2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and arriving to the residence; the contact became aware that after parking the vehicle in the garage, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact saw fuel leaking from the fuel tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was part of an Extended Warranty program however, the Extended Warranty Program had expired. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. There was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The contact refueled the vehicle and there was an abnormal odor of fuel outside of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who stated there was no warranty coverage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

THE DESIGN OF FUEL PUMP IN ALL THE MERCEDES BENZ IS VERY VERY DEFECTIVE , THE COMPANY HAS SHOWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE TO SAFETY OF CONSUMERS, WHEN EVER I FILL UP THE FUEL TANK , IT STARTS LEAKING AND STARTS EMITTING VERY FOUL SMELL IN SIDE AND OUT SIDE THE CAR, I THINK IF THERE IS TOO MUCH LEAKAGE OF GAS WHICH IS FITTED UNDER THE BACK SEATS OF CAR , IF THERE IS SMOKER PASSENGER , THE CAR CAN CATCH FIRE RIGHT AWAY, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM , THE DO NOT WANT TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY FOR SAFETY , BECAUSE THE CAR IS MORE THAN 4 YEARS OLD AND THE MILEAGE IS MORE THAN 50,000, I COMPLAINED TO THE HEAD OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY , THEY SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE THE TANK , AND PAY FOR IT ,THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $4000.00 , SINCE IT IS SAFETY ISSUE THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THE CARS, WHICH ARE IN THOUSANDS WITH THE SAME DEFECT, I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR FILE A CLASS LAW SUIT TO BE FILES AGAIN THE COMPANY FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. *TR

FUEL LEAK AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AFTER FILL UP. FUMES ARE HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, TOXIC AND NOXIOUS. THOUGHT THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED UNDER NHTSA ACTION # EA13003 (DATED DEC 19TH 2014) AND MERCEDES IS TELLING ME THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO CORRECT THIS HIGHLY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND REFUSING TO CORRECT AS AGREEMENT PLAINLY CALLS FOR. PLEASE HELP. I DON'T WANT MYSELF OR WIFE BURNED ALIVE IN MY CAR ! *TR

AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. IT IS NAUSEATING AND CAUSES SEVERE HEADACHES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED WITH A SERIES OF CODES CONSISTENT WITH LOSS OF VACUUM (EVAP). FUMES ARE LEAKING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE BUT MOREOVER ARE IMPARTING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ASSOCIATED NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. *TR

1. FUELING THE VEHICLE- AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE AND FILLING UP THE TANK, A VERY VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE/FUMES STAYS IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE DAYS OR UNTIL GAS TANK DROPS DOWN TO UNDER HALF A TANK. 2. FUMES ARE SO STRONG, CAUSES OCCUPANTS HEADACHES AND NAUSEA 3. VEHICLE STOPPED ON IDLE- WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE BEGINS TO CHOKE, AS IF ITS ABOUT TO TURN OFF. NEED TO PUT THE CAR ON NEUTRAL AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR TO STOP THE CAR FROM CHOKING. 4. TURNING- WHEN MAKING TURNS- THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY CHOKE AS IF NOT RECEIVING ANY GAS, AND AS IF ITS ABOUT TO TURN OFF. THE POWER STEERING ALSO GOES INACTIVE, LEAVING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE THE TURN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY ON LEFT HAND TURNS AT INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE STOPPED TURNING IN FRONT OF ONCOMING VEHICLES BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THE VEHICLES RESPONSE. I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN THESE EPISODES OF NON-RESPONSE TO ACCELERATION WILL OCCUR. *TR

FUEL LEAKING FROM REAL WHEEL AREA ON DRIVER SIDE. *TR

FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. INSPECTED FUEL PUMP INSPECTION DOORS UNDER BACKSEAT TO FIND A POOL OF GASOLINE. *TR

WHEN EVER WE FILL UP THE FUEL TANK , IT STARTS EMITTING TOO MUCH FOUL SMELL . I COMPLAINED TO THE NEW JERSEY MERCEDES HEAD QUARTER, THEY TOLD ME TO GO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSE, DEALER TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE TANK, WHICH COSTS ABOUT $ 4000 ,00 THERE IS DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE LOCATION OF FUEL TANK, THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEATS, IF IT EMITS FOULS SMELL THAT MEANS LEAKING GAS , IF ANY PASSENGER HAPPEN TO BE SMOKER, THAT CAN CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE DEATH AND INJURIES, THEY HAVE VERY VERY DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND DO NOT ADMIT PRODUCT LIABILITY PROBLEM.ALL THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED . *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CODE SCAN REVEALED CODE P0456. INSPECTION REVEALS FUEL LEAKAGE AT BOTH THE LEFT FUEL SENDER AND THE RIGHT FUEL PUMP HOUSINGS. LIQUID FUEL IS EXTERNALLY EVIDENT ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED SMELL OF RAW FUEL VAPOR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF WHAT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

