2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that upon making a stop, he noticed fuel leaking onto the driver's side rear wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall for the fuel tank. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E55. The contact stated that upon placing fuel into the gas tank, a strong gasoline odor began to emit from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact removed the rear seat and saw that fuel had leaked from the fuel pumps. The contact reached out to the manufacturer through the manufacturer’s website and his request to repair the vehicle was denied. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer and the manufacturer denied the repair a second time. The contact stated that the same failure occurred back in 2008 and that the vehicle was repaired under a manufacturer’s recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

2004 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR REPAIRS OF FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN LATE 2009. HE EXPERIENCED A GAS SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE THE SMELL BECAME WORSE AND EVENTUALLY WAS NOTICEABLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, TOO/ THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE SEAL RINGS FOR THE FUEL LEVEL SENDERS, FUEL PUMP, FILTER ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FUEL LEAK. *JB

A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS IN THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE TANKS AND EMITTERS. GAS HAD GOTTEN IN THE SEATS AS WELL AND THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG THAT IT MADE ME AND WIFE SICK. *TR

MY FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK WHERE I CAN SMELL FUEL BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE TANK ALL THE WAY. THE ODOR IS VERY PRONOUNCED AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IF THIS MUCH FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED A LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. BASED ON INFORMATION I READ ON A MERCEDES BENZ FORUM WEBSITE, IT SAID TO REFERENCE ACTION NUMBER PE12001 (THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SERIES OF VEHICLE). I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND FORCE MERCEDES BENZ TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE FUEL TANKS AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS. *TR

FUEL TANK LEAKS AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER A FILL UP. VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION. A FIRE IS LIKELY AT SOME POINT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA ACTION # EA13003 AND MERCEDES DISAVOWS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF EXTENSION OF WARRANTY AND REPAIRS. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2100. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE HELP. YOU HAVE NEGOTIATED A FIX AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO IT. YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE THEM RECALL THE VEHICLES. NOW WE HAVE JUST MORE HEADACHES FOR OWNERS OF EFFECTED CARS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME I SMELT SMOKE. I STOPPED THE CAR TO INVESTIGATE THE SMELL OF SMOKE THAT WAS OVERPOWERING THE NOW NORMAL SCENT OF GAS WHICH FILLED MY VEHICLE CABIN DUE TO A FUEL PUMP LEAK. WHEN I EXITED MY VEHICLE I OPENED UP THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO FIND SMOKE EMITTING FROM THAT AREA. I QUICKLY LEFT THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SMOLDERING CAR AND WHEN I TURNED TO LOOK BACK, I SAW FLAMES UNDER MY CAR. I PROCEEDED TOWARDS THE OVERPASS WHILE MOVING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO FIND CELLULAR PHONE SIGNAL, I SAW MY CAR NOW BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES. RE: (ODI NUMBER) IS: 10628900. *TR

I STARTING SMELLING A GASSY SMELL SEEPING INTO MY HOUSE AT NIGHT AND AFTER A FEW DAYS CONCLUDED IN HAD TO BE COMING FROM THE ATTACHED GARAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER ELIMINATING ALL OTHER VARIABLES I NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE CAR. I PARKED IT OUTSIDE FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AND THE SMELL CEASED IN THE HOUSE AND GARAGE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO POMPANO MERCEDES TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND WAS INFORMED MY SEALS WERE BAD/LEAKING AT THE FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS, SO WITHOUT A CHOICE I HAD THEM REPAIRED AT A COST OF $968.21 ON 9/13/2010. THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, THEN THE GASSY SMELL RETURNED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO POMPANO MERCEDES AGAIN AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD THE CAR HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF A GASSY SMELL. THEY CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME AT THIS TIME I HAD A DIFFERENT FUEL LEAK AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK AND INTERNAL FUEL PUMPS AND SEALS AT A COST OF $3000 THIS TIME. QUITE UNHAPPY WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS CONSIDERING I WAS JUST THERE 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND THOUGHT THEY HAD REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND OUT NOW IT WAS MORE ENCOMPASSING THAN THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT AT A FIX AND IT WAS GOING TO COST A BOATLOAD OF MONEY TO RE-REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS I WAS JUST OVER THE 50K WARRANTY TO BOOT. WITH THE NEWS OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SETTLEMENT AT THIS TIME I STRONGLY FEEL MY VEHICLE ISSUES ARE AS DESCRIBED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $968.21 I SPENT AT MERCEDES DISCRETION. *TR

