2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System

IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS LEADING UP TO MARCH 2012, I, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY, STARTED TO SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN THE INTERIOR OF OUR MERCEDES BENZ E 350W. THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG THAT WHEN RIDING IN THE AUTOMOBILE, WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN FEARING OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY IF THERE WAS A SPARK FROM ANY PART OF THE ENGINE OR UNDERNEATH THE AUTOMOBILE. AT A POINT DURING THAT BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THAT AUTOMOBILE, I COULD ONLY FILL THE FUEL TANK HALF FULL WITHOUT SMELLING THE STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT IT WAS NOW TIME TO GET SOME PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND ADVICE. IN JANUARY, 2012, I TOOK MY AUTOMOBILE TO ATLANTA CLASSIC CARS, INC. IN DULUTH GEORGIA 30098. AFTER THE FIRST INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD FUEL SENDING UNITS LEAK FUEL. THE NEXT VISIT, MARCH 2012, BOTH SENDING UNITS WERE REPLACED. BEFORE THE NEXT VISIT, THE FUEL FUMES CONTINUED. THE NEXT VISIT, APRIL 3, 2012, THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO INTERMITTENT OPEN CIRCUIT. THE NEXT VISIT, APRIL 9, 2012; "THE TEAM LEADER FOUND A SLIGHT TRAIL OF FUEL RESIDUE WHICH MAY BE WHERE FUEL VAPORS ARE COMING FROM PART OF THE FUEL TANK." THE NEXT AND LAST VISIT, APRIL 12, 2012 THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. NOT TRUSTING THE WORK PERFORMED BY THAT DEALERSHIP AND THE TIME IT TOOK TO FIND THAT PROBLEM, MY WIFE AND I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO TRADE THE AUTOMOBILE. MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP OF THAT AUTOMOBILE WAS MUCH TOO RISKY AND DANGEROUS FOR MY FAMILY. DEALING WITH THAT DEALERSHIPS SERVICE ADVISOR WAS MUCH TOO DIFFICULT!!! *TR

(NHTSA ACTION# PE12001) I RECENTLY PURCHASED 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350 IN FEB 2014. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THE FIRST OWNER HAS KEPT AND SERVICED THE CAR REGULARLY AND I HAVE THE RECORDS. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY CRASH. THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE AND MILES ARE APPROXIMATE AND BASED ON THE FIRST OWNER'S BEST OF KNOWLEDGE. I PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED IT ON MARCH 3, 2014 AND AT 89122 MILES. AFTER PURCHASING THE I FILLED THE GAS TANK. I LEFT THE CAR IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT AND WHEN I WENT INTO THE GARAGE IN THE MORNING, MY GARAGE SMELLED LIKE SOMEONE HAS SPILLED GAS IN THE GARAGE. I CHECKED THE GARAGE FLOOR UNDER THE CAR BUT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE LEAK. I CALLED THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND HE TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE SMELL GOES AWAY AFTER YOU DRIVE THE CAR AND USE UP SOME GAS. THE GAS SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT I WAS WORRIED TO TURN ON ANY ELECTRICITY. I AM WORRIED THAT ONE DAY IT IS GOING TO CAUSE FIRE IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE NOW EXPERIENCED THIS TWICE. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR EVERY MERCEDES BENZ CARS WITH 211 ENGINES. IT IS SAD THAT MERCEDEZ BENZ WILL NOT FIX THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON THEIR OWN. WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? SOMEONE TO DIE? *TR

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE RIGHT AFTER AFTER REFUELING. AFTER REPLACING MULTIPLE SEALS SAME SITUATION WE ADOPTED A WORKAROUND NOT TO FILL THE TANK IN ITS ENTIRETY TO PREVENT THE STRONG SMELL. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG FUEL GAS ODOR THAT IS COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STRONGEST GAS ODOR IS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME. THE MANUFACTURE HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.LJ

