2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500 Fuel/propulsion System Problems

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR LOST POWER. PULLED OVER FOR VISUAL INSPECTION, NOTICED THE FUEL WAS LEAKING RAPIDLY. IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE CAR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. DEALER VERIFIED THE TANK WAS LEAKING.

Mileage: 117,000

STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN TANK FULL. DOESN'T HAPPEN IF TANK IS 3/4 FULL OR LESS. ANY RECALLS? WILL DEALERSHIP FIX PROBLEM?

STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT. THE SMELL SPREAD TO THE CABIN AND THE WHOLE GARAGE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL. THE SMELL WILL LESSEN AFTER THE TANK IS ABOUT HALF FULL.

"TAKATA RECALL" EACH YEAR IT FAILS THE EMMISSION TEST THE FAILED CODE IS PO456. I HAD AN EVAP SYSTEM TEST RAN THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PURGE VALVE, EVAL HOSE, AND THE FILLER NECK. (LEAKS). IN MY OWN WORDS, THE ENGINE COMES ON AND OFF, THE COMPUTER IS INDICATING THAT THE TRUCK IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT, THE SEATBELT TIGHTEN UP AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHILE I'M DRIVING, AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR IT LOCKS ME INAND I HAVE TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASH, AND THE ALARM COMES ON WHENEVER! AND THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR STAYS ON AND WE RECENTLY HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON. WE HAD IT BALANCED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE AS WELL. OTHER THAN THAT THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING WELL. I THOUGHT BENZ WAS ONE OF THE BEST VEHICLES BUT I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT NOW WITH THESE CONCERNS! THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN IN MOTION EXCEPT FOR THE ALARM GOING OFF. I THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM AND I HOPE THIS CAR DON'T BLOWUP ON ME! S ROYSTER

MY CAR HAS A STRONG AND OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR WHEN I DRIVE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 2 WEEKS NOW WHENEVER I DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS UP. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATH.

SHORTLY AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK, I SMELL GAS FUMES TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE CAR BEHIND DRIVE SIDE OUTSIDE. THERE IS NO FUEL LEAKS THAT DROP ON THE CAR AND ALSO THERE IS NOT FUEL LEAKS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE ENGINE NEITHER.

Mileage: 96,000

WE PURCHASED OUR USED VEHICLE IN MAY, 2013 AND HAVE FOUND THE GAS SMELL PROBLEM TO GROW INCREASINGLY WORSE. ESPECIALLY INITIALLY WHEN THE TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED, IT IS VERY STRONG BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER I FILL THE TANK. THIS SMELL IS CONCENTRATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY THE REAR WHEEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR OR DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH, MERCEDES HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES FOR "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS". THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT THE SEVERITY OR THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR MY FUEL LEAK/SMELL WITHOUT PAYING A LARGE DIAGNOSTIC FEE/ W NO GUARANTEE OF WARRANTIED SERVICE. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO SHARE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH ME WITHOUT CHARGING DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *JS

Mileage: 130,000

FUEL ODOR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. *JS

Mileage: 115,000

I HAD REFUELED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF GAS FUMES WHEN I PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I ALWAYS USE THE AUTO SHUTOFF AT THE PUMP SO THERE WAS NO CONCERN FOR ME TO "TOP OFF" SOMETHING I NEVER DO. I NOTICE THAT IF I FILLED MY TANK CLOSER TO THE 3/4 OR BELOW LEVEL IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE. *TR

Mileage: 88,011

WHEN THE TANK IS FULL IT HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND AROUND THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, ALSO MISFIRE DURING THESE FEW DAYS. I'M AFRAID THIS MIGHT CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MERCEDES-BENZ ASAP REGARDING THIS POSSIBLE DANGEROUS ISSUE, ANY HELP TO CORRECT THIS MATTER WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 133,798

THE CAR WHEN WE HAVE FULL TANK GIVES A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS, UNTIL COUPLE OF DAYS, ALSO WHEN GING SLOWLY THERE IS A MISFIRE ON THE ENGINE. READING ON THE FORUM SAYS THIS IS A KNOW INCIDENT WITH MERCEDEZ. I AM AFRAID THIS MIGHT CAUSE FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO DEALERSHIP ON THIS, ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 74,000

GAS SMELL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. GAS LEAK FROM FUEL TANK. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

AFTER REFUELING MY E500 (FILLING IT UP), DRIVING IT HOME AND PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN MY HOME. I HAVE AN ATTACHED GARAGE WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS A PIECE OF DOOR FACING MISSING FROM THE SIDE ENTRY DOOR, WHICH IS HOW THE FUMES FLOWED INTO MY ATTIC AND THROUGH THE AC VENTS THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE HOME. THE FUMES WERE SO INTENSE I EXPERIENCED CHRONIC COUGHING, HEADACHE, AND ITCHING AROUND MY EYELIDS. THE LOCAL GAS COMPANY CAME OUT AND PERFORMED THEIR NORMAL ROUTINE ONLY TO INFORM ME IT WASN'T NATURAL GAS NOR CARBON-MONOXIDE. AS HE CHECKED THE HOT WATER HEATER LOCATED IN THE GARAGE, HE IMMEDIATELY STATED IT WAS MY CAR. I COULD SMELL GASOLINE FUMES AROUND MY CAR AS WELL AS INSIDE. IT WAS SO STRONG, I LEFT MY CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT, RAISED THE GARAGE DOOR (BOTH DOORS), OPENED ALL WINDOWS IN MY HOME AND SHORTLY THE FUMES HAD DISSIPATED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MB CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE THEY WILL OFFER ME AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OWNERS WHO STILL HAVE WARRANTY VEHICLES, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE REPAIR BURDEN SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. I AM MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. IT IS MY HOPE MB WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. YOU CAN SMELL IT OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ALSO. AFTER READING THE MESSAGE BOARDS ON THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS LIKE MB SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO OWNERS. *TR

