2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System

WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE JULY 2007 MB CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WITH 14,000 MILES.THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS FOR FUEL SMELL. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEALS, FUEL PUMPS, FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS, UPPER EVAPORATOR SYSTEM CONNECTOR,FUEL FILTER MODULE ASSEMBLY,FUEL LEVEL SENSOR SEALS,LEAKING AROUND PRESSURE SENSOR SEAM, FUEL TANK AND STILL THE PROBLEM PERSIST TILL THIS DAY. I HAVE HAD MB EXTENDED WARRANTY TILL 2011 AND ALL WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE MB DEALERSHIP. *TR

A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING THE CAR WITH A NEARLY FULL TANK OF GAS. I REMOVED THE ACCESS PANEL BENEATH THE REAR SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND DISCOVERED FUEL COLLECTING IN THE WELL AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS/30,000 MILES THAT I HAVE HAD THIS FUEL LEAK. THE FIRST LEAK WAS REPAIRED 3 YEARS AGO BY REPLACING THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WITH A MERCEDES OEM UNIT. CLEARLY, MERCEDES HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PART/MATERIALS RELIABILITY ISSUE THAT SO MANY OWNERS OF THE W211 E-CLASS ARE EXPERIENCING. I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE AND A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE MODEL IS WARRANTED. THIS VERY WELL MAY BE THE LAST MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLE THAT I EVER PURCHASE. PHOTOS OF THE LEAKING FUEL SENDER CAN BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST. *TR

I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER A FILLUP, ONE MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, AND THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSORS AND THAT FUEL HAD LEAKED ONTO THE TOP OF THE TANK.. THEY DID A REPAIR JOB OF OVER $1000 IN DECEMBER 2013. THEN 3 MONTHS LATER, AFTER A FILL UP I AGAIN NOTICED THE STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE, AND THIS TIME THE SERVICE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS AN ACTUAL FUEL TANK LEAK. FURTHER ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO ME AND HAS HAPPENED TO MANY E SERIES CARS AND YET MERCEDES BENZ HASN'T ADDRESSED IT WITH A RECALL (YET PART WHOLESALERS HAVE MULTIPLE REPLACEMENT TANKS IN STOCK). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FILLED FUEL TANK , CAME HOME ,PARKED IN GARAGE AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. FUEL WAS LEAKING ON FLOOR AND I HAVE TO LEAVE IT OUTSIDE NOW. *TR

ONE DAY I FILL MY TANK WITH GAS & WHEN I GET IN MY CAR I SMELL GASOLINE. I'M THINKING I STEPPED IN SOME GAS AT THE GAS STATION. I COME HOME & PARK. AS I EXIT MY CAR & COME AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE I'M SMELLING GAS. FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS THE GAS SMELL CONTINUES TO SUFFOCATE ME. I GOT ON THE INTERNET & GOOGLED " I SMELL GAS IN MY 2005 E320". I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE NO-COST SOLUTION WAS NOT TO FILL YOUR TANK, ONLY HALFWAY BUT THEN YOUR CONSTANTLY STOPPING FOR GAS SMH. WHY DON'T THE DEALERS WANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?? IS THIS THE REPUTATION THAT MERCEDES WANTS TO CREATE?? *TR

I FILED WITH YOUR AGENCY LAST YEAR AND NEVER HEARD BACK I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 E CLASS . AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO MERCEDES , THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN SEATTLE LAST YEAR.I PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AND MERCEDES PAID FOR THE NEW TANK. MY OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS REPAIR WAS CLOSE TO $2000.00 IT HAS BEEN APPRX 15 MONTHS AND I HAVE NOTICE AGAIN SOME FUEL SMELL INSIDE MY VEHICLE. OF COURSE I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY PAPERWORK FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, BUT IS ON RECORD AT THE DEALERSHIP. I FELL LIKE I AM DRIVING ON TOP OF A FUEL BOMB AND WILL I BE THE 1ST VICTIM OF A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I FEEL STUCK WITH THIS CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP PRETENDS TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS FUEL LEAK AND FUMES PENETRATING THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS ISSUE? DO NOT LET MERCEDES GET AWAY WITH THAT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, EVERY TIME WE FUELED UP OUR VEHICLE WE NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE OUR GARAGE AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE CABIN. WE HAVE CALLED THE DEALER TO CHECK TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY RECALL CONCERNING THE GAS LEAK DEFECT IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE BUT THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALL IN EFFECT. WE ARE SERIOUSLY CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE FOR OUR FAMILY (MAY CAUSE FIRE IN THE CABIN, ETC.) SO WE ARE REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE NOTE OUR CAR HAS RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE AND WE HAVE OTHER VEHICLES WITH MUCH HIGHER MILEAGE BUT WE DID NOT EXPERIENCE WITH THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR THE TIME! *TR

WE START NOTICE GAS FUMES SMELL WHEN WE FILLED OUR MERCEDES-BENZ UP WITH GAS & AS WE DROVE OUR VEHICLE THE GAS SMELL WOULD STOP, APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PLUS. AS THE MONTHS WENT ON THE INCIDENT WOULD GET WORST AT EACH FILL-UP. SOMETIME AROUND FEBRUARY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP & THEY FOUND GAS LEAKAGE AROUND THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE BACK SEAT. AS OF TODAY THE ISSUE IS STILL GOING ON WITH THE GAS SMELL. *TR

FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN SMELLING A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE CAR/GARAGE AFTER FILLING IT UP. I HAD BEEN PUTTING IT OFF AS NO BIG DEAL, BUT TODAY MY WHOLE HOUSE SMELLED LIKE GAS AFTER I FILLED THE TANK LAST NIGHT AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. WE HAD TO CLEAR THE HOUSE THINKING WE HAD SOME GAS LEAK BEFORE I REALIZED IT WAS COMING FROM THE CAR. I HAVE READ THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS CAR AND AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED LAST YEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION AS I ASSUME IT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. I'M AFRAID TO GO TO THE DEALER CAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL PROBABLY SAY TO REPLACE THE TANK OR SENSOR OR BOTH, ALL WHICH COULD LEAD INTO A SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLAR REPAIR. BUT BECAUSE I AM SEEING THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND AN INVESTIGATION IS GOING ON, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING I CAN DO TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR

AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK WITH GASOLINE, I SMELL AN ODOR OF GAS UNTIL THE TANK IS DOWN TO ABOUT 3/4 FULL. *TR

I HAD/HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING MY TANK. I REPORTED THIS TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER, MODESTO EUROPEAN, BACK IN EARLY 2012, BUT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD SO TO INVESTIGE WOULD COST $129/HOUR (I THINK THAT WAS THE NUMBER) AND WOULD T TAKE UP TO 4 HOURS TO DIAGONSE; AND THEN I WOULD STILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY NEEDED REPAIRS. SINCE I DID NOT SEE GAS LEAKING, I PUT OFF THE INSPECTION THINKING I WOULD AS SOME POINT SEE GAS LEAKING IF IT WERE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I STILL GET THE GAS SMELL EVERY TIME I FILL UP, BUT NEVER SAW GAS ON MY GARAGE FLOOR OR ELSEWHERE. THIS WEEK I LEARNED FROM A REPAIR SHOP WHICH IS NOT A MERCEDES DEALER THAT THIS IS A VERY TYPICAL PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND IT WAS SUGGESTED I CONTACT YOU TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY NTSA ACTION ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I BOUGHT THE CAR, GREAT CAR BUT CAR SMELLED OF GASOLINE BADLY, LIFTED THE BACK SEAT AND WAS DRENCHED IN GASOLINE, BROUGHT TO THE DEALER IN WEST PALM BEACH, THEY CHANGED OUT A BUNCH OF PARTS OVER 2500$ IN REPAIRS, AND ALL WAS WELL, THANK GOD BECAUSE A HAVE AN INFANT AND HE SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECTED TO THOSE AWFUL DANGEROUS FUMES, ALL WAS GOOD, THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER IN NOVEMBER 2012 HAPPENING AGAIN AND BOTH FUEL SENDERS HAD TO BE CHANGED AGAIN, THANK GOD WAS UNDER DEALERSHIP WARRANTY, MERCEDES NEEDS TO STEP UP AND SEE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED ON MY CAR FOR THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING IT BASED ON RESEARCH AT A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS BY A STICKER ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF MY HOOD. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IS PREVALENT AS WELL AS LARGE OBSERVABLE LEAK AROUND REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. *TR

ON JUNE 9, 2011, THERE WAS A DETECTABLE FUEL SMELL ON THE INTERIOR AND IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 10, 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA. THE MERCEDES TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A BAD FUEL SENDER UNIT. MERCEDES FAILED TO MENTION AT THE TIME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE WHICH THEY DESCRIBED AS "MECHANICAL STRESS ON THE FUEL FILTER MODULE" (VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN #2008-020001). PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDER UNITS COST $1,620.20. THIS REPAIR SEEMED TO HAVE CORRECTED THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY. ON OCTOBER 17, 2013 I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MERCEDES-BENZ OF FOOTHILL RANCH, CA FOR ROUTINE SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN AGAIN IDENTIFIED THE SMELL OF GAS IN THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A CRACK IN THE FUEL SENDER UNIT. THE MERCEDES SERVICE ASSOCIATED QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $1,600 TO AGAIN REPAIR THIS ISSUE. THIS ISSUE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE DESIGN AND MERCEDES CONTINUES TO CHARGE ITS CUSTOMERS TO REPAIR THIS FLAW. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN, AGES 1 AND 4. INHALING GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY THE BENZENE COMPONENT IS KNOWN TO INCREASE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING CANCER IN HUMANS. I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXPLODING IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. YOUR HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK. ANY RECALLS? *TR

AFTER A RECENT FILL UP, CAME BACK TO THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND THERE IS A EXTREMELY STRONG GAS SMELL. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN AND WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING AS WELL AS THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDER UNIT. I WAS TOLD THE SENDER HAS SHORTED AND CAUSED ISSUES WITH THE REST OF THE SYSTEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE CABIN AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, A FUEL ODOR WAS SMELLED INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 05/28/13*LJ UPDATED 06/11/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK VALVE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000....UPDATED 11-18-13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 E500 MERCEDES BENZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE. THE ODOR WOULD DIMINISH AFTER THE FUEL TANK HAD REACHED ONE HALF FULL OR BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 11/13/13*LJ

AFTER SHUTTING OFF MY VEHICLE AND GETTING OUT I SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AROUND MY VEHICLE. AT FIRST I COULDN'T DETERMINE WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM AND THOUGHT IT POSSIBLY IT WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AROUND ME. THE NEXT DAY, IN THE MORNING BEFORE GOING TO WORK I SMELLED GAS AROUND MY VEHICLE AND AT THIS POINT I KNEW IT WAS COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN AS I WALKED AROUND IT AND NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON MY DRIVEWAY UNDER DRIVER SIDE BACK SEAT IN THAT AREA. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I PULLED BACK SEAT OUT AND REMOVED COVER TO FUEL SENDING UNIT AND FOUND A LEAK FROM A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC WHERE THE FUEL DELIVERY LINE CONNECTS. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ UPDATED 12/31/2013 *JS

AFTER REFUELING SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BOTTOM CUSHION OF REAR SEAT WAS REMOVED TO FIND ABOUT 1 CUP OF RAW FUEL WAS UNDER THE SEAT PUDDLED UP. THIS POSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR FIRE AND HEALTH. *TR

NOTICED A FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER WHO DETERMINED A SEAM IN THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT ALLOWING VAPORS INTO THE CABIN. REQUIRED COMPLETE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 9/19/13 *CN

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED 100% THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR, WHICH CAN BE SMELLED IN THE OUTDOORS BUT IS EXTREMELY STRONG WHEN PARKED IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE. THIS ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT IT ENTERS THE HOUSE, AND WE HAVE TO LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR WIDE OPEN FOR FEAR OF A SPARK CAUSING A FIRE. IF ONE LOOKS UNDER THE CAR THERE IS NO DRIPPING. THE ODOR DOES NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS NO LONGER COMPLETELY FULL. THE FUEL LEAK STOPS AFTER WE ARE DOWN A COUPLE GALLONS FROM COMPLETELY FULL FUEL TANK. I HAVE PULLED THE BACK SEAT AND SEEN THAT THE THERE IS GASOLINE POOLING AROUND THE FUEL PUMP (FUEL DELIVERY MODULE). I AM CONCERNED THAT A REAR END COLLISION WOULD CAUSE THE LEAKING FUEL TO COMBUST. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN AND AROUND CAR AFTER FILLING UP. SMELL REMAINS UNTIL FUEL LEVEL IS CONSUMED BELOW 3/4 OF A TANK. FUEL SPILLS FROM THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN CAR IS FILLED WITH FUEL THE PUMP IS TURNED ON UNTIL IT SHUTS OFF, NEVER TOPPED OFF. CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN CALIFORNIA WHEN NEW AND IS OPERATED IN COLORADO BETWEEN 5000 AND 10000 FEET IN ELEVATION. CAN NO LONGER PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE DUE TO OVERWHELMING FUMES. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD AS WELL AS A FIRE DANGER AWAITING A SOURCE OF IGNITION NOT TO MENTION ANY ADDED MAGNITUDE IT MAY CONTRIBUTE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR