2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

When I filled up gas and start the car, it has gas smell. seems like fuel is pooling on the left side on top of the fule filter module underneath the cushion. Searched the internet and found out it is a common problem on Mercedes.

My 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, which has developed a fuel system defect resulting in a leak. This issue poses a significant safety risk, including the potential for fire and explosion, and is directly related to a known defect that Mercedes-Benz USA has previously acknowledged through an extended warranty campaign.Safety Risk: Fuel system leaks pose an imminent danger, including the potential for fire and explosion, to vehicle occupants and others on the road. Manufacturer Acknowledgment: The warranty extension campaign underscores Mercedes-Benz’s recognition of this defect as a manufacturing issue, Repeat Occurrence: Having experienced this defect in my previous 2005 E500 4MATIC and now my 2007 E63 AMG, it is evident this issue is systemic and not isolated.Ethical and Legal Responsibility: Safety defects do not have an expiration date. Mercedes-Benz has an obligation to address this issue regardless of warranty status.Mercedes-Benz USA recognized the severity of this defect by extending the warranty coverage to 15 years and unlimited mileage for “Covered Fuel Tank Components” in specific models, including the 2003–2009 E-Class (W211). I received a notice in 2015 outlining this warranty extension, which covered the fuel tank, fuel filter/sender, fuel pump, and all related gaskets, seals, and retention rings. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz USA formally notified the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), specifically the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), of this extended warranty campaign in 2014. While the ODI concluded that the nature of the leaks "does not appear to present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety," I strongly disagree. Any defect involving fuel system leaks represents a substantial safety hazard, including the potential for fire, explosion, and environmental harm.

Recently my wife and I noticed a very strong fuel smell from cabin of this car. When I inspected and lifted the seat there was a puddle of fuel leaked over the sending unit. This is extremely dangerous and potentially deadly for my family especially with 2 young children who are always seating in back seat. Upon checking with Benzel Busch Mercedes dealer in Englewood New Jersey, they said they cannot fix my issue because my warranty has expired. I am now writing to you to help me as I feel this should strictly be a recall and Mercedes USA should be required to fix this leak free of charge. Please understand that out of pocket will be more than $8,000 for this repair and I do have the means to come up with that amount of money. Upon checking on internet there are many E class Mercedes Benz between years 2003-2009 that have this issue. Could you please help me resolve this matter especially this being an extremely dangerous situation. I can be contacted via email: [XXX] or phone: [XXX] . Thank You Sincerely [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Noticed strong smell of diesel fuel by left rear tire, in several days a leak was under left tire, had fuel tank sending unit gasket replaced, no visible leaks but fumes are still present 1 year after repair. When repair was made all related parts were cleaned of residential fuel. Want to know if MB has dealt with splits or cracks in fuel tanks.

VIA REGULAR MAIL AND ONLINE SUBMISSION RE: VIN # [XXX] – Mercedes Benz 2007 E 63 Dear NHTSA – We would like to bring to your attention the failure of the Fort Lauderdale Mercedes Benz dealership to properly honor the repair and replacement of parts and labor covered under a recall for Fuel Tank Components for MODEL 211 (E-Class) years 2003-2009. A copy of the Recall notice which provided for an extension of the Recall thru 01/31/2021 is attached. Also attached please find a recent repair invoice for the respective repairs which should have been repaired under this recall. Mercedes Benz undertook a “partial” repair of the parts covered under this recall and at the time of that repair failed to properly repair all of the parts related to this issue/recall. Instead, they only replaced one fuel tank/fuel pump while the extended warranty coverage was in place and left the issue to materialize/manifest in the remaining fuel pump/tank despite the fact that conditions indicated it would likely fail in the near term at the time of the partial repair. Of further concern is the fact that an active Recall for the exact same item exists and remains active for later model years. Clearly, they have not fixed the cause of failure for this vital car part and continue to place drivers/owners at considerable risk. NHTSA – ODI It is incredulous to me, a 25+ year dedicated Mercedes Benz customer that an experienced dealership would attempt to evade responsibility for such a significant safety recall item. When this issue exists, the smell and fumes of petroleum/gas can be easily smelled from the exterior of the car. If you were to light a cigarette – you would likely cause the car to explode. When this issue existed, the interior cabin of the car would fill with petroleum/gas fumes again placing the driver at considerable risk. Please review the attached documentation and require Mercedes Benz to acknowledge that their half-hearted repair done during the recall INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR, CAR IS A PZEV AND OUT OF WARRANTY, SMELL IS VERY STRONG AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT WITH A CHILD IN THE BACK BECAUSE THEY GET DIZZY. UNABLE TO FILL UP WITH GAS UP TO A CERTAIN POINT OR SMELL WILL LINGER.

Fuel sending unit warranty was extended but only for a short time. Mine has failed and gas is leaking into the car and MB won’t honor warranty because it expired on my car and entire fuel tank has to be replaced.

FUEL TANK AND FUEL PARTS LEAKING. 2 REPAIRS AND CAR OFTEN SMELLS OF GASOLINE ESPECIALLY IN THE GARAGE.

Fuel tank fuel leak, NHTSA Action Number EA13003 I purchased a 2007 Mercedes E Class used a few months ago, and recently I noticed a fuel leak, strong fuel smell outside of vehicle when fuel tank is filled higher. More fuel means more fuel odor. Upon research, it seems like there was a warranty extension for 15 years, and with my luck, warranty extension ran out just after I bought the car but before I noticed the problem. As fuel is a safety issue and can easily ignite, and also affects emissions, I feel like the remedy should not just be a 15 year warranty extension, but longer as cars are staying on the road longer and longer. I'm sure I'm not the only one with this issue out of warranty extension period.

I HAVE A SMELL OF FUEL ON THE REAR DRIVER-SIDE WHEEL. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A FUEL LEAK FROM EITHER THE FUEL FILTER MODULE OR IT IS A TANK LEAK. I TOOK OFF THE REAR CUSHION AND WE CAN SEE AND SMELL FUEL VISIBLY ON THE LEFT SIDE UNDER THE SEAT QUESHON AND OVER THE FUEL FILTER MODULE. SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE 2003-2006 E CLASS AND THE 2006 CLS CLASS VEHICLE. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE MANY OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING A SIMILAR ISSUE. I THINK IT WILL BE A FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

Due to the odor of gasoline both inside and outside my car I brought my car to the local Mercedes’ dealership. Upon inspection they found a small crack in my fuel tank which allowed gasoline to leak into another compartment. The dealer stated they would not be able to replace fuel pump without replacing the gasoline because of the “danger and risk of fire”. I believe that the leakage of gasoline and the fumes associated inhaled presents a very real danger, and risk to health. Upon research I found that this is a major issue that has been addressed by your department. After a 3 year investigation this investigation was closed due to the extension of the manufactures warranty to 15 years. My car is 8 months out of the extended warranty. When speaking to Mercedes’ Benz hotline, the representative stated receiving several phone calls recently with reports of the same issue. I appreciate your attention to this matter. I am hoping this case with be reopened, and the manufacturer held responsible for replacing faulty fuel tanks.

Vehicle fuel system known component issue, fuel pump failure, intermittent. Driving vehicle can lose power at speed, causing potential loss of control as hydraulic assist to steering and braking fails with engine. This known issue has intermittently cause our car to fail to start, or fail in operation. This was a known issue, the manufacturer was allowed to avoid a recall by extending the warranty for this component (fuel pump in fuel tank assembly) to 15 years. Our car started showing this around that time (3 months ago, when extended warranty expired), however we were not then aware of said warranty. Now that we've been two months of diagnosis and discussions with MBUSA Customer Care, they are not willing to replace the known failure point as warranty expired 3 months ago. This should have been a recall from the beginning, and now we, and many others to come, will have the value and usefulness of our vehicles reduced or eliminated. Those not aware of the potential failure of this very expensive part, will be at risk every time they operate their cars at speed on the public highways. NHTSA should never have allowed this warranty extension scheme to substitute for a recall. There is no way to predict failure, and entire fuel tank assembly replacement is <$4,000. Fuel pump is not individually accessible or available for replacement, only entire tank assembly in these PZEV vehicles is available. Mercedes-Benz is shirking responsibility here, and flipping it over to the dealerships and consumers.

The component/s that have failed are (reputedly) the fuel system resulting in significant fuel fumes permeating into the cabin of the vehicle as well as being very evident around the rear outside of the vehicle. This seems to be more obvious after the car has been filled with fuel. Having fuel fumes leaking into the cabin of the car should be self evident as a risk to anyone travelling in the vehicle, especially in the rear seats. The fumes eminating from the car, externally, are a potential fire hazard should anyone walk by with a cigarette or naked flame. This is an on going problem well known to Mercedes Benz and one that should have been the subject of immediate recalls by MB and not subject to a Mileage, Time Frame or VIN number. Why should I, or anyone, have to foot a fairly significant bill, for fixing a manufacturing fault just because the previous owners didn't get the problem fixed and I purchased the vehicle after some 15 year warranty time frame? This issue could result in someone's death if Mercedes is not forced to remedy it and by remedy it I mean for ALL 2007 E350's to be recalled unconditionally. Consumer would like to amend the complaint to include the recall of ALL Mercedes E350 for the years 2006 and 2009 for inspection of the cause of the problem and the repair of those vehicles where repairs are needed at Mercedes Benz cost.

Fuel tank leak at the top of the tank. MB has well documented gasoline leaks for MB model 211 years 2003-2008. Notices were sent to owners of gas powered auto's but none were sent to DIESEL auto owners. The exact same procedure and parts are needed to repair DIESEL tanks as gasoline tanks. Either this is a oversight by MB or the problem was ignored. My DIESEL tank is leaking exactly as other documented gasoline MB vehicles model 211.

AFTER I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK AND CAME HOME AND PARKED MY CAR IN THE GARAGE. AFTER A FEW HOURS I SMELL STRONG GAS SMELL. WHEN I RESEARCHED MBWORLD, I SAW MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME / SIMILAR ISSUE, AND MERCEDES BENZ HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS TOWARDS FUEL LEAK ISSUES. THERE WERE MANY ARTICLES ON THE FORUM. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER, HE SAID THAT I THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON IT. HOW DO I RESOLVE THIS ISSUE?

WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK TO THE TOP, I SMELL FUEL IN THE CABIN, I THINK THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THAT, BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS NO, THERE IS A VIDEO ON THIS ISSUE ON YOUTUBE AS WELL, I GOT THIS RECALL NUMBER FROM A FRIEND NHTSA#13003, COULD YOU PLEASE CHECK AND HELP ME OUT.

WHEN I FILL UP THE GAS TANK I NOTICE A GAS SMELL FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL DROPS TO 3/4 FULL THE SMELL DISAPPEARS. I'M AFRAID OF AN EXPLOSION IF I PARK IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE

I RECENTLY BOUGHT AN 07 MERCEDES E350 I'VE FOUND THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES THE WHOLE CAB OF THE CAR FILLS WITH A TERRIBLE FUEL SMELL ONLY ON THE INSIDE OF THE CABIN BUT ITS SO BAD ID HESITATE LIGHTING A LIGHTER IN THE CAR UNTIL THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN ROLLED DOWN AND AIRED OUT ITS SUPPOSEDLY UNDER THE VERY SPOT MY 5 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WOULD BE SEATED THIS IS NOT ONLY HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND FLAMMABLE BUT WILL GIVE THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS TERRIBLE HEADACHES, NAUSEA AT TIMES AND IN MY OPINION IS A NOT ONLY FIRE HAZARD BUT ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD AND IT DOES THIS SITTING STATIONARY WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING NOT FILLING THE CAR TO THE TOP BUT EVEN AT A HALF TANK YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ITS SO BAD I WOULD RETURN THE CAR IF THE DEALER WOULD TAKE IT BACK THIS IS EXTREMELY UNHEALTHY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FILLING UP FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE EMITTED AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CEASED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED AN INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AND CLOSED UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF PORTLAND 1605 SW NAITO PKWY, PORTLAND, OR 97201 WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND NOT THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER HAD REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT AN ESTIMATE OF APPROXIMATELY $3,000 TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED THAT CONTACT NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES BENZ E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS MORE PREVALENT IN AND UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FIELDS MOTORCARS LOCATED AT (4141 N FLORIDA AVE, LAKE LAND, FL 33805) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL ODOR MADE HER ILL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK SEAL - THIS PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED OR NEARLY FILLED, THE EXTREME DANGER OF THE GAS FUMES EMITTED MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE PROBABLE EXPLOSION CAUSING DEATHLY HARM TO PEOPLE, OWNERS AND INNOCENT BYSTANDERS, PROPERTY, INCLUDING THE CAR ITSELF. THE CAR IS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E-350

PROBLEM: CAR LEAKS FUEL TO THE GROUND NEAR THE REAR EXHAUST PART OF THE CAR WHEN GAS TANK FILLED PAST 3/4 FULL OF A TANK. CAR LEAKS FUEL, AND SMELLS EXCESSIVELY LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE, AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK DUE TO THE FUMES OF THE GASOLINE, AND GASOLINE LEAKING. THE PROBLEM COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO GASOLINE POTENTIALLY LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST, AND IGNITING. THE CAR ALSO WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS DUE TO EVAPORATION LEAK CHECK ENGINE CODES. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME A GAS FILL UP MORE THAN 3/4 OF A TANK OF FUEL. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE FUEL LEAK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE TANK WITH FUEL. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF BAKERSFIELD (5600 GASOLINE ALLEY DR, BAKERSFIELD, CA 93313, (661) 536-5588) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT A FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN TANK FILLED UP. KEEPING FUEL LEVEL AT ONLY HALF TANK DO NOT SMELL - BUT WHEN FUEL UP TO FULL OR CLOSE TO IT STRONG ODOR IS BACK.