EXTREMELY STRONG GAS FUMES WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED WITH FUEL. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

FUEL FUMES WERE DETECTED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ REPAIR FACILITY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED FUEL POOLING ON TOP OF THE FUEL FILTER WITH INTEGRATED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DEFECTIVE PART NUMBER IS 3114704094 AND HAS SINCE BEEN SUPERSEDED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK DUE TO A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY. THE AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS TO SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT RESULTED IN MERCEDES BENZ VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN #2008-020001. VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WERE MODEL YEAR 2003-2006 E CLASS AND 2006 CLS-CLASS VEHICLES. AFTER CONTACTING MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THEY STATED THE RECALL ONLY APPLIED TO THE AMG VERSION OF E CLASS VEHICLES AND MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ON MARCH 19TH, A USA TODAY ARTICLE REPORTED THAT NHTSA WAS EXPANDING AN INVESTIGATION OF THE MERCEDES BENZ FIX TO THE RECALL PROBLEM BEYOND THE AMG VERSION OF E CLASS VEHICLES. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT AFFECTED THE AMG VERSIONS BUT MERCEDES BENZ DOES NOT. I'D LIKE THIS COMPLAINT BE INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION OF E CLASS VEHICLES BEING REINVESTIGATION BY NHTSA WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL FILTER WITH INTEGRATED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. *TR

Mileage: 85,800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM A FRACTURE AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

Mileage: 81,000

FUEL TANK LEAK WHEN FULL. *TR

Mileage: 83,100

THE CAR HAD A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE CAUSE FOR THAT WAS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT YET THE DEALER HAS NO INTEREST IN REPAIRING THE ISSUE UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SEEMS AN ISSUE AS SERIOUS AS A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK WOULD BE COVERED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR AT DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL WELL AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK. NO LEAKING FUEL DETECTED. ODOR SO STRONG THAT I AM NOT ABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

CONSTANT FUEL SMELL FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WORSE AFTER FILLUP. GOES AWAY AFTER 1/2 TANK AND A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING. FILLS THE GARAGE WITH FUEL ODOR. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

AS REPORTED BY MANY MERCEDES OWNERS, OUR MERCEDES E500 HAS BEGUN THE DREADED LEAKING FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT. UPON LIFTING THE BACKSEAT AND TANK COVERS GAS IS POOLING AND LEAKING ALL OVER THE TOP OF THE TANK AND ONTO THE GROUND FROM THESE ASSEMBLIES. THESE PART APPEARS DEFECTIVE AND NOT SUITED TO BE OVERLOOKED BY NTSB. UNFORTUNATELY MY DEALER STATED THERE IS NOT A FORMAL RECALL YET ON THESE PARTS, BUT HAS HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM MANY TIMES. WHAT DOES CONCERN ME IS THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE E55 MODEL, BUT IN DOING THE RESEARCH JUST AS MANY E500 OWNERS OUT THERE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE GIVE THIS HIGH CONSIDERATION FOR A RECALL OR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE WELL BEING OF OWNERS AND DRIVERS IS NOT WORTH THE RISK AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS THAT MAY OCCUR FROM A RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT ADVISED TO CHECK THE FILLER CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER CAP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO NOTICE THE STRONG FUEL SMELL IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. FUEL SENDING UNIT LEAKING FUEL RESULTING IN FUEL POOL ON TOP OF FUEL TANK AND UNDER REAR SEAT DRIVERS SIDE. STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE WITH BUILT UP OF FUEL VAPORS CAUSING EYE NOSE AND THROAT IRRITATION-ESPECIALLY STRONG SMELL AND VAPOR BUILT UP WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL. FULL SPLASHING ON TOP OF TANK AND NEARBY AREA DRIPPING TO FLOOR-FIRE AND EXPLOSIVE HAZARD, CONDITION HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. *JS

Mileage: 83,000

REFERENCE TO NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. THE SEAL ON MY FUEL SENDING UNIT BEGAN LEAKING. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND THIS IS A NON-STRESSED ITEM. THE SEAL THAT ISOLATES FUEL IN THE TANK FROM THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT HAS FAILED. GASOLINE LEAKS AROUND THE SENDING UNIT SEAL AROUND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS CONNECTED TO THE SENDING UNIT. THIS LEAK ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SEAL WITH NO INPUT OR OUTSIDE ACTION. AFTER FUELING, A FUEL SMELL AND FUMES CAN BE SMELT IN THE CABIN. WHEN THE ACCESS PANEL IS OPENED BELOW THE REAR SEAT, POOLING FUEL CAN BE SEEN. THIS FUEL HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *JS

Mileage: 90,000

AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK GAS STARTED TO DRIP FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE FLOOR. *TT