THE INTERIOR AND TRUNK OF MY 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 CONTINUE TO FILL WITH GASOLINE VAPORS. *TR

NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL IN GARAGE AFTER A FILL UP. I AM A MECHANIC SO REMOVED REAR SEAT TO INSPECT FUEL PUMPS, FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL PUMP LEAKING QUITE A BIT OF FUEL THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BECAUSE HOUSING WAS MELTING AROUND THE ELECTRICAL PINS ALLOWING FUEL TO POOL UP ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THESE FUEL FUMES TRAPPED IN THE GARAGE AROUND SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN SPARK. ALSO NOT SAFE AT ALL TO HAVE STANDING GASOLINE ON CONTACT POINTS OF THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. VEHICLE NEEDS FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACED. VERY HIGH RISK OF FIRE!! *TR

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO GROW WORSE, AND IS VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER FUELING. THERE APPEARS TO BE FUEL POOLING UNDER THE CAR AS WELL AS IN THE CABIN UNDER THE REAR SEATS. *TR

I HAVE A FUEL UNDERCARRIAGE LEAK FROM THE REAR PASSENGER LEFT SIDE WITH A STRONG GAS SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN OF MY CAR- THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REFERENCED MANY TIMES IN THE MB FORUMS AND SEEMS TO BE A NATIONAL PROBLEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE A THROUGH INVESTIGATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE BEFORE A FATALITY ENSUES BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PLASTIC PIECE DESIGNED BY MB. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED WITH GAS, BUT OVER FILLED. I IMPLORE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AN IMPLEMENTING A RECALL FOR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL FOLLOWING A TANK FILL THAT FILLS THE GARAGE WITH GASOLINE FUMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 5 YEARS. I ENTERED 1/1/2009 ON THE FORM DATA AS AN APPROXIMATE BEGIN DATE. THE FUEL SMELL CAN BE DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AT TIMES, BUT IS EXTREMELY STRONG IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILL-UP. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL MERCEDES E CLASS MODELS FROM 2003-2009. I HAVE ASKED CONTINUALLY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT THE MERCEDES DEALER, NOW MERCEDES OF NATICK, FORMERLY FOREIGN MOTORS WEST IN NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS. SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE DENIED THAT THERE WAS/IS ANY PATTERN OR PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO AFFECT MY CAR ONLY. ONLY RECENTLY HAVE THEY INDICATED THAT AT TIMES THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND BOTH SENDING UNITS AT AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $850 -$2000. ALL THIS FOR A PROBLEM THAT CURRENT RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MERCEDES HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN TEXAS IN 2012 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THIS REPAIR, BUT DID INDICATE THAT AFTER I PAID FOR THE REPAIR, THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ FOR ASSISTANCE. WHILE NICE, THIS STILL PUTS THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON ME WITH ONLY A HOPE THAT ASSISTANCE WOULD COME LATER. SO FAR I HAVE DECLINED THE REPAIR. WHILE SOME VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN 2008, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. IN FACT, I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY MERCEDES BENZ FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLY 2 WEEKS AGO, LATE JUNE 2014, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO FACTORY REPAIR CAMPAIGN OR RECALL AT THIS TIME. THIS MORNING I REMOVED THE BENCH PORTION OF THE REAR SEAT, FOLDED BACK THE INSULATING PAD AND REMOVED THE METAL ACCESS PLATE FOR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL SENDING/FUEL PUMP UNIT. GAS WAS VISIBLE. *TR

THERE IS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES EMANATING FROM THE AUTOMOBILE, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE THE AUTO IT SEEMS FROM AROUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR OF THE CAR. IT IS THERE ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK BUT CONTINUES EVEN AFTERWARDS. THE ODOR IS VERY STRONG AND THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. *TR

THE FUEL SENDING UNITS UNDER THE BACK SEAT WERE LEAKING FUEL DIRECTLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FLOOR MATS WERE SOAKED WITH GASOLINE AND THE FOAM INSULATION UNDER THE REAR SEAT, AND THE FOAM IN THE REAR SEAT SOAKED UP GASOLINE FROM THE LEAKING FUEL SENDING UNITS. THE SENDING UNITS WERE REPLACED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AT A HIGH COST (A LITTLE OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS). OVER A YEAR LATER, WITH LOTS OF BAKING SODA, ODOR KILLERS, AND LEAVING THE SEAT OUT OF THE CAR WITH A FAN ON IT FOR TWO WEEKS, THE ODOR IS STILL STRONG IN THE CAR. PROBABLY THE ONLY REAL FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE REAR SEAT, THE CARPETING ON THE FLOOR, THE MATS, AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THE COST TO DO SO WOULD BE HIGH. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND OWN UP TO THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ANY SPARK NEAR THE FLOOR OR BOTTOM OF THE REAR SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE. LUCKILY, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. *TR

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER EACH COMPLETE FILL-UP. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE.AND ODOR LINGERS FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING EACH FILL-UP. I HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.NO SMELL IF I FILL-UP TO NO MORE THAN 80% OF THE TANK CAPACITY. DATE AND MILEAGE ARE OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE ARE AS SHOWN ARE ONLY AN ESTIMATE. *TR

ABOUT A YEAR AGO I STARTED NOTICING A STRONG GAS SMELL AFTER FILLING MY TANK. I RECENTLY DECIDED TO RESEARCH IT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD AND COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE E SERIES W211 MERCEDES CARS AND A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WITH THE FUEL SENDING UNIT/GAS TANK. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR NOW, AND I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR HER INHALING CARCINOGENIC FUMES WHILE USING IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT RESOLUTION CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH MB USA CONCERNING THIS MATTER. I SEE THAT AT CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS SUBMITTED BUT DON'T SEE THE OUTCOME. THAT WAS IN 2012. *TR

FUEL SENDING UNITS UNDER THE REAR BENCH SEAT ARE LEAKING GAS AND FILLING THE CABIN WITH TOXIC FUMES. I AM UNABLE TO HAVE MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE AND EVEN DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN DOES LITTLE FOR VENTING OUT ALL THE FUMES. AT LEAST 10 OUNCES HAS ACCUMULATED UNDER THE SEAT AND SOAKED THE CARPETING. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL UPON GAS FILL UPS. NHTSA ACTION# PE12001. *TR

I HAVE AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO MANY OTHER W211 CHASSIS MERCEDES OWNERS. THE FUEL TANK LEAK/FUEL ODOR HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIR. THEY QUOTED A ~$2000+ REPAIR JOB FOR WHAT'S OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER EACH FILL-UP. THIS IS A GARAGED VEHICLE AND THE ODOR LINGERS FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING EACH FILL-UP. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A LONG TIME AND THE DATE/MILEAGE OF FIRST OCCURRENCE AS SHOWN ABOVE ARE ESTIMATES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND WAS PRESENT UNDER THE REAR SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE DEFECT RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

WE DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE GAS TANK IN THIS MODEL HAD A PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD BE QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX, APPROXIMATELY $2,000, HE ADVISED THAT THIS WILL LIKELY ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE FILL THE TANK AND THAT WE COULD PREVENT THE PROBLEM BY NOT FILLING THE TANK FULL...WHICH WE HAVE DONE SINCE BUT IT IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND IT SCARES US TO THINK THAT WE ARE DRIVING A CAR WITH A LEAKING GAS TANK. RECENTLY WE BECAME AWARE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE OWNERS LIKE US AND THAT THERE WAS A COMPLAINT PROCESS THAT WE COULD USE WITH THE NTSB....I AM RESPONDING WITHIN 24 OF HOURS OF KNOWING THIS. THE MERCEDES DEALER WAS NOT FORTHCOMING ABOUT THIS AND DID NOT FULLY ADVISE US OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM AND WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED. WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE CAR IN PASSING EMISSIONS TESTING IN TN (WHERE WE NOW LIVE)....FL DID NOT HAVE AN EMISSIONS TESTING POLICY. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE FROM A CERTIFIED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP THAT IT WILL COST ALMOST $2,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WE FEEL THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR. WHEN I FILL UP GAS, IT SMELLS NOT ONLY IN THE CAR ALSO IN THE GARAGE, EVEN SMELL IT IN THE ROOM ABOVE THE GARAGE. I'VE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX IT IN MERCEDES AUTO REPAIR SHOP, BUT IT STILL SMELLS. JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM, IT SEEMS A MANUFACTURE FAILURE, AND I WISH A SOLUTION BY MERCEDES SOON. *TR

UPON ENTERING MY CLOSED GARAGE IN THE EARLY MORNING, I NOTICED A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP (NOT A DEALER) WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND THAT THIS WAS A DEVELOPING PROBLEM WITH E CLASS CARS. HE SAID THERE WERE CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST MERCEDES FOR THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID MERCEDES WOULD NOT ADMIT IT WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFELY PROBLEM TO ME! I CERTAINLY HOPE MY GOVERNMENT'S NTSB IS LOOKING INTO THIS. ARE WE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO BE SEVERELY BURNED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM? *TR