2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG GASOLINE ORDER, ESPECIALLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. MECHANIC SAYS THAT GAS TANK PUMP IS LEAKING. I HEAR THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A FAINT GAS SMELL AFTER REFUELING A FEW YEARS AGO. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE OR MILEAGE AS I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS A MINOR PROBLEM. THE SMELL WOULD DISAPPEAR AFTER I HAD USED ABOUT A QUARTER OF A TANK. THE ODOR HAS GOTTEN STRONGER OVER THE PAST YEAR WHICH PROMPTED ME TO DISCUSS WITH MY MECHANIC. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL CAP AND THE SEALS ON THE GAS TANK WITH NO REDUCTION IN THE SMELL. THEY ALSO CAN FIND NO VISIBLE REASON FOR THE GAS ODOR. THE GAS ODOR IS NOW SO STRONG AFTER REFUELING I AM UNABLE TO PARK MY CAR IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE THE SMELL PERMEATES THROUGH MY HOME. MY CAR HAS 149,424 MILES ON IN TO DATE. I SAW AN ARTICLE FROM THE BOSTON GLOBE AND THIS PROMPTED ME TO REPORT MY ISSUE. *TR

WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED WITH GAS, THERE IS A VERY STRONG LINGERING GASOLINE SMELL THAT LASTS FOR SEVERAL DAYS. *TR

HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS INSIDE CAR AND IN GARAGE ON FILL UP OF GAS TANK. ON 2/21/13, DEALER FOUND GAS POOLED ABOUT AN INCH THICK ON TOP OF THE 2 SENDING UNITS UNDER 2ND ROW SEATS OF THIS STATION WAGON. GAS WAS LEAKING OUT THRU THE SEALS AND LOCKING RINGS ON TOP OF SENDING UNITS. DEALER FOUND DEFECTIVE LOCKING RINGS, SEALS,AND GAS SENDING UNITS. ALL 3 PARTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES RIGHT UNDER THE 2ND ROW SEATS WHERE MY CHILDREN WERE RIDING. THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO ANYONE IN OR CLOSE TO THE CAR IF GAS TANK EXPLODED FROM GAS LEAKING FROM THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS .EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

THE CAR STARTED TO GET STRONG GAS SMELL SPECIALLY AFTER A FULL TANK FILL UP. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN LATE 2011. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

AFTER FILLING CAR THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AROUND THE CAR. THE SMELL CONTINUES UNTIL THE TANK IS DOWN TO @3/4 . AFTER REACHING THIS POINT THE SMELL DISSIPATES SOMEWHAT BUT IS STILL DETECTABLE. THE GARAGE REEKS OF FUEL BUT THERE IS NOTHING ON THE FLOOR(YET). THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT @38,000 MILES AND CONTINUES. WE NOW HAVE @44,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE TRIED CONTACTING MERCEDES USA BUT THEY MERELY TOLD US TO CONTACT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP WE CONTACTED AND RELAYED OUR PROBLEM TO (CHANTILLY VIRGINIA)CLAIMED THERE WAS NO KNOWN FUEL SYSTEM/TANK PROBLEM WITH THAT MODEL(2006 E350). THEY WOULD, OF COURSE, LOVE TO CHECK IT OUT. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE COMMON FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM(IF IT WORKS)IS AROUND $2,000. *TR

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AT STATION. SMELL WENT AWAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES. *TR

THE CAR HAD A SERIOUSLY STRONG ORDER INSIDE THE CABIN OF GASOLINE EVERY TIME I WOULD FILL UP THE CAR. TO THE POINT OF CAUSING NAUSEA EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THE ORDER WAS TOO STRONG INSIDE THE CABIN. I EVENTUALLY TOOK A LOOK UNDER THE REAR SEAT NOTICE THAT BENEATH THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT WAS A FUEL SENDING UNIT WITH A BAD SEAL AND GASOLINE FUMES WOULD POUR RAPIDLY INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ORDER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS VERY PROMINENT IN THE VEHICLE CABIN AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL BASE AND IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WITH ON OCCASION A SMALL LEAKAGE OF FUEL ON THE FLOOR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON SEVERAL W211 CARS. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NO HELP EXCEPT TO SAY IT WILL COST AROUND $2000 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. I DID FIND THAT THERE WAS SOME CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE NHTSA THIS YEAR IN APRIL CONCERNING THIS MATTER BUT DID NOT KNOW THE OUTCOME AND MERCEDES IS NOT WILLING TO HELP AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU *TR

FUEL SMELL WHEN VEHICLE IS FILLED UP ...FUEL LEAKING AT TOP OF FUEL TANK ...THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THE W211 E CLASS CARS FROM 2003 TO 2009 DEALER WANTS 2000.00 TO REPAIR THIS FLAW IN THE FUEL SYSTEM MERCEDES WILL NOT HELP AT ALL WITH THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR SITTING FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME WHILE ON OR OFF, REGARDLESS OF FUEL LEVEL. *TR

ON 11/20/12, I FILLED UP MY CAR AND GOT A CAR WASH. THE CAR WASH ATTENDANT ASKED IF I HAD SPILLED A CAN OF GAS OR WAS TRANSPORTING A CAN OF GAS IN MY CAR. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM MY CAR. MY CAR WAS WET, SO I COULD NOT DIFFERENTIATE WATER FROM GAS ON THE OUTSIDE. I STARTED DRIVING HOME WHEN I REALIZED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS COMING FROM INSIDE MY CAR. MY CHILD WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. WE WERE ABOUT A MILE FROM HOME. I KEPT THE WINDOWS OPEN. I PARKED MY CAR AND PUT CARDBOARD BENEATH IT TRYING TO FIND THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LEAK/ODOR. I WENT INSIDE TO FIND A DIAGRAM OF THE GAS TANK LOCATION WHEN I REALIZED THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH MY MERCEDES. SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR MERCEDES. THERE WERE SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS RELATED TO LEAKING FUEL TANKS IN THEIR MERCEDES. I LATER LEARNED THAT GAS WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF MY CAR UNDER MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT WITH A CIGARETTE LIGHTER IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING MOMENT FOR ME AS A MOTHER. I SHOULD HAVE HAD MY CAR TOWED, BUT I DID NOT REALIZED HOW UNSAFE THE SITUATION WAS UNTIL I ARRIVED HOME. I TRIED CONTACTING MY LOCAL AND CORPORATE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL. THERE WAS NOT. THEY ASKED ME TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. I LOST ALL CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN MERCEDES AFTER MY PHONE CONVERSATIONS. I BOUGHT A MERCEDES BECAUSE OF THEIR REPUTATION FOR CARING ABOUT SAFETY. THE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED AND FIXED THE CAR WROTE "REMOVED AND REPLACED FUEL TANK. ASSEMBLY - LEAK AROUND VENT ASSEMBLY NOT SERVICEABLE". HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP HAD SO MANY GAS TANKS IN STOCK WHEN HE CALLED. HE SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DIFFERENT OR REDESIGNED. *TR UPDATED 12/27/12 *CN UPDATED 12/31/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING THE VEHICLE, SHE SMELLED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR BEING EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL TANK SEAM HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER WOULD BE HANDLING THE REPAIR COSTS HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD HANDLE THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

FUEL TANK LEAKING FUEL AT VENT HOSE IN TOP OF TANK. THE COMPLETE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER SAFETY COMPLAINT ODI NUMBER 10476789 WAS FILED OUTLINING ANOTHER SEVERE GAS TANK LEAK. I FOLLOWED THE SERVICING DEALER'S INSTRUCTION FOR ELIMINATING GAS SMELL FROM THE VEHICLE BY LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS GARAGED AND DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN FOLLOWING MY OWN INSTINCTS FOR SURVIVAL. HOWEVER, THE GAS SMELL DID NOT DISSIPATE. I CONTINUED TO SMELL GAS WHEN I WOULD APPROACH THE VEHICLE; AND THE GAS ODOR WOULD GET STRONGER THE LONGER THE VEHICLE SAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE 2ND LEAK WAS DISCOVERED, PROMPTING THEM TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK. THE SEVERE FUMES HAVE CREATED ALLERGY AND SINUS IRRITATION ISSUES FOR ME; AND A PHOBIA OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN CIGARETTES ARE THROWN FROM VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. I AM SO AFRAID THAT MY VEHICLE WILL EXPLODE WITH ME INSIDE OF IT...JUST IMAGINE! *TR

FUEL SENDING UNIT LEAKING. *TR

CAR DEVELOPED STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN. DURING 100K MILES SERVICE, DEALER SUGGESTED POSSIBLE FUTURE REPLACEMENT OF FUEL SENDING UNIT AT CUSTOMER'S EXPENSE. AFTER SERVICE VISIT TO DEALER, FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN BECAME STRONGER AND REAR SEAT WAS REMOVED BY CUSTOMER AND DISCOVERED FUEL FLUID ACCUMULATING BENEATH REAR SEAT. INSPECTION COVER WAS REMOVED AND THE SENDING UNIT WAS FOUND LEAKING FUEL FROM TOP COVER OF SENDING UNIT THROUGH A CRACK ON IT. FUEL LEAK IS CONFIRMED TO GENERATE THROUGH A HAIRLINE CRACK AT TOP OF SENDING UNIT. IT IS NOT FROM SEALS OR THREADED COVER. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE MOSTLY OUTSIDE THE CAR WHENEVER I FILL THE GAS TANK. I NEVER OVERFILL. THE SMELL EXISTS EVEN WHEN I DON'T FILL TO THE VERY TOP. THE GARAGE HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE WHENEVER I FILL THE CAR WITH GAS AND PARK THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I AM AFRAID THE GASOLINE FUMES MAY IGNITE AND BLOW-UP MY HOUSE. *TR

FILLED UP WITH PREMIUM FUEL THEN DROVE HOME AND PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY. ENTERED CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS OVERWHELMED BY GAS FUMES. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT IN 3 MONTHS. *TR

HEAVY GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE. FUEL LEAKING FROM DEFECTIVE ELBOW HOSE CONNECTION ALLOWING GAS TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE BACK SEAT INSULATION AND FUEL COVER; FUEL TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BY WAY OF DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ALONG THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING STRONG GAS FUMES WHEN PARKED AND WHILE DRIVING. *TR

I NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN MY 2006 E500. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG INSIDE THE CABIN AND MY VEHICLE ALWAYS STAYS IN THE GARAGE. WHEN I WALK INTO THE GARAGE I ALSO SMELL A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR. I HAD SIMILAR SMELL 2 YEARS AGO AND GOT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE FUEL TANK OPENING UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED AND LEAKED THE GAS. THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT AND ALSO REPLACED ANY INSULATION THAT WAS THERE THE TO ENSURE SMELL COMPLETELY GOES AWAY. FOR A WHILE I WAS NOT GETTING THE SMELL BUT IT SUDDENLY STARTED COMING AND IT IS VERY STRONG. I ALSO HEAR THAT IT IS AFFECT LOTS OF VEHICLES. *TR