2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE STRONG FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THERE IS A GAS LEAK ON THE SENDING UNIT (FUEL TANK) WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FILLED WITH FUEL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE, AND IT IS COMMON WITH THE MERCEDES BENZ E320. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD WHO COMPLAINS OF THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR. IT LEAVES THE SMELL OF GAS IN MY GARAGE AS WELL.. *TR

BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED 2003 E55 FROM MERCEDES DEALER 2005. HAVE HAD CAR SERVICED REGULARLY AND EXCLUSIVELY AT DEALER EVER SINCE. HAVE SMELLED GASOLINE SMELL IN GARAGE ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING-UP CAR. MOST RECENTLY, ON 21-APR-15 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAID GAS TANK LEAKING AND THEY WOULD FIX IT - COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ - NO COST TO ME. MY CONCERN IS: IF MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT (SEE LINK TO MERCEDES LAWSUIT (BELOW)) FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM FOR SERVICING, REGULARLY, FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS (AND SPENT MORE THAN $10,000 IN SERVICE OVER THOSE YEARS) WHY DID THE DEALER NOT PREEMPTIVELY ALERT ME EARLIER TO THIS VERY DANGEROUS LIABILITY AND RECTIFY IT YEARS AGO? HTTP://WWW.SCRIBD.COM/DOC/100877072/MERCEDES-LAWSUIT. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ASWELL AS IN THE CABIN. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR USED VEHICLE IN MAY, 2013 AND HAVE FOUND THE GAS SMELL PROBLEM TO GROW INCREASINGLY WORSE. ESPECIALLY INITIALLY WHEN THE TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED, IT IS VERY STRONG BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. *TR

FUEL APPEARS TO BE LEAKING UNDER SEAT FROM GAS TANK STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN GARAGE, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EXPLOSION DUE TO FUMES. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER I FILL THE TANK. THIS SMELL IS CONCENTRATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY THE REAR WHEEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR OR DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH, MERCEDES HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES FOR "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS". THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT THE SEVERITY OR THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR MY FUEL LEAK/SMELL WITHOUT PAYING A LARGE DIAGNOSTIC FEE/ W NO GUARANTEE OF WARRANTIED SERVICE. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO SHARE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH ME WITHOUT CHARGING DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *JS

CAR STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD SMELL OF GASOLINE VAPORS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FUEL SENSOR AND PUMP WAS REPLACED, ISSUE WENT AWAY. VENDOR WILL NOT REIMBURSE SERVICE AND PARTS. *TR

WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING FUMES OF GAS AFTER THE GAS TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED. LATER THE CAR DEVELOPED ROUGH IDLING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF OKLAHOMA CITY WHERE THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED FOR INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR FOUR DAYS. IN THE MEAN TIME WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MERCEDES-BENZ OF USA NOTIFYING US OF EXTENSION OF WARRANTY ON FUEL SYSTEM FOR UP TO 15 YEARS. WHEN WE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT WE WERE TOLD THEY KNOW AND ARE FOLLOWING THE "BULLETIN" ISSUED BY THE COMPANY. INITIALLY WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, HOWEVER THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO US BY REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO PAPER WORK SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS ACTUALLY DIAGNOSED AND DONE. THE CAR IS STILL IDLING ROUGH, THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT READING CORRECT (THOUGH THE TANK IS FULL, GAUGE SHOWS 1/4TH EMPTY). WE WILL TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. FUEL LEAK IS A SERIOUS MATTER, WE WISH THE COMPANY HAD TAKEN SERIOUS STEPS TO FIX IT AND HAD INFORMED THE CUSTOMERS OF THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. HOPE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THEN SUBSIDED AFTER DRIVING SOME DISTANCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

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 HAVE OWNED MY 2003 E320 FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW, HAVING PURCHASED IT AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES. EVERYTIME I PARK IT IN MY GARAGE AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK, MY GARAGE SMELLS OF GASOLINE, EVENTHOUGH THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A VISIBLE LEAK ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. RECENTLY AFTER I REFUELED, THE SMELL WAS NO LONGER JUST OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT HAD NOW PERMEATED INTO THE CABIN. THESE FUMES HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OVERWHELMING.

FUEL ODOR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. *JS

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE PUDDLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

I RECENTLY NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE. AS IT GOT STRONGER I BECAME MORE WORRIED. WHEN CLEANING OUT THE CAR TODAY I NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT WAS STAINED NEAR THE BOTTOM(SMELLS LIKE FUEL). I PULLED UP THE BACK SEAT AND UNDER THE SEAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUR OF FUEL PUDDLED AND STAINED INTO THE FLOOR AND AROUND A CIRCULAR LOOKING COVER OF SOME SORT. WHILE LOOKING ON THE INTERNET I SAW THAT IT HAS BEEN COMMON IN THIS YEAR/MODEL CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WAS LEAKING FUEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

I FILLED THE TANK AND IT LEAKS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AT A STEADY DRIP UNDERNEATH THE REAR DRIVER PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHERE THE TANK SITS ...NOTICE IT LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK COMING DOWN ON TO THE FLOOR...I CANNOT FILL THE TANK AND THE SMELL AND THE AMOUNT OF GAS ON THE FLOOR I BELIEVE IS QUITE HAZARDOUS IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE UNDERNEATH A BEDROOM. *TR

I HAD A GASOLINE TO LEAK IN THE WELL UNDER THE PASSENGER SEATS IN THE BACK OF MY 2003 E320 MERCEDES BENZ. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, I HAD TO SPEND $1200.00 TO REPLACE A FUEL PUMP ON MY 2003 E 320 MERCEDES BENZ. WHEN WILL MERCEDES BENZ RECALL THESE MODELS FOR FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS? THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEMS WHILE THIS CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOW IT'S COMING UP 11 YEARS LATER. OVER 40 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT MERCEDES IS STILL SAYING THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS, NOR DO THEY HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THESE FUEL LEAK PROBLEMS. THERE ARE ALSO OWNERS IN OTHER STATES WITH THE EXACT PROBLEM, BUT LISTED BELOW IS A COMPLAINT ON CPSC'S WEBSITE FROM A LAUREL, MD 2003 E320 OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I'M EXPERIENCING: JUL 31, 2011 - LAUREL, MD - GASOLINE MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320, IN WHICH 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

AFTER FILLING UP CAR THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE. *TR

THE CAR WHEN WE HAVE FULL TANK GIVES A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS, UNTIL COUPLE OF DAYS, ALSO WHEN GING SLOWLY THERE IS A MISFIRE ON THE ENGINE. READING ON THE FORUM SAYS THIS IS A KNOW INCIDENT WITH MERCEDEZ. I AM AFRAID THIS MIGHT CAUSE FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO DEALERSHIP ON THIS, ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

GAS SMELL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. GAS LEAK FROM FUEL TANK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE ODOR WAS MUCH STRONGER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED IN 2008 FOR THE SAME ISSUE AS PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN BY MERCEDES-BENZ, #2008-020001. I WAS NOT THE OWNER AT THE TIME. THE IDENTICAL ISSUE IS NOW PRESENT ONCE AGAIN, VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN THE INTERIOR, AND A LESS-PRESENT ODOR AT THE EXTERIOR. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER UNITS WILL NOW BE REPLACED AT MY PERSONAL EXPENSE, HOWEVER SINCE THIS IS A REPEAT OF A PREVIOUS ISSUE WHICH HAD ALREADY WARRANTED A RECALL, I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MERCEDES-BENZ USA. *TR