WE OWN A 2005 E350 MERCEDES WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. A MONTH AGO WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AFTER FILLING THE TANK SO WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF CINTI ON MONTGOMERY ROAD ON APRIL 2, 2014. (THIS IS WHERE OUR CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT) THEY FLIPPED UP THE BACK SEAT AND PULLED UP THE BLACK LINER AND WE COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS SCARY TO ACTUALLY SEE GAS WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE OUR CAR JUST UNDER WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE SEATED. MERCEDES SAID IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. IN TOTAL, WE PAID $2073.21 TO REPAIR IT. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON APRIL 4, 2014. WE THEN GOOGLED MERCEDES GAS LEAKS AND FOUND THERE WAS A ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE ON THIS IN MARCH 2013, OTHER BLOGS AND YOUR ARTICLE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THESE ARTICLES. MY HUSBAND WAS REFERRED TO A CORPORATE MAN AT MERCEDES, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMON. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH, THEY SENT US A CHECK FOR $1,573.21, THUS WE STILL HAD TO PAY $500 FOR THE FAULTY TANK. WE WANTED OUR GAS LEAK TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO US. I KNOW MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HIRED A LAW FIRM TO DEFEND THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT THE STATEMENT BY THE MERCEDES ATTORNEY DOES NOT DENY THE PROBLEM. THEY ACTUALLY ADMIT IT EXISTS BUT SAY IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. GAS LEAK NOT A PROBLEM, GO FIGURE. ...UPDATED 09-05-14 *BF UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,959. UPDATED 07/16/14 MA UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN

EXISTING ISSUE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA13003 FUEL SENDER LEAKAGE ALREADY 116 REPORTS ON THE E55AMG MODEL PER THE REPORT. THIS WILL INCREASE TO 117. TOTAL COST TO ME QUOTED AT $1300.00 IN 2012 I PAID APPROX. $2000.00 FOR A SEPARATE ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE PERFORMED BY MERCEDES. *TR

FUEL LEAK FROM TANK. VAPORS AND FIRE RISK. FATIGUE CRACKING. MAYBE RELATED TO EA13-003 AND PE12-001. *TR.....UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE STRONG GASOLINE FUMES COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL, THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT DISPLAY THE CORRECT READING. AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION THE CONTACT ONLY PUT A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE TO ENSURE THAT THE FUEL WOULD NOT OVERFLOW OR THE STRONG ODOR WOULD NOT EMIT FROM THE GASOLINE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK CAP WAS LEAKING AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT FUEL TANKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2005 MERCEDES E320 WITH 126.3K MILES. AT TIME OF TRANSACTION, CAR HAD HALF A TANK OF FUEL ONLY. COUPLE DAYS LATER, WHEN I WENT TO REFUEL, I FILLED UP TANK ALL THE WAY TO TOP, I DROVE HOME AND AS SOON AS I EXITED CAR, I COULD SMELL A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE CAR AND INSIDE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL. I INSPECTED THE CAR AND AFTER LIFTING REAR SEAT CUSHION, I OPENED THE COVERS TO GAS TANK TO FIND THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, DRIVER'S SIDE, ABOUT 1-2 OUNCES OF FUEL. TODAY I PURCHASED AN UPDATED NEW FUEL SENDING UNIT FROM MB DEALER AND WILL NEED TO GET IT INSTALLED. WHEN TANK IS THREE QUARTER FULL OR LESS, YOU DON'T SMELL THE ODOR AND NO SIGN OF LEAK IS PRESENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MERCEDES E-CLASS. I'VE LEARNED THIS THRU MY MOST RECENT ONLINE SEARCH. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED IN MERCEDES BENZ FOR THIS POOR MANUFACTURING. *TR

START DATE IS APPROXIMATE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AROUND 4 YEARS. CAR HAS SMELLED STRONGLY OF GASOLINE WHEN FILLED OVER 3/4 A TANK. ALSO, WHEN FILLED OVER 3/4 A TANK GAS CAN BE SEEN DRIPPING DOWN BESIDE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE. HAVE SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TRYING TO GET ISSUE FIXED UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY ON DUE TO A "FUEL SYSTEM LEAK." WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH THIS HAS COST ME IN WASTED GAS, AND I'M CONSTANTLY AFRAID SOMEONE IS GOING TO LIGHT A CIGARETTE NEXT TO MY CAR AND BLOW THEMSELVES UP. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG GAS ODOR COMING FROM THE CAR, WHICH IS EXTREMELY STRONG AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE REMEDIED ON ALL EFFECTED MODELS. *TR

