2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350. The contact stated while the vehicle was stationary, she started to smell an abnormal fuel odor from the rear driver’s side seat. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the fuel level sending unit and the seals and gaskets to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that she was unable to continue driving the vehicle due to odor. The contact towed the vehicle to another local dealer, Mercedes-Benz of Myrtle Beach (936 Jason Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, (843) 848-6800) where it was diagnosed with needing the fuel tank, fuel pump, fuel line and all the seals and gaskets needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WALTER'S MERCEDES-BENZ OF RIVERSIDE (951-441-6182, LOCATED AT 3213 ADAMS ST, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP LEAKED FUEL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUPPORTED THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,877.

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK AND PARKING CAR IN GARAGE, A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL FILLED THE GARAGE AND HOUSE. HAD TO REMOVE CAR FROM GARAGE. THIS HAPPENS IF I FILL THE TANK. I DO NOT OVERFILL. IF I DON'T FILL THE TANK I DON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AROUND 50 MILES THE SMELL GOES AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. *TR

VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AUTOMOBILE, STRONGEST AFTER REFUELING. *TR

THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. TRIED CALLING MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WE HAVE IS NOT ONE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACCORDING TO THE VIN. *TR

FUEL LEAK IN GAS SENDING UNIT. *TR

ON 7/23/14, I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF MY CAR AFTER REFUELING. I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED W211 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500 FROM MERCEDES-BENZ GREENWAY. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS ODOR ISSUE I WAS 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 SENDING UNIT, I FOUND A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF RAW GASOLINE POOLED. THIS PRESENTED A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND I WAS 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 TOOK PHOTOS OF THE RAW GASOLINE SITTING ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SUGARLAND DEMANDED $1,022.57 TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING AND REPLACING BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS/PUMPS IN MY VEHICLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SUGARLAND DID NOT RETURN MY OLD PARTS AFTER I REQUESTED THEM. 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 NUMBERS FOR THIS ISSUE ARE PE-12001 AND EA-13003. READ MORE: HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/E-CLASS-W211/437486-URGENT-NHTSA-OPENS-INVESTIGATION-INTO-FUEL-LEAKS-W211-E-CLASS-7.HTML. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FAULTY HOWEVER, THE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000. *TR

JUST BOUGHT THE CAR A MONTH AGO, AND HAD MERCEDES BENZ OF ORANGE PARK PUT A NEW ENGINE IN. JUST FILLED UP THE TANK AND NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO MERCEDES BENZ, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE SEAL ON THE TOP OF THE TANK AND IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE GAS IS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TR

WHENEVER MY CAR FILLED UP (NOT OVER FILL) WITH GASOLINE, THE STRONG GASOLINE SMELL WILL LAST A FEW DAYS. THE CAR WAS INVESTIGATED BY MERCEDES DEALER, THEY FOUND FUEL PUDDLED AT SENDER UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT ON LEFT SIDE. THEY STATED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR USE AT THIS TIME DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. HOWEVER, THEY WON'T FIX IT AS MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND WOULD CHARGE ME FOR $1,300.00 AND I DIDN'T REPAIR IT SINCE IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. I ALSO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS NOT THE PART THAT NEED REGULAR SERVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE WARE OUT. MERCEDES BENZ NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

FUEL AROUND GAS SENDING UNIT ON TOP OF GAS TANK, FUMES IN PASSENGER CABIN, WONDERING IF THERE IS RECALL. FOUND ON INTERNET E-CLASS MERCEDES FROM 2003-2008 WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GAS LEAKING AROUND SENDING UNIT. *TR

2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GASOLINE STORAGE AND PROPULSION MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE RE-FUELING A NEAR-EMPTY TANK EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE FILLER PIPE SPLASHED BACK GASOLINE, WHICH POOLED AROUND THE FILLER CAP. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, HE WAS INFORMED A NEW FUEL TANK WAS NEEDED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HE WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1500.00. *JB

STRONG SMELL OF GAS AROUND REAR OF DRIVER SIDE AND ALSO INSIDE OF CAR. I REMOVED THE BACK SEAT AND FUEL PUMP COVER TO FIND GAS POOLING INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT. GAS WAS ALSO STEAMING OUT OF A PLASTIC PIECE CONNECTED TO A HOSE. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN FOR DOCUMENTATION.

STRONG SMELL OF GAS AROUND REAR OF DRIVER SIDE AND ALSO INSIDE OF CAR. I REMOVED THE BACK SEAT AND FUEL PUMP COVER TO FIND GAS POOLING INSIDE THE COMPARTMENT. GAS WAS ALSO STREAMING OUT OF A PLASTIC PIECE CONNECTED TO A HOSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, FUMES SEEPED INTO THE VEHICLE. A FUEL LEAK WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NAUSEA AND VOMITING AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO THE FUMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. PAM

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE OCCURS AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK. THIS PERSISTS UNTIL THE CAR IS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES. DEALER SUGGESTS THAT THIS MAY BE A RESULT OF FUEL TANK LEAKS OR BAD SENDERS AND IS QUOTING AS MUCH AS $3000 FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK. *TR

GAS ODOR FROM LEFT REAR SIDE. AND INSIDE THE CAR. NO VISIBLE LEAK. CAR RUNS FINE. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE OF THE GAS LEAK FROM FUEL/PUMP/FILTER OR SENDING UNIT BUT WOULD NOT FIX IT AT MERCEDES EXPENSE. *TR

AFTER FILL CAR WITH FUEL AND PARKING IT, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. *TR

THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG AND SICKENING GASOLINE ODOR THAT COMES FROM THE CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OR AN ENCLOSED SPACE. THE ODOR ARISES FROM INSIDE THE CAR, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE BACK. THIS ODOR OCCURS EVERY TIME AFTER THE TANK IS FILLED UP. *TR

CAR IS LEAKING FUEL WITH STRONG ODOR IN GARAGE. THIS HAPPENED AFTER NORMAL GAS FILL UP. CAR IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH. *TR

I FILLED THE VEHICLE UP A ON 5/10/14 AND THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE WAS TELLING ME THERE WAS A STRONG GAS ODOR IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. ON MAY 12. 2014 I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE GAS ODOR WAS EXTREMELY STRONG. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE FOR ALL MERCEDES E-CLASS (2006 - 2009). I REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND FOUND THE LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP. *TR

I OWN TWO MERCEDES E55 VEHICLES. ONE IS 2005, ONE IS 2006. ON THE 2005 I HAVE HAD WHAT HAS BECOME A COMMON SYMPTOM OF FUEL SMELL FIRST OUTSIDE THE CAR (ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING THE TANK COMPLETELY), WHICH MIGRATES TO INSIDE THE CAR AS THE PROBLEM WORSENS. I BELIEVE A RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS PERFORMED ON THE CAR IN 2011 TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS HAD THE ISSUE ADDRESSED A FEW TIMES NOW. AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I HAVE HAD FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE OF THE ISSUE OVER THE COURSE OF 9 YEARS. I DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME, EXCEPT NOW THAT I HAVE ANOTHER 2006 E55... VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL... EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING. THE 2006 WAS PURCHASED USED IN JULY OF 2013. I COMPLAINED TO THE USED CAR DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE (IT CAME WITH A 6 MONTH WARRANTY) AND THEY SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY A LEAKING O-RING ON A SPARK PLUG. THE FUEL SMELL REMAINED AFTER THE REPAIR HOWEVER, VERY STRONG WHEN TANK FILLED OR THE CAR ON AN INCLINE... ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. ONLY AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET DID I FIND THAT MANY OTHERS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE... AND I WAS 2 FOR 2 ON MY CARS. SAME MODELS, SAME SYMPTOMS. THE 2006 UNIT IS FAR WORSE, HOWEVER AND MAY HAVE NEVER HAD THE ORIGINAL RECALL PERFORMED. I PULLED THE BACK SEATS AND INSPECTED THE FUEL AREAS... AND SURE ENOUGH SMALL PUDDLES OF GAS AND STAINS FROM PREVIOUS PUDDLES. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG NOW I AVOID USING THE CAR. WHEN YOU HAVE A SINGLE CAR WITH A SINGULAR PROBLEM YOU DON'T SUSPECT MUCH. WHEN YOU READ ABOUT OTHERS WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE, YOUR SUSPICIONS MAY RAISE A BIT. HOWEVER, I PROMISE YOU WHEN YOU BUY ANOTHER IDENTICAL CAR AND IT HAS THE EXACT SAME OVERWHELMING PROBLEM, THAT'S WHEN YOU WAKE UP. THE FUEL SMELL IS SO STRONG, I HAVE NOT HAD A SINGLE OCCUPANT NOT NOTICE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I'M PARKING THE CAR UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT RESOLVED. *TR

I FILLED THE FUEL TANK AND PARKED THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND DISCOVERED A STRONG GAS SMELL. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE GAS COMPANY AND TOLD THEM I SUSPECTED A GAS LEAK. THE TECHNICIAN CAME OUT AND TESTED THE APPLIANCES IN THE GARAGE. AFTER THE APPLIANCES TESTED NEGATIVE THE TECHNICIAN SURMISED THAT THE SMELL WAS POSSIBLY EMITTING FROM MY VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL TANK LEAK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR GAVE ME A VERY COSTLY ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. I ELECTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A PRIVATE MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY THE ISSUE WAS NOT COMPLETELY RESOLVED AND THE VEHICLE STILL EMITS A FUEL SMELL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT ADMIT THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND OFFER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS WITHOUT CAUSE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR