13 complaints reported

2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
13
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2021

VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON REPLACEMENT OF FUEL TANK. MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DID NOT WANT TO HONOR THE RECALL. WHEN I FILL CAR UP WITH GAS IT LEAKS OUT OF THE TANK AND ON THE GROUND. MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER SAID I MISSED THE TIME FOR THE RECALL. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE RECALL ENDED IN 2019 SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE MCKINNEY MERCEDES-BENZ DEALERSHIP AND I INFORMED HIM THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE DUE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE CALL THE SPC HYDRAULIC PUMP. TURNS OUT THAT IS ALSO A RECALL THAT IS WIDELY KNOWN.AT THAT TIME THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT SO THERE WAS NO NEED TO TAKE IT UP THERE AT THE TIME DUE TO COVID. MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HONOR THIS SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO A DEADLY SITUATION IF NOT ADDRESSED. THEY HAVE BEEN DECEPTIVE BY MARKING THIS IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. THEY PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME SINCE I DON'T HAVE MY CAR WORKED ON AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP ME IN THIS SITUATION. THEY MENTIONED HAD THE CAR BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT AT THE INDEPENDENT SHOO THAT I USED I MAY HAVE HAD A BETTER CHANCE AT THEM COVERING THE CHARGES FOR THIS TANK REPLACEMENT.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2021
Jun 2013

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION # PE12001 FEBRUARY 8, 2013 I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A DEALER. ON A NEXT DAY I FILLED FULL TANK AND FOUND GASOLINE SMELL FROM DRIVER SIDE NEXT TO THE REAR DOOR. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON INTERNET AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR ISSUE. TO VERIFY IF I HAVE SAME PROBLEM I RAISE A REAR SEAT CUSHION, UNSCREW 6 BOLTS ON SMALL BAY FROM DRIVER SIDE TO GET ACCESS TO FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FOUND A CRACK ON IT ALONG WITH GASOLINE SPILLING OVER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Sep 2013
May 2013

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. THERE IS A DISTINCT FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. DO NOT SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE BUT DO SMELL AFTER THE CAR IS PUT AWAY INSIDE GARAGE. NO SIGN OF LEAKAGE UNDER THE CAR (PUDDLING OR DRIPS). GOES AWAY AFTER FUEL TANK IS LESS THAN FULL. THERE IS NO SMELL IF YOU ONLY FILL TO 3/4. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Aug 2013
May 2013

I HAVE NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE ODORS EMANATING FROM MY CAR AFTER REFUELING. I PURCHASED A NEW MERCEDES BENZ GAS CAP AND INSTALLED IT. FILLED THE GAS TANK AND GASOLINE ODOR WAS STILL VERY STRONG. I DO NOT 'TOP OFF' WHEN REFUELING. RESEARCHED ISSUE ONLINE AT BENZWORLD.ORG AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS ODOR ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING MAY BE RELATED TO A PROBLEM BEING SEEN IN NUMEROUS MERCEDES BENZ E-MODEL VEHICLES. AS ADVISED BY THE OTHER OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE I DETACHED THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FROM THE CAR AND REMOVED THE BOLTS FROM THE CIRCULAR ACCESS PANEL THAT COVERS A PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE DEPRESSION ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHERE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL WIRES ATTACH TO THE FUEL PUMP I FOUND A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF RAW GASOLINE POOLED. THIS PRESENTS A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND I AM NO LONGER WILLING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE POOLING OF RAW GASOLINE ALSO REPRESENTS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE DUE TO THE EVAPORATION AND CREATION OF TOXIC FUMES. I UNDERSTAND THAT MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS ARE DEMANDING $2,000. OR MORE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING AND REPLACING THE GAS TANKS IN IMPACTED VEHICLES. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO RECALL IT AND REPLACE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NHTSA'S CURRENT INVESTIGATION ACTION NO. FOR THIS ISSUE IS PE 12001. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jul 2012
Apr 2013

SAME SITUATION IDENTIFIED IN PE-12-001. FILLED VEHICLE WITH FUEL AND LEFT SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. THE NEXT DAY, I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE AND, UPON OPENING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WAS OVERWHELMED WITH FUEL ODOR. AFTER A QUICK ONLINE SEARCH, I FOUND MULTIPLE REFERENCES TO FUEL FILTER LEAK. I PULLED OUT THE BACK SEAT TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY IS FINE, BUT PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS APPROX 1/2 INCH OF LIQUID FUEL STANDING IN THE FILTER ASSEMBLY. FUEL HAS SOAKED THROUGH THE CARDBOARD/RUBBER COVER AND SOAKED THE INSULATION ABOVE. IT APPEARS THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FILTER ASSEMBLY WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED (THIS WAS CONFIRMED WITH SERVICE DEPT AT DEALERSHIP. THEY STATE THAT IT WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AS PART OF TSB.), BUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, WHICH IS NOW LEAKING, IS OF A DIFFERENT (AND I PRESUME OLDER) DESIGN. I HAVE READ THE RESPONSE FROM HOGAN/LOVELLS DATED 4/19/12 AND WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE "TIGHT SEAL" DESCRIBED ON PAGE 2 WHICH IS ALLEGEDLY CREATED WHEN THE "ACCESS PORTS" ARE "SECURED BY SIX BOLTS AND [A] GASKET" IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT FUEL VAPOR FROM ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, NOR IS IT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT LIQUID FUEL FROM SOAKING THROUGH THE GASKET, AND INTO THE INSULATION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE REAR SEAT. ONCE THE GASKET AND INSULATION ABOVE IT ARE SATURATED WITH FUEL, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR IS UNBEARABLE AND PROBABLY A SEVERE FIRE RISK. NHTSA IS WELCOME TO COME OBSERVE THIS IN PERSON ON MY VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Mar 2013
Jan 2013

NHTSA ACTION# PE12001 HEAVY FUEL SMELL FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER FILLING VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Dec 2012

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER FOR MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON SAME ISSUE PE12001 ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS FILLED OVER 3/4 OF A TANK OF FUEL, A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT INSIDE OF THE CAR, OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AND FUEL PUDDLES AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT UNDER THE REAR SEAT. SOMETIMES THE SMELL IS SO STRONG, THAT MY FAMILY AND I FEAR THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE STRONG FUMES OF GAS INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH I AM SURE IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD AND ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, THAT MERCEDES KNOWS ABOUT, AND THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF JUST AS THEY DID ON THE MORE RECENT CHASSIS HTTP://WWW.LEFTLANENEWS.COM/MERCEDES-RECALLS-5800-CARS-OVER-FIRE-HAZARD.HTML. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2011
Oct 2012

2004 E55. FUEL SENDING UNIT IS LEAKING VISIBLE GAS UNDER REAR SEAT. VIVID GAS SMELL IN INTERIOR. 2004 E55. I UNDERSTAND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM YET IT STILL TO BE RECALLED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE ON LONG ROAD TRIPS OR THE CAR BURNING DOWN. REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Feb 2012
Oct 2012

(NHTSA ACTION# PE12001) FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND FROM FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY DUE TO CRACKING FLANGE ASSEMBLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Aug 2009
Oct 2012

PLEASE REFERENCE THE NHTSA ACTION# PE12001. I FILLED THE TANK UNTIL THE PUMP SHUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND DID NOT ADD ANY ADDITIONAL FUEL BEYOND THAT. I PARKED THE CAR IN HOME GARAGE AND WAITED FOR 10 MINUTES THERE IS STRONG GASOLINE SMELL FILLED IN THE GARAGE. CHECKING AROUND THE VEHICLE NO VISIBLE LEAK UNDERNEATH. THE INTERIOR HAD A STRONG FUEL SMELL ON THE BACK SEATS. I AM A HOUSE WIFE, TAKING MY ONE YEAR OLD BABY WITH THIS VEHICLE EVERY DAY. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE FOR MY BABY SEATING WITH STRONG FUEL SMELL ON THE BACK SEATS. HOWEVER, I WENT BACK TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Sep 2012
Oct 2012

NHTSA ACTION# PE12001. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Jul 2012

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001 BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED 05/2012 WITH 95,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FROM REAR SEAT AREA, STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, ALSO IF LEFT OVERNIGHT IN CLOSED GARAGE (WITH FUEL TANK FULL), GARAGE SMELLS OF GAS. I HAVE REMOVED THE METAL FUEL SENDER ACCESS COVER UNDER THE REAR SEAT AND FOUND A POOL OF GAS, APPROX 20Z AROUND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR (HAVE PHOTOS OF THIS). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012
Mar 2012

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55, Manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Incident: Jan 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 13 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.