LIKE MANY BEFORE ME I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING THE SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CABIN OF MY MB. THIS CREATES A BIG PROBLEM IN SO MANY WAYS; FIRST AND FOREMOST THE DANGER OF INHALING GAS FUMES IS BOTH TOXIC AND CAUSES IMMEDIATE DIZZINESS EVEN IN SMALL DOSES (WHEN INHALED) WITH ALL THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF INHALATION CAN CAUSE CANCER AND OTHER BODILY HARM. SECOND, THE FACT THAT THERE IS EXPOSED FUEL TO AIR MAKES GAS MORE COMBUSTIBLE AND LETHAL WHEN INTRODUCED TO HEAT, FIRE, FRICTION, AND MAY OTHER FACTORS OF THE FIRE TRIANGLE. THIRD, THESE CARS WITH EXPOSED FUEL ISSUES ARE ALSO HAZARDOUS TO OTHER MOTORISTS, PEDESTRIANS, MOTORCYCLE RIDERS, AND SO ON WHOM MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THESE VEHICLES. EXPOSED FUEL IS DANGEROUS, AND TOXIC IN SHORT AND I HOPE THE NHTSA AND MERCEDES BENZ WILL COME TO A QUICK RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM THESE PARTICULAR LUXURY CARS ARE HAVING. *TR

DRIVING ON STREET--INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS UP RED SAYING "CHECK FUEL TANK CAP"--DRIVE TO PARK TURN OFF ENGINE--CHECK FUEL CAP -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON-- SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED 5 DAYS LATER. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 9:00 PM ON MAY 14TH, 2014 I NOTICED STRONG FUEL ODOR SURROUNDING MY ENTIRE VEHICLE UPON EXITING THE CABIN. I HAD JUST REFUELED AND WAS STOPPING AT A GROCERY STORE ON THE WAY HOME. I DID A QUICK VISUAL AND SNIFF CHECK AROUND THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SMELL WAS STRONGEST IN THE VICINITY OF THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL ARCH. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE AND THE ODOR WAS NOTICEABLY STRONGER. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE WAS NOW AN APPROXIMATELY 2 FOOT BY 3 FOOT POOL OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. FURTHERMORE, GASOLINE FUMES COULD NOW BE SMELLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS WELL. I HAD MY WIFE MOVE THE CAR OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND COULD CLEARLY SEE A TRAIL OF GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I WAS PREVIOUSLY AWARE OF THIS AS A POTENTIAL ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES BUT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY OWN VEHICLE UNTIL NOW. I KNEW BETTER THAN TO TOP OFF PAST THE AUTOMATIC PUMP SHUTOFF - AND I IN FACT DID NOT TOP OFF - AND THIS IS NOT A CASE OF FUEL SPRAYING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THERE IS A REASON THAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO BE LEAKING FROM THESE VEHICLE'S FUEL SYSTEMS. I'VE HAD COUNTLESS CARS IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I HAVE THE ORIGINAL WINDOW STICKER FOR MY VEHICLE SHOWING AN ORIGINAL COST OF CLOSE TO $90,000. TO HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS LEAKING LIKE THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE - NOT TO MENTION POTENTIALLY DEADLY. I BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES BENZ STATES THERE IS NOT ANY DANGER OF IGNITION, BUT WHAT IF THE IGNITION SOURCE COMES FROM SOME OTHER SOURCE UNRELATED TO THE VEHICLE SUCH AS A DISCARDED CIGARETTE OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF SPARK? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE IN ORDER TO GET MERCEDES BENZ TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PRODUCT FLAW? *TR

I STARTED SMELLING A FUEL ODOR FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS NOW. MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I DIDN'T TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO CHARGES. I TOOK MY REAR SEAT OUT TO FIND A HUGE PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER IT. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FITTING WAS SNAPPED. (I THINK THERE IS A GROUP OF US HAVING THIS SAME COMPLAINT FOR MANY YEARS NOW). *TR

EACH TIME I FILL OUT THE TANK, IT GIVES SUCH A HORRIBLE FUMES SMELL INSIDE MY CAR. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF UNBURNT FUEL COMING FROM MY CAR AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. I CAN'T TELL AT THIS POINT WHERE EXACTLY THE SMELL IS COMING FROM. I DO NOT SEE A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG; I CAN SMELL IT THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE 2 CAR GARAGE. I AM VERY WORRIED WHAT PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. *JS

UPON REFUELING THIS 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500 VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, WITHIN AN HOUR THE CAR EXHIBITS GASOLINE ODORS EMITTING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AS WELL AS STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS LASTS UNTIL THE GAS INDICATOR SHOWS ROUGHLY 50% TO 60% OF FUEL REMAINING. WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 AS WELL WITH A THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WE ENDED UP TRADING THAT CAR IN ON MARCH 23, 2011. I FOUND THIS ON YOUR WEBSITE DESCRIBING THE CONDITION MY CAR IS IN. DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: MAR 15, 2013 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: OPEN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE *JS