2003 MERCEDES BENZ AMG E55 Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an abnormal gasoline odor inside of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the rear seats, the contact observed gasoline pooling underneath the rear seats. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to TSB: 2008-020001. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

I FILLED MY CAR UP YESTERDAY AND I HAVE A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE MY CAR NOW. *TR

Mileage: 116,115

SMELLED STRONG FUEL SMELL IN GARAGE AND CAR. REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO ACCESS FUEL PUMP FUEL SENDER UNITS. UPON REMOVAL OF ACCESS DOOR LID I SEEN A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WHERE IT WAS SEEPING OUT BETWEEN A SEEM ON TOP OF THE UNIT. THIS SAME PART WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL IN 2008. THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FUEL LEAKS IS WIDE SPREAD AND WELL DOCUMENTED IN MBWORLD.ORG I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES IF NEEDED. *TR

Mileage: 60,121

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

AS A LOYAL MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER FOR YEARS IT PAINS ME TO WRITE THIS LETTER. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MBNA AND HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TWO FUEL CELL ISSUES IN TWO SEPARATE AMG CARS 6 YEARS APART. IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE COST BEFORE AND THIS TIME. IT SICKENS ME THAT MBNA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTS UTILIZED IN THESE AMG VEHICLES YET THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED. CUSTOMERS ARE NOT TOLD THAT THIS IS A FLAW THAT HAPPENS ON MANY OF THE AMG INSTEAD THEY ARE TREATED AS IF EACH ARE UNIQUE CASES. SHAME ON MBNA FOR TREATING SUCH LOYAL CUSTOMERS WITH SUCH DISREGARD AND NOT ADMITTING TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A LIMITATION THAT CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR THEIR SAFETY. IT PERSONALLY PLACED MY FAMILY IN HARMS WAY THIS PAST WEEKEND DURING A TRIP TO NAPLES FL. I THINK EACH EXECUTIVE OF MBNA SHOULD BE FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR FAMILY WITH THIS ISSUES SO THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL. FOR A COMPANY SO FOCUSED ON SAFETY...THEY ARE DROPPING THE BALL FOR THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND HIDING THE TRUTH. RESPECTFULLY I DEMAND THAT MBNA BE HELD DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND ADMIT THE ISSUE TO ALL AMG OWNERS 2003-2009. *JS

Mileage: 62,579

AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK, FUMES FILLED THE CABIN. I LIFTED THE REAR SEAT AND EXPOSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE GAS TANK SENDING UNIT & THERE WAS A GAS PUDDLE SURROUNDING THE RING. THIS LEAK, ACCORDING TO POSTS, SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 47,867

MY CAR IS HAVING A FUEL SMELL AND A ROUGH IDLE. MESSAGE POPS UP TO CHECK FUEL CAP, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

I COULD SMELL FUEL LEAKS OR A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE, AND AFTER REFUELING. WENT TO MB DEALERSHIP FOR TUNE UP, OIL, AND AIR FILTER CHANGE. TWO DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ME DRIVING DOWN 55 SOUTHBOUND INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. I WAS IN DENSE TRAFFIC SO I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TRIED TO COAST THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. SCARY SINCE TRAFFIC WAS SO DENSE BUT I MANAGED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR A FEW TIMES AND IT WOULDN'T START. AFTER 5 MINUTES IT STARTED AND I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION 2 MILES. AFTER SITTING FOR 30 MINUTES I HEADED BACK HOME 55 NORTH BOUND AT 65MPH. CONCERNED I DROVE IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE IN CASE THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. IT STALLED 5 TIMES TRAVELING 25 MILES. ONCE I ARRIVED HOME THE VEHICLE REEKED OF FUEL. CALLED THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND ASK IF THIS WAS A PART OF THE RECALL (CAMPAIGN NO. 2008020001) OF THE FUEL FILTER MODULE? WAS TOLD NO. I DROVE THE CAR HOPING IT WAS JUST BAD GAS OR SOMETHING AND IT STALLED AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT WAS 5+ MINUTES BEFORE IT STARTED AGAIN. I DROVE INTO THE FIRST ASE SHOP 1/2 MILES UP THE ROAD. THE SHOP CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILTER MODULE WAS BAD AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS ORDERED FROM THE MB DEALERSHIP AND INSTALLED. IN ADDITION A NEW FUEL PUMP WAS INSTALLED AS WELL. UPON REMOVING THE SEAT THE TECH DISCOVERED FUEL UNDER THE SEAT AND THE MATTING SOAKED. HE STATED I WAS LUCKY THE VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. MB INDICATES MY MODULE WAS REPLACED IN 2008 PER THE RECALL. FIVE YEARS AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT SAFE. MB REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPLACING THE MODULE. *TR

Mileage: 123,465

ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 2013 I WENT TO LEAVE MY HOUSE. SMELT A STRONG GAS SMELL, THOUGHT POSSIBLY SOMEONE HAD SPILT A GAS TANK. START LOOKING AROUND FOR GAS COULDN'T FIND ANY AROUND MY HOUSE SO I GET IN MY CAR WHEN I DO I GET A STRONG SCENT OF GAS. I TAKE MY BACK SEAT OUT REMOVE THE COVER ON THE FUEL PUMP ON MY DRIVERS SIDE AND THEIR IT WAS A HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS IN MY BACK SEAT. AT THAT POINT I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFRAID IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE. I TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER THEY HAVE TO REPLACE MY DRIVERS SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT, AND COME TO FIND OUT MY PASSENGER SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS BURNED UP ALSO. UPDATED 09-18-13 *BF UPDATED 09/25/2013 *JS

FUEL SENDER LEAK, GARAGE SMELLS LIKE GAS. PLEASE MAKE MERCEDES FIX THIS. CAR IS A TICKING TIME BOMB, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS HORRIBLE HEAT IN AZ. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E55. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, GASOLINE WOULD LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

Mileage: 12,000

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK. ODOR HAS PERSISTED FOR A WEEK. REFER TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE12001. *TR

Mileage: 94,764

EACH TIME I FILL THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY UNTIL THE TANK IS FULL, I HAVE A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS ON A FULL TANK, AND THE LESS FUEL I HAVE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY. MOST LIKELY A LEAK OF FUEL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. REF: NHTSA ACTION# PE12001. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

REFERENCE PE12001 GASOLINE STARTED POURING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNDER THE REAR SEAT BENCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. EXTREME GASOLINE FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AT THE SAME TIME OF INCIDENT. ISSUE IS ONGOING. CALLED MERCEDES BENZ OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL 2008020001 WAS DONE ON THIS CAR IN 2008. BUT THAT THE RECURRENT PROBLEM "FIX" WOULD BE OUT OF MY POCKET. I CALLED MBUSA AND DOCUMENTED MY COMPLAIN BUT THEY WOULD TAKE NO ACTION. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND RECURRENT ISSUE WITH THE E CLASS W211 MERCEDES BENZ FROM 2003 - ON. CARS THAT HAVE BEEN "FIXED" START DUMPING FUEL INTO THE CABIN WITHIN THE NEXT 10,000 MILES OR SO. ALL IT WOULD TAKE IS TO DRIVE OVER A LIT UP CIGARETTE AT LOW SPEED AND THE OCCUPANTS CAN BE IN DANGER OF BODILY INJURIES OR DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 63,500

IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: PE12001 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICING UNDER (EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN # 2008-020001) AND FUEL SENDER UNIT WAS REPLACED. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AT WHICH POINT THE SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE RETURNED AND THERE ARE NOTICEABLE LEAKS ON BOTH THE FUEL SENDER AND FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE DEALER SERVICE THE PART UNDER THE RECALL AS THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE FAULTY AS THEY WERE NO DIFFERENT THEN THE PARTS THEY REPLACED. THEY ALSO NOTED THAT THE PUMP MAY BE CRACKED. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

EVERY TIME I FILL MY VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL, THERE IS AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AND INSIDE THE CABIN. THE SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A HEADACHE IN SHORT ORDER. WHEN REMOVING THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, YOU CAN OBSERVE STANDING FUEL ON THE FUEL SENDER ASSEMBLY. I'M UNSURE IF THIS PROPAGATES FROM THE SPOT OF THE BUILD UP, OR IS FROM ANOTHER PLACE AND THIS IS WHERE IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP. A LARGE CONCERN FOR ME, BESIDES THE EXPOSURE TO GASOLINE FUMES, IS THE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL BUILD UP TO ELECTRICAL WIRING, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD CONSTITUTE A FIRE HAZARD. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A VOLUNTARY RECALL DONE ON MY CAR IN 2008 THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT ACTUALLY FIXED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

FUEL PUMP AND ASSEMBLY WERE LEAKING FUEL INTO CABIN AREA DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN AND PLASTIC PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 48,000

SMELL OF GAS IN THE CAR CHECKED AND FOUND A POOL OF GAS ON TOP OF FUEL SENDER BELOW THE REAR SEAT BEHIND DRIVER SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 84,210

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL WHERE A NEW SLEEVE WAS INSTALLED ON THE FUEL CLAMP. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 09/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2008. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ONLY CHANGED ONE FUEL SENDER PUMP AND NOT BOTH. THE SECOND FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FUEL AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 10/12/11

Mileage: 49,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL WHERE A NEW SLEEVE WAS INSTALLED ON THE FUEL CLAMP. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 09/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2008. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ONLY CHANGED ONE FUEL SENDER PUMP AND NOT BOTH. THE SECOND FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FUEL AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 10/12/11

Mileage: 49,000

FUEL LEAK AT FUEL TRANSMITTER PASSENGER SIDE UNDER REAR SEAT. *TR

Mileage: 68,800

I AM A SINGLE 1 OWNER OF A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG AND IT IS LEAKING FUEL INTO THE BACK SEAT ABOVE THE TANK. THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2008 WERE PERFORMED AND IT IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN, AND HAS WRECKED THE INSULATION ABOVE THE TANK. MB REFUSED TO HELP. *TR

Mileage: 66,100

MY 2003 MERCEDES E55 AMG SEDAN HAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BACK IN 2008. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED AND I FEAR AN EXPLOSION FROM MY GARAGE FILLING UP WITH FUMES AND 2 SOURCES OF FIRE, MY FURNACE AND MY WATER HEATER. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

I CAME OUT TO MY CAR THE MORNING AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK FULLY AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER AND IT TURNS OUT THE FUEL FILTER/FUEL SENDING UNITS HAD CRACKED AND WERE LEAKING FUEL. THERE IS A SENDING UNIT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS, AND THE FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT THE TOPS OF THESE SENDING UNITS INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE I CAUGHT IT EARLY, THE GASOLINE HAD ONLY POOLED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND NOT SPILLED INTO THE SEATS AND FOOTWELLS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS CRACKED SENDING UNITS AND SAID BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON MY CAR IN 2008 BY MERCEDES-BENZ FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED BUT CLEARLY HAD NOT FIXED THE ISSUE, AS THESE PARTS FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ALREADY FILED ON THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH SENDING UNITS AS A REPAIR TO THE ISSUE. *TR UPDATED 05/02/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/11 *CN

Mileage: 70,000

SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE WHILE DRIVING WITH LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. *TR

Mileage: 18,800

ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE IN CENTER LANE IN TRAFFIC WHILE MANEUVERING TO MAKE LEFT TURN. THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE TWICE BEFORE BY MERCEDES DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 43,085

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E55. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR FROM THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE FUEL TANK SEALS. LATER WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE FURTHER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FUEL ATOP THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FUEL ASSEMBLY IN 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Mileage: 55,000