2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500 Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. There was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The contact refueled the vehicle and there was an abnormal odor of fuel outside of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who stated there was no warranty coverage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO AUTO CENTER (5180 VENICE BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA 90019, (323) 938-9888) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SEATS WERE SOAKED IN FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ E500 2005 ##

Mileage: 50,000

THE DESIGN OF FUEL PUMP IN ALL THE MERCEDES BENZ IS VERY VERY DEFECTIVE , THE COMPANY HAS SHOWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE TO SAFETY OF CONSUMERS, WHEN EVER I FILL UP THE FUEL TANK , IT STARTS LEAKING AND STARTS EMITTING VERY FOUL SMELL IN SIDE AND OUT SIDE THE CAR, I THINK IF THERE IS TOO MUCH LEAKAGE OF GAS WHICH IS FITTED UNDER THE BACK SEATS OF CAR , IF THERE IS SMOKER PASSENGER , THE CAR CAN CATCH FIRE RIGHT AWAY, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM , THE DO NOT WANT TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY FOR SAFETY , BECAUSE THE CAR IS MORE THAN 4 YEARS OLD AND THE MILEAGE IS MORE THAN 50,000, I COMPLAINED TO THE HEAD OFFICE IN NEW JERSEY , THEY SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE THE TANK , AND PAY FOR IT ,THE ESTIMATE IS ABOUT $4000.00 , SINCE IT IS SAFETY ISSUE THEY SHOULD RECALL ALL THE CARS, WHICH ARE IN THOUSANDS WITH THE SAME DEFECT, I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR FILE A CLASS LAW SUIT TO BE FILES AGAIN THE COMPANY FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. *TR

Mileage: 137,000

AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. IT IS NAUSEATING AND CAUSES SEVERE HEADACHES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED WITH A SERIES OF CODES CONSISTENT WITH LOSS OF VACUUM (EVAP). FUMES ARE LEAKING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE BUT MOREOVER ARE IMPARTING THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE ASSOCIATED NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

WHEN EVER WE FILL UP THE FUEL TANK , IT STARTS EMITTING TOO MUCH FOUL SMELL . I COMPLAINED TO THE NEW JERSEY MERCEDES HEAD QUARTER, THEY TOLD ME TO GO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSE, DEALER TOLD ME TO REPLACE THE TANK, WHICH COSTS ABOUT $ 4000 ,00 THERE IS DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE LOCATION OF FUEL TANK, THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEATS, IF IT EMITS FOULS SMELL THAT MEANS LEAKING GAS , IF ANY PASSENGER HAPPEN TO BE SMOKER, THAT CAN CATCH FIRE AND CAUSE DEATH AND INJURIES, THEY HAVE VERY VERY DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND DO NOT ADMIT PRODUCT LIABILITY PROBLEM.ALL THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED . *TR

FUEL LEAK FROM TANK. VAPORS AND FIRE RISK. FATIGUE CRACKING. MAYBE RELATED TO EA13-003 AND PE12-001. *TR.....UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

Mileage: 99,250

DRIVING ON STREET--INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS UP RED SAYING "CHECK FUEL TANK CAP"--DRIVE TO PARK TURN OFF ENGINE--CHECK FUEL CAP -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON-- SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED 5 DAYS LATER. *TR

Mileage: 86,482

EACH TIME I FILL OUT THE TANK, IT GIVES SUCH A HORRIBLE FUMES SMELL INSIDE MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 82,862

THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF UNBURNT FUEL COMING FROM MY CAR AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. I CAN'T TELL AT THIS POINT WHERE EXACTLY THE SMELL IS COMING FROM. I DO NOT SEE A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG; I CAN SMELL IT THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE 2 CAR GARAGE. I AM VERY WORRIED WHAT PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS FAILED. *JS

UPON REFUELING THIS 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500 VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, WITHIN AN HOUR THE CAR EXHIBITS GASOLINE ODORS EMITTING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AS WELL AS STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS LASTS UNTIL THE GAS INDICATOR SHOWS ROUGHLY 50% TO 60% OF FUEL REMAINING. WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 AS WELL WITH A THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WE ENDED UP TRADING THAT CAR IN ON MARCH 23, 2011. I FOUND THIS ON YOUR WEBSITE DESCRIBING THE CONDITION MY CAR IS IN. DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED: MAR 15, 2013 DATE INVESTIGATION CLOSED: OPEN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE *JS

Mileage: 85,000

I TOOK MY CAR 2005 E500 FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE BALL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN JULY 2011. THEN AFTER CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT, THE DEALER TOLD ME THE FUEL RING UNDER THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST USD 600. ALSO THERE WAS GASOLINE SEEPING OUT OF CAR ONTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CAR WAS PARKED. I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE SMELL IN MARCH 2012. I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2012 AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. COST USD 2100. THERE WERE PUDDLES OF GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE AFTER THE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THERE MIGHT BE GASOLINE SMELL. AFTER THE SMELL LINGERED AFTER EVERY FILLUP I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WANTED TO CHARGE ME USD 3000 FOR THE FUEL LEAK BUT I TOLD THEM I JUST FIXED THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM. THIS WAS IN SEPT 2012. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T CHARGE ME ANYTHING. I AGAIN TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON IN SEPT 2013 TO MERCEDES BENZ IN GRAPEVINE, TX. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK AND THE COST IS USD 2115. I TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION, CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM ON MERCEDES E500 VEHICLES AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR, MATT PINECREST, TOLD ME THE CASE WAS SETTLED AND MERCEDES WON. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FALSEHOOD. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW TAKEN AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON ME SINCE I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR PROPERLY WITHOUT WORRYING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 51,000

FUEL APPEARS TO BE LEAKING INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AS THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. CAR IS NOT RUNNING NORMALLY AND YOU CAN EVEN SMELL FUEL ON THE OUTSIDE. CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY. CONCERN OF SUCH STRONG SMELL OF FUEL LEAKING INSIDE CAR IS RISK OF FIRE AND PERSONAL INJURY. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 E500 MERCEDES BENZ. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR WAS NOTICED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND IN THE CONTACT'S GARAGE. THE ODOR WOULD DIMINISH AFTER THE FUEL TANK HAD REACHED ONE HALF FULL OR BELOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 11/13/13*LJ

Mileage: 102,000

NOTICED A FUEL SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER WHO DETERMINED A SEAM IN THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT ALLOWING VAPORS INTO THE CABIN. REQUIRED COMPLETE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT. UPDATED 9/19/13 *CN

Mileage: 95,000

ONE WEEK AFTER A VISIT TO PALM SPRINGS, CA., WHERE THE AVERAGE DAILY TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 116, I NOTICED A SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER REFUELING. THE FOLLOWING 3 WEEKS, THE ODOR WORSENED WHEN REFUELED. THIS A.M., I PULLED THE REAR SEAT AND COVER PLATE ON THE LEFT SIDE AND FOUND POOLED GASOLINE IN THE CAVITY PROVIDED FOR THE SENDING UNIT ATOP THE FUEL TANK. AS A LEAK IN THIS AREA HAD BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER IN 2011, I FELT THIS WAS AN "ON GOING " ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MB DEALER. AS OF THIS WRITING, I'VE NOT FOUND A SYMPATHETIC EAR AT MY LOCAL MB DEALER, YET I MUST CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS SOON AS I "BURN OFF" 50% OF THE GASOLINE SO AS TO MAKE THE REPAIR SAFER. MY HOME HAS THE GAS WATER HEATER LOCATED IN THE GARAGE AND WITH LIQUID FUEL PRESENT ATOP THE TANK, I'M FORCED TO LEAVE MY E500 OUTSIDE! I VIEW THIS AS A SAFETY AND, IN CALIFORNIA, AN EPA ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY BY STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

FUEL PUMP / SENDER FUEL LEAK UNDER REAR SEAT. HAS GAS SMELL AFTER GETTING GAS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH GAS CAP WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY, ESPECIALLY IF ADD GAS MORE THAN 3/4 TANK. OVER THE YEARS (I STILL OWN THE VEHICLE), EVEN WITH 1/2 TANK GAS THE GAS CAP WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON FROM TIME TO TIME, ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT CAR AS CPO IN 2008. THEY TOLD ME TO REPLACE GAS CAP. REPLACED, NO IMPACT. I OPENED UP THE REAR SEAT AND CAN SEE GAS STAINS IN THE FUEL SENDER/PUMP CAP AREA WITH SOME RESIDUAL GAS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION #PE12001 LAST YEAR I BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS WHEN MY MB E500 GAS TANK IS 100% FULL. THE SMELL FINALLY GOES AWAY AFTER USING ABOUT 1/4 OF THE TANK. THE GASOLINE SMELL IS SO BAD, I NEED TO LEAVE MY GARAGE DOOR PARTIALLY OPEN TO HELP REMOVE THE SMELL. CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF GASOLINE LEAKING ON THE GROUND, BUT THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS VERY STRONG BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. I'VE RESOLVED MYSELF TO ONLY FILLING UP MY TANK TO 75% FULL EACH TIME I RE-FUEL. I CANNOT FIND THE LEAK OR DETERMINE THE GERNAL AREA AROUND THE TANK WHICH IS LEAKING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE GENERATION OF GAS VAPORS IN A CONFIRMED SPACE (INSIDE THE CAR OR GARAGE). *TR

