2016 MERCEDES BENZ METRIS Fuel/propulsion System Problems

Fuel smell in the engine compartment and visible leaking fuel on the lower hoses per NHTSA Campaign Number 18V837000. I previously complained about this in April 2025 (ID 11669847). Dealer inspected in April 2025 and replaced the lower hose, but I still would smell fuel. After a lot of my own troubleshooting over the last six months, I have determined that when the car has sat un-used for over 24 hours, the rubber fuel lines shrink just enough that the next time the fuel system is primed (pre-start routine when you unlock the car, or start the car), a small amount of fuel leaks out at the connection. If the car sits for weeks and then you start it up, fuel will visibly leak out of the rubber connection (I have video). Once the rubber line swells up again due to the fuel in the line, it will slow the leak. So, if you use the car daily, you will be less likely to notice a leak. If you use the car infrequently, you will be more likely to have a leak.

It has been two years after posting an issue with engine light on indicating the error code p052e which is a known problem on many models mercedes has. This metris van is not a passenger van but a commercial van. It has however the SAME engine and SAME error code as all the models mercedes having this engine. It is stated that it is under warranty by mercedes up to 150k, with the exception of the commercial van. This is ludicrous and a failure to correct a known defect and expecting the customer to pay the bill. It is also disturbing that the NHTSA does not communicate to the complaint or direct mercedes to FIX the problem. What happened to Quality and Customer care?

There was a fuel smell emanating from the engine compartment during the vehicle pre-start routine (fuel pump priming). The dealership determined this to be a leak in the lower fuel hose to fuel line of the service connection per NHTSA Campaign Number 18V837000, however they refused to cover the cost of the repair because the recall work was previously completed in 2019. Corporate Mercedes Benz USA also refused to extend any goodwill toward this repair despite acknowledging it is the recall issue because the work was done once and is now considered out of warranty. Recall 18V-837 only requires authorized dealer to inspect and replace as necessary, so I don't know if the previously completed recall work