG TRIP UP TO SAN FRANCISCO WHEN I GOT HOME MY OIL TANK WAS LEAKING -THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM MY BACKSEAT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED MY FUEL TANK BUT BEFORE THEY DID THAT THEY SENT ME ON THE ROAD WITHOUT FIXING AND NO RENTAL CAR. I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS OUT FROM THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME TO ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING WHAT? I DROVE MY CAR LIKE THAT FOR APPROX 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FUEL TANK CAME IN. THEY DID PAY FOR IT. I WAS CONCERNED IF I WHERE TO SMOKE IN THE CAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

THE CAR WOULD NOT START FUEL PUMP FAULTY AND IS PART OF GAS TANK BAD DESIGN COST ME CLOSE TO $3800, SOME PAID BY MBZ. MBZ REPLACED 2009 GAS TANKS FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY BUT WOULD NOT DO MINE. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT IT SO I WOULD NOT BUY THE CAR. IT IS STUPID TO HAVE TO REPLACE GAS TANK IN ORDER TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP IN 2012 I HAD GAS LEAKAGE FROM THE SAME AREA AND I PAID TO FIX IT THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM. INSTEAD THEY KEPT SILENT WHEN I TAKE MY CAR FOR SERVICE THEY ALWAYS LIST OF THINGS TO DO SO I CAN SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP WHY THE [XXX] NO BODY BOTHERED TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT IT WOULD COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX . THIS CAR HAS COST OVER $60,000 TO BUY AND I DID NOT PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A CAR TO LAST ME ONLY 12 YEARS. MBZS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 30 YEARS OR MORE SO IFEEL CHEATED BIG TIME I THINK THEY ARE HIDING THIS BECAUSE THEY WILL GET SUED BIG TIME AND I HOPE THEY DO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MBZ COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIP IS MERCEDES BANZ OF VALENCIA IN VALENCIA, CA 91355. PHONE NUMBER 661-753-5555. I HAVE THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FRO ALL THE COST, THE 3 WEEKS WITHOUT A CAR AND FRO THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THEY HAVE CAUSED ME AND SO IT WILL BE A LESSON TO MBZ AND THEIR DEALERS NOT TO PRATICE THIS FRAUD. I AM AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW OR MORE INFORMATION AS NEEDED. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE CAR WOULD NOT START AS THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND IS PART OF THE TANK DESIGN. MBZ KNEW OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REPAIRED OR REPLACED SOME OF THE CARS BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED TILL THE PROBLEM. IT COST ME UNDER $3,800 TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE GAS TANK EVEN THOUGH THEY REPAIRED A LOT OF CARS. MY REPAIR WAS FINISHED ON 05/14/18. I PAID $3,409.33 FOR THE REPAIR AND I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR IT. I FILED A COMPLAINT BACK IN 05/31/2018 UNDER THE COMPLAINT NUMBER [XXX]. I NEED HELP TO GET MY MONEY BACK. THIS WAS A BAD DESIGN ON THEIR PART. THANK YOU, [XXX] THE CAR WOULD NOT START FUEL PUMP FAULTY AND IS PART OF GAS TANK BAD DESIGN COST ME CLOSE TO $3800, SOME PAID BY MBZ. MBZ REPLACED 2009 GAS TANKS FOR FREE UNDER WARRENTY BUT WOULD NOT DO MINE. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT IT SO I WOULD NOT BUY THE CAR. IT IS STUPID TO HAVE TO REAPLCE GAS TANK IN ORDER TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP IN 2012 I HAD GAS LEAKAGE FROM THE SAME AREA AND I PAID TO FIX IT THEY SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM. INSTEAD THEY KEP SILENT WHEN I TAKE MY CAR FOR SERVICE THEY ALWAYS LIST OF THINGS TO DO SO I CAN SPEND MORE MONEY AT THE DEALERSHIP WHY THE [XXX]NO BODY BOTHERED TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT IT WOULD COST ME A LOT OF MONEYTO FIX . THIS CAR HAS COST OVER $60,000 TO BUY AND I DID NOT PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A CAR TO LAST ME ONLY 12 YEARS. MBZS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST 30 YEARS OR MORE SO IFEEL CHEATED BIG TIME I THINK THEY ARE HIDING THIS BECAUSE THEY WILL GET SUED BIG TIME AND I HOPE THEY DO BOTHE THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MBZ COMPANY. THE DEALERSHIP IS MERCEDES BENZ OF VALENCIA IN VALENCIA, CA 91355. PHONE NUMBER 661-753-5555. I HAVE THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FRO ALL THE COST, THE 3 WEEKS WITHOUT A CAR AND FRO THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THEY HAVE CAUSED ME AND SO IT WILL BE A LESSON TO MBZ AND THEIR DEALERS NOT TO PRATICE THIS FRAUD. I AM AVAILABLE FOR AN INTERVIEW OR MORE INFORMATION AS NEEDED. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN. WAS TOLD FULLY COVERED ON EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO TSB NO. P-47-10-63 PARTS COVERED ARE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER/SENDER, FUEL PUMP, GASKET, SEALS AND RETENTION RINGS. DEALER CALLS TO SAY IT IS THE FUEL SENSOR AND IS NOT COVERED! AND COST IS 1400.00. FUEL SENSOR IS SITTING ON TOP OF THE FUEL FILTER/SENDER AND IS PLUGGED INTO IT!!! HOW CAN YOUR AGENCY ALLOW MB TO SKIRT COVERING SUCH A CLOSELY RELATED PART IN THIS SAFETY INVESTIGATION BY THE ODI????