Mileage: 60,000

WAS JUST INFORMED TODAY THAT OUR 2005 MERCEDES E 500 SEDAN NEEDS THE FUEL/GAS TANK REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE GAS TANK. THIS IS NEARLY A $2000 JOB AND I BELIEVE MERCEDES NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR OWNERS EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER ON FILE FOR THIS ISSUE IS: PE12001 FROM BROWSING THE WEB, I SEE THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 46,000

AFTER FILLING UP THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ,I PARKED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE . WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CAR THE WHOLE GARAGE SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I DID NOT SEE ANY GAS LEAKING. WHEN I GET IN THE CAR THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS ON THE INSIDE. SO I DRIVE IT UNTIL THE GAS RUNS TO LIKE 1/4 OF THE TANK THINKING THE SMELL GOES AWAY. THE SMELL IS STILL THERE AND IS UNBEARABLE. THE CAR SITS IN THE GARAGE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW AND STILL REEK OF GAS SMELL. THE KIDS AND WIFE WILL NOT GO IN THERE CAUSE THE SMELL IS THAT BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING TANK. FUEL LEAKING AND PUDDLING ON TOP OF TANK. *TR

Mileage: 67,500

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN TANK IS HAS BEEN FILLED UP. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST PRESENT STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR AT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE. NOW I CAN SMELL IT INSIDE. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEED A $1300 DOLLAR REPAIR. THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL PUMP AND THE SENDING UNIT. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF READING ABOUT THIS AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS AFFECTING A LOT OF E CLASS OWNERS FROM THE 2003-2009 PRODUCTIONS AND EVEN A COUPLE OF OTHER MERCEDES MODELS. ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISERS TOLD ME THEY ARE REPLACING A LOT OF TANKS, PUMPS AND SENDERS ON THIS STYLE OF E CLASS. I AM AWARE THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AMG E55 FOR FUEL TANK/PUMP/SENDER LEAK. THEY USE THE SAME PARTS IN THE REGULAR E CLASS CARS, NOT JUST AMG VERSIONS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR WITHOUT GOING INTO DEBT. SO I HAVE DECIDED TO PARK IT. MERCEDES OF USA HAS IGNORED MY PLEA FOR HELP. BASED ON THE POTENTIALLY LETHAL ISSUE LEAKING FUEL CAN CAUSE I FEEL IT IS BEST TO LEAVE THE CAR PARKED. THIS IS PARALYZING ME FINANCIALLY AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE ARE LIVES AT RISK ALL OVER THE ROADS AND A LOT OWNERS DO NOT EVEN KNOW THEY ARE DRIVING A FIRE HAZARD. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 86,000

2005 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS HAS FUEL TANK ISSUES. MANY OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE 2 TO 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. FIRST THE FUEL CAP INDICATOR COMES ON, LATER TRIGGERING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO APPEAR AND UPON REPAIR ATTEMPTS EVERYTHING BUT THE FUEL TANK IS SUSPECTED. THE END RESULT AFTER ADJUSTING AND TWEAKING MANY OTHER PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUEL EVAP SYSTEM, REPLACING THE FUEL TANK RESOLVED THE ISSUE. THIS IS UNSAFE. A FEW OWNERS REPORTED A FILTER VALVE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE BACK SEAT ACTUALLY GETTING HOT, VERY HOT WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE LET'S NOT WAIT UNTIL LOSS OF LIFE FORCES US TO ACT!!! (FOR MORE INFO SEARCH W211 FUEL TANK ISSUE ON MBWORLD.ORG. *TR

Mileage: 46,786

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 E500 MERCEDES BENZ. A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IS PRESENT THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE AND IN HIS GARAGE. FUEL ALSO LEAKS OUT OF THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

Mileage: 61,000