2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I have a 2012 E350 with less than 95000 miles and I see these vehicles were recalled in the past for their fuel tank manufacturer malfunction but my VIN number was not included. This car went numerous times to the mechanics and the fuel components fixed but it still leak gas and smells even when I do not drive the car. I spent over $15000 on this matter. This is now becoming a safety issue for me and my neighbors. I don't know what to do. Here is what happened. All began February 2023, I towed the car to an approved MB mechanics who said fixed the car. 9 month later, I brought the car back for the same issue. Strong fuel smell. The attachments for repairs will show the work done. Some repeated and recharged to me. The following year April 2024, I woke up one day with a fas leak all over my drive way and a strong smell of gas. I had the car towed for a repair cost of $7754 total. I am constantly having the same problem with the car and wanted to alert here to bring Mercedes Benz awareness to their faulty parts putting consumer lives at risk.
Recently, I have noticed a strong gas smell emanating from the rear driver’s side of the vehicle. Upon further research, I discovered that there was an open recall affecting Mercedes E-Class vehicles of the same year for a similar issue. However,my vehicle’s VIN is not included in this recall. Given that my vehicle is experiencing the same problem described in the recall, I am concerned about the safety implications and believe this matter warrants immediate attention. I would like clarification on why my vehicle is excluded from the recall despite exhibiting the same issue. Additionally, I would like to know if I am expected to pay out of pocket for repairs related to what appears to be a manufacturing defect acknowledged by Mercedes-Benz for other vehicles of the same year and model. I kindly request that this matter be escalated for review, and I look forward to your prompt response. My goal is to ensure the safety of my vehicle without incurring unfair expenses for a known issue.
The top of the fuel pump is leaking (driver rear side, under the seat) and the leaking can be seen outside of the car as a moisture on the underside of the car. The fuel filter side (passenger side, under the seat) has a small amount of fuel moisture. The current mileage on car is 76,620 miles.
The incident was not the vehicle persa but passengers riding in back seat experienced nausea and headaches. Found gas fumes emitting from vehicle. As time progressed fumes got worse and fuel mileage performance worsened. Gas consumption was extremely bad. Car was taken in for oil change and absolutely no gas leaks were found and technician showed me the under carriage of car. Nothing showing on the OBD. Afraid car will catch fire. Not driving as of today.
There is a strong smell of gas inside and outside of the vehicle. Gas is being consumed at a faster rate than usual. No warning lights have come on inside the care. The smell is strong and is affecting all passengers (headaches, nausea) including children and toddlers.
I smell gas all the time inside and outside the car.
While driving the vehicle, noticed a smell of fuel inside the car. Parked the car in my garage and the next morning, noted a heavy smell of fuel in the garage. After some research, discovered a recall on the fuel filters for 2011-2012 Mercedes E350 for the fuel fillers. Took car to dealership and they stated the recall was not associated with my VIN despite my car being the exacted year, make, and model for the recall. I removed the back seat to view the fuel filter and saw fuel puddled inside the car, on top of the fuel filter, under the left side of the rear seat. The risk is twofold. Spark ignited the gas in the vehicle out a spiral ignited the fumes smelled in my garage.
Fuel leaking from rear passanger side tire area. Took vehicle to dealer. Dealer identified faulty fuel tank as source of fuel. This problem has been reported in other Mercedes classes, including a manufacturers recall. My vehicle is 10 years old with only 71,000 miles. Dealer wants over $7,500 to repair. This issue has occured in other Mercedes classes. This is a safety issue as driving with a leaking fiel tank can cause a fire and explosion. Please expedite this issue. Thanks
Everytime I fill up gas tank and park car in garage. Strong gas smell fumes.
I sent NHTSA a report earlier -#485386-- A mercedes recall=#12V557000- for this vehicle was issued -- on cars manufactured from 4/18/11 to 7/12/11. My auto was manufactured on 7/11. There is no exact date listed. The past few weeks I did smell gas outside of the car. I spoke to the dealer who told me it was not a recalled car. I went ahead and went to a repair Mercedes shop to investigated the problem and found that the gas filter was leaking as indicated in the recall. Mercedes needs to expand the recall dates since it is obvious the dates are incorrect. I went ahead and took pictures of the leak and sent it to Mercedes customer service. Again response from them was the car was not on the recall. I also want Mercedes to pay me $478.70 for the repair. Pictures of the filter/leak was also sent to them and you.
I noticed the strong smell of fuel around the rear of the car especially around the back. Upon inspection I noticed that the corner of the tank on the driver's side was wet with fuel. I took it to my mechanic who on inspecting the car reported that the pump outlet on the driver's side pump (which is accessed from the interior under the back seat) was spraying fuel up against the underside of the car against the rear seat and also noticed that the second pump on the passenger side on top of the tank was also seeping fuel. To have fuel leaking anywhere is dangerous, but to have it happening under the rear seat where my children sit is extremely dangerous. I checked for a recall for this problem with Mercedes but didn't find one on their site. I called them at their corporate HQ and they claimed not having a complaint like this before and didn't want to accept any responsibility for the faulty part/s. This is in need of immediate attention by Mercedes Benz before someone loses their lives because of MB ignoring this serious problem. [XXX]... Phone [XXX] email [XXX] Car fills with strong fuel vapors with raw fuel collecting on top of fuel pump Many more reports for same problem I found online that Mercedes would not react to, here is a typical one... Other Fuel System Pump problem of the 2012 Mercedes Benz E350 Date: 06/01/2020 1) My vehicle is emitting a very strong fuel smell and possible leak coming from the fuel pump. This is located under the rear seat, which had a recall. I believe that the item is faulty and should replace once again. I reached out to the dealership and to mb corp; but they do not want to take responsibility for their faulty design and product. The vehicle is not safe to drive with the strong vapors, which are dangerous to health. Also, I am forced to leave the vehicle outside of the garage because of my fear that this will cause a fire or explosion, resulting in massive house destruction and possible death. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
FUEL PUMP HOUSING (UNDER REAR SEAT,DRIVERS SIDE) CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. CAR FILLS WITH STRONG FUEL VAPORS WITH RAW FUEL COLLECTING ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP HOUSING. THIS WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, PULLED REAR SEAT CUSION TO DISCOVER RAW FUEL INSIDE CAR.
MY VEHICLE IS EMITTING A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL AND POSSIBLE LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT, WHICH HAD A RECALL. I BELIEVE THAT THE ITEM IS FAULTY AND SHOULD REPLACED ONCE AGAIN. I REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO MB CORP; BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN AND PRODUCT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THE STRONG VAPORS, WHICH ARE DANGEROUS TO HEALTH. ALSO, I AM FORCED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF MY FEAR THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION, RESULTING IN MASSIVE HOUSE DESTRUCTION AND POSSIBLE DEATH.
MERCEDES E350 2DR CABRIO WITH 50,000 MILES HAS STRONG FUEL ODOR ON DRIVERS SIDE. MERCEDES MECHANIC FOUND LEAK FROM LEFT SIDE OF FUEL TANK W/ FUEL COVER CRACKED AND LEAKING. WELL MAINTAINED, SINGLE OWNER CAR. MERCEDES HAS RECALLED EARLIER MODELS WITH SAME ISSUE BUT HAS NOT YET RECALLED THIS MODEL. DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. STRONG FUEL ORDER SMELL INSIDE CAR COMPARTMENT AND WHILE OUTSIDE DIVERS SIDE. LIKELY FIRE RISK. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ASAP.
GASOLINE SMELL IN CABIN AS WELL AS GARAGE WHEN REFUELING WITH VISIBLE GASOLINE ON TOP OF TANK. *TR
SMELLED GAS FUMES AROUND SIDES OF VEHICLE. REPAIR FACILITY FOUND FUEL LEAK AROUND THE FUEL FILTER WITH SUBSEQUENT REPAIR.
WHEN PUSHING GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TOOK TO DEALER AND ERROR CODE IS GAS PEDAL SENSOR. DEALER SAID IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ECU WIRE HARNESS. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW AND DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT.
STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN PAKED (STATIONARY) IN THE GARAGE AT HOME AND NOW CAN ALSO SMELL WHILE DRIVING. CAR HAS 56700 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E63. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING, A FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF CHANDLER (LOCATED AT 7450 W ORCHID LN, CHANDLER, AZ 85226, (480) 421-4500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CRACK IN THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON THE FUEL TANK AND THE SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
FUEL SMELL WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. CONDITION GOT WORSE OVER A FEW WEEKS UNTIL FUEL COULD BE SMELLED WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR. FUEL FILTER WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING ON DRIVERS SIDE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MERCEDES-BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF ARROWHEAD LOCATED AT 9260 W BELL RD, PEORIA, AZ 85382 WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER GAVE A VERBAL DIAGNOSES BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PHYSICALLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V557000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED DUE TO THE STATE HE RESIDES, THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,700.
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Quick Summary
The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 21 FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.