I FILLED UP THE CAR AND DROVE HOME YOU CAN SMELL GAS OUTSIDE AT THE GAS STATION LIKE IT WAS LEAKING SOMEWHERE, BUT WHEN I GOT HOME THE SMELL WAS SO LOUD THAT I WAS AFRAID TO PARK IT IN THE GARAGE. NOT ONLY THE SMELL WAS BAD, BUT I CAN'T TELL IF IT IS FILLED ALL THE WAY OR NOT BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T GO TO THE TOP, IT IS ABOUT 3 NOTCHES FROM FULL, BUT ALL THE GAS PUMP IT STOPS THAT IT IS FULL. I WENT ONLINE, AND IT STATED THAT IT WAS A RECALL FOR E350 AND OTHERS FOR THE FUEL FILTERS THAT LEAK AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE, BUT IT IS FOR 2011 & 2012. IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL MERCEDES BENZ BECAUSE THIS SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING FOR OLDER CAR AS WELL. *TR

FUEL LEAK TOP OF FUEL PUMP RAW FUEL ODOR IN CAR. REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS 12/06/12 PROBLEM RECURRED 2/23/24. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350 WITH 84000+ MILES ON IT, IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. UPON FILLING MY GAS TANK FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND RETURNING HOME FOR THE NIGHT, I PARKED IN MY GARAGE AND WENT ABOUT MY BUSINESS. THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. I PULLED THE REAR SEAT OFF, AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL POOL OF GASOLINE IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. APPARENTLY THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, AND THE NHTSA HAS ALREADY INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION (NHTSA ACTION# PE12001). AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS ISN'T THE SENDING UNIT THAT CAME WITH THE CAR ORIGINALLY. *TR

PRIOR TO INCIDENT DATE, I BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL THAT FILLED THE GARAGE. THE SMELL GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SO I TOOK IT TO EWING AUTOHAUS IN PLANO, TEXAS ON 08-31-11. THE CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A FUEL LEAK AND NEEDED A NEW FUEL TANK THAT WOULD COST $2000.00 TO FIX. I QUESTIONED WHY A NEW FUEL TANK WAS NEEDED SINCE THE CAR HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT GIVEN AN ANSWER AND REFUSED TO HAVE THEM FIX IT. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP AND AS LONG AS THE TANK WAS NOT COMPLETELY FULL THE GASOLINE WOULD NOT LEAK. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES BENZ PARK PLACE DALLAS FOR A TRANSMISSION ISSUE IN JANUARY OF 2013 AND I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE FUEL TANK AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FUEL TANK ALSO AS HAVING A LEAK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. THIS REPAIR WOULD COST $3000.00. I DECLINED THIS REPAIR ALSO AND STATED TO THEM THAT I FELT THAT THE CAR HAD A FAULTY FUEL TANK AS WELL AS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND WAS I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET HAVING TO SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR IF THE TANK WAS A LITTLE BIT OVERFILLED . *TR

STRONG GAS SMELL IN AND AROUND THE CAR. ESPECIALLY WHEN FRESHLY REFUELED. AT THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP BOTH OF THE FUEL SENSORS WERE FOUND TO BE LEAKING. I WAS ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ONE MORE MILE AND GET REPAIRS DONE INSTANTLY. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AFTER WE FILL UP THE TANK. THE ODOR IS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES. *TR

FUEL LEAKS AND A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY AFTER REFUELING. *TR

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK, STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE CABIN OF CAR, LOCAL DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP AND SENDER NEED REPLACING AND MAYBE FUEL TANK IF PUMP REPLACEMENT DOES NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. FUEL IS LEAKING AND POOLING ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP ACCESS PANEL JUST UNDERNEATH REAR SEAT. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF MOVING PARTS AND, IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE WORTHY OF A RECALL. *TR

FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK A INCREDIBLY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL WOULD FILL THE PASSENGER CABIN. THIS WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED TO CAPACITY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND ACCESS PLATE TO SEE THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT. WITH THE SEAT REMOVED AND THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK VISIBLE, I FILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL. WITH A FULL TANK, RAW GASOLINE SEEPED THROUGH A SMALL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY AND FILLED THE AREA ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE INSULATION INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN UNDER THE SEAT APPEARED TO BE SATURATED WITH RAW FUEL. IN RETROSPEC, IF A SPARK WOULD HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CAR, THERE IS NO QUESTION THE CAR WOULD HAVE EXPLODED. *TR

