2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor throughout the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a fuel leak coming from underneath the vehicle, above the fuel tank. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 202,800.

Mileage: 202,800

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The contact removed the rear seat where the fuel tank was located and discovered that fuel was leaking into the vehicle underneath the rear seat instead of going into the fuel tank. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER FILLING GAS TANK. WHILE IN FOR SERVICE ON VEHICLE OTHER THAN GAS ODOR MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP FOUND GAS ON SKID PAN UNDER CAR WHILE ON RACK. HE SAID TANK OR POSSIBLE O RING MAY BE AT FAULT. THIS WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2012. AT THAT TIME I DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE REPAIRS DUE TO FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS. THIS JANUARY OF 2015 I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDENDUM STATING " SPECIFICALLY, THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER/SENDER, FUEL PUMP, AND RELATED GASKETS ( COLLECTIVELY THE "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS") FOR GASOLINE-FUELED, NON PZEV CERTIFIED MODEL YEAR 2003-2009 E CLASS AND 2006-2011CLS- CLASS VEHICLES WILL BE EXTENDED FROM ORIGINAL 4 YEAR/ 50,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO 15 YEARS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE." TODAY I LEFT MY 2003 E320 FOR SERVICE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING BUT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDENDUM! AS STATED ABOVE THE "FUEL FILTER/SENDER" IS COVERED UNDER THE ADDENDUM BUT DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. I UNDERSTAND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST MERCEDES CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IS THERE ANYTHING YOUR AGENCY CAN DUE SO MERCEDES HONORS THEIR ADDENDUM AND NOT CHANGE THE COVERAGE ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR CAR TORN APART. I DID SHOW LETTER TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE I LEFT THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

I HAVE A 2003 E320 SEDAN, I CAN SMELL VERY STRONG GAS FUMES ALL IN THE CAR CABIN EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH GAS - NOT TOPPING OFF, AND NO FUEL LEAKING. THIS IS SO PREVALENT I HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR PARKED OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF IN MY GARAGE. THIS CAN LAST FOR AROUND THREE DAYS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED POSSIBLE CAUSES AND NONE SEEM TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS CAN BE QUITE COSTLY. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED MANY MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THE SAME REASON. PLEASE HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER REFUELING, A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WAS PRESENT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

THE INTERIOR CABIN OF MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. ESPECIALLY AFTER REFUELING...GASOLINE IS POOLING UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER SEAT... I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO GET THE GASOLINE SMELL OUT OF THE CABIN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS PROBLEM TO MY MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THEY SAID THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND SENDING UNIT WAS FAULTY ...I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $3000.00 TO GET UNIT REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 101,445

I STARTED NOTICING THAT EVERY TIME I FILL MY GAS TANK, THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I PURCHASED A NEW GAS COVER BUT DIDN'T HELP. SINCE A YEAR AGO IT HAS GOTTEN WORST EVERY TIME. THE GUY AT MERCEDES SAID ITS NOT IMPORTANT BUT THEY WOULD CHARGE ,E 165 DOLLARS TO TAKE A LOOK. I DIDN'T PAY BUT I AM WORRIED IT MIGHT CREATE A FIRE AND WITH 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND CARPOOLING TO SCHOOL ITS A BIG HEADACHE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE AWARE ABOUT OR CAN HELP ME WITH. THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 72,000

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. FUEL SMELL INSIDE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 898,000

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN SHE SMELLED A NOXIOUS GASOLINE ODOR. TOOK CAR FOR REPAIRS ON AUG 23, 2013. HAD TO REPLACE THE AUXILIARY (SENDING) PUMP AND THE CABLE HARNESS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. MERCEDES HAS HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS REPAIR COST $664.18 TO FIX ITEMS THAT ARE INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE IN THE MERCEDES VEHICLES. *JB

THERE WAS GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, AROUND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND ACTUAL LIQUID FUEL WAS GOING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE STRONG AND INTENSE FUMES AND VAPORS ARE INSIDE THE CABIN AND APPARENT AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK ONLY HALF TO THREE-QUARTERS FULL. BOTH OF THESE POSE AN EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS A HEALTH RISK FROM CONSTANTLY INHALING GASOLINE FUMES. THIS ALLOWED FUMES TO LEAK INTO MY GARAGE AND PRESENTED A HUGE FIRE RISK HAD I NOT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT IN OCTOBER 2012 I PAID OVER $1,600 FOR A NEW FUEL TANK, IN APRIL 2013 I PAID OVER $1,200 FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP AND IN AUGUST 2013 I PAID OVER $700 FOR ANOTHER NEW FUEL PUMP. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN TAKING ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO RECTIFY AND REMEDY THIS SITUATION. CONSUMERS DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. UPDATE09/17/13*LJ UPDATED 09/24/2013 *JS *TR

Mileage: 124,995

STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER FILLING. THE SMELL LASTS AT LEAST 2-3 DAYS BEFORE DISSIPATING AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE FILL IT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. *TR

AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AND LEAKING FUEL NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE. UPON CALLING A MECHANIC THEY SAID TO LOOK UNDER THE SEAT FOR LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS DEFINITIVELY LEAKING. *TR

Mileage: 111,000

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED FULL OF FUEL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IS PRESENT INSIDE OF THE CAR. I HAVE LOOKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND SEEN A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL ESCAPES FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. SINCE I NOTICED THIS I HAVE NOT FILLED MY CAR UP ALL THE WAY AS LONG AS I DON'T FILL IT MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS FULL THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL...I AM NOT TOPPING OFF THE TANK WHEN I REFUEL...DEALERSHIP STATES I NEED ENTIRE GAS TANK REPLACED AT A COST OF 3000.00..I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN MARCH 2011 WITH APPROX 107,000 MILES. *TR

SENDING UNIT LEAKS GASOLINE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE LETTING IN INTENSE FUEL VAPORS AS WELL AS ACTUAL LIQUID FUEL INTO THE CABIN. FURTHERMORE THE FAULTY SENDING UNIT CAUSES A FUEL LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING PUDDLES OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE PARKED AND CONTINUING TO LEAK WHILE DRIVING. BOTH OF THESE POSE AN EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS A HEALTH RISK FROM CONSTANTLY INHALING GASOLINE FUMES. *TR

MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320, INWHICH THE FUEL FILTERS ARE LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT, HAD A POWERFUL GASOLINE ORDER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE BENZ REPAIR SHOP STATED IT WAS A HAIRLINE FRACTURE IN THE FUEL FILTER AND IT WAS LEAKING GAS. THEY REPLACED THE FILTERS, BUT I'VE SEEN THEM REPLACE THE SAME TYPE FILTERS IN 2008 MODELS. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND A SAFETY HAZARD. IF ME OR MY SPOUSE HAD BEEN A SMOKER, OR CAUSED A SPARK, WE COULD'VE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A FATAL EXPLOSION. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES E320 WHICH I BOUGHT FROM COGGIN MOTORMALL IN FT. PIERCE. I HAVE PUT ONLY 5000 MILES ON CAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN SHOP 2 TIMES. FIRST THE FRONT THRUSTS AND RODS WERE BAD AND NOW THE CAR IS STALLING ON ME, ONCE WITH MY SON IN CAR. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED IN THESE 2 FAILURES. IT HAS STALLED ON ME 4 TIMES AND NOW I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND NOW THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD. I HEAR THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE STRUTS AND JOINTS 200901002 ?? THE CAR ONCE CAME ON AND SAID REAR BRAKE FAILURE AS WELL. HOW DOES A CAR DEALERSHIP SELL A VEHICLE TO A CUSTOMER WITH KNOWING THAT IT COULD KILL A FAMILY? THEY SAID THEY INSPECTED IT.. THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME AND MY SON.. SOLVE THAT, I WONT DRIVE THIS CAR.. MERCEDES REALLY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE DANGEROUS THINGS.. IT IS GOING TO COST ANOTHER 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND I CANT AFFORD IT. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

THE GASOLINE TANK ON MY 2003 E 320 MERCEDES HAD A LEAK ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE TANK. THIS ALLOWED FUMES TO LEAK INTO MY GARAGE AND WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A HUGE FIRE RISK HAD I NOT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AND BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

Mileage: 110,000