IN 2012 THE CAR BEGAN HAVING A STRONG FUEL ODOR AFTER FILL-UP THAT WENT AWAY ONCE THE TANK WAS DOWN TO A HALF TO 3/4 FULL. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THE "FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AT PLASTIC MOUNTING WELD". I WAS CHARGED TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. NOW THE SMELL IS STARTING TO COME BACK AGAIN, SO THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMING BACK. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM AND YOU ARE INVESTIGATING. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN CAR IS FILLED WITH GAS. *TR

I'VE NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. DID AN INSPECTION AND SAW A LEAK ON THE FUEL PUMP. *TR

AFTER FUELING UP A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL STAYS IN THE CAR. IT WAS ALMOST FILLED UP BUT NOT TOPPED OFF. THE SMELL REMAINS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. THE MECHANIC STATES IT VERY EXPENSIVE TO DROP TANK TO LOOK FOR A LEAK. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IS THE ONLY MEAN OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. *TR

MY 2006 MERCEDES E350 SMELLS OF STRONG GAS FUMES EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK. I NEVER TOP OFF THE TANK AND NOTHING EVER SPILLS OUT BUT THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG. THE GAS FUMES ARE PRESENT FOR SEVERAL DAYS MAKING MY GARAGE SMELL OF GAS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET BETTER ONCE THE FUEL LEVEL REACHES ABOUT A HALF TANK. I AM WORRIED ABOUT A FIRE OR SOMEONE BREATHING THE FUMES IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS STORIES ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS ISSUE WITH VARIOUS MERCEDES MODELS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FUEL TANK COULD ONLY BE FILLED HALF WAY TO AVOID THE FUEL FROM LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

THERE WAS STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER FILLING UP THE CAR WITH GAS. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WOULD SMELL OF GAS UNTIL THE GAS TANK REACHED BELOW APPROXIMATELY 70% LEVELS. AFTER PARKING IN THE GARAGE, IT SMELLED AS THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR IF THE WE DIDN'T FILL UP THE GAS TANK. *TR

I TOOK OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND STATE INSPECTION. AFTER RECEIVING A PHONE THAT THE GAS TANK HAD LEAKS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2500 IN ORDER TO PASS STATE INSPECTION I DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE OVER 500 COMPLAINTS BEING REPORTED WITH THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, A GAS LEAK IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND GIVEN THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT WE ARE SURPRISED THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN PUT INTO A RECALL STATUS. *TR

EVERY TIME THAT I FILL MY GAS TANK THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. *TR

EACH TIME AFTER FILL UP THE GASOLINE (NO OVER FILL), I HAVE TO SMELL THE FUEL SMELL FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. I HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2009, BUT THE ODOR IS GETTING EXTREMELY STRONG. I WENT TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEAL FOR INSPECTION,THEY CHARGED ME $175 AND INSISTED THAT IT IS NOT RECALL ITEM. THE INSPECTION SHOWS: 73412 FUEL SENDER LEAKING FUEL, VEHICLE NOT SAFE FOR USE AT THIS TIME DUE TO FIRE HAZARD, INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, REMOVED REAR SEAT AND INSPECTION COVER FOR FUEL SENDER, FOUND FUEL PUDDLED AT SENDER. I THINK THE LEAKING IS CAUSED BY DEFECTED PARTS WHICH SUPPOSE TO LAST LIFE TIME LONG. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR

HELLO I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350 AND I AM EXPERIENCING STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN CAUSING ME HEADACHES AND BLURRED VISION WHILE DRIVING. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS SIGNIFICANT LEAKAGE OF GASOLINE ON TO THE PAVEMENT. *TR

MY 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E-350 CONTINUE TO HAVE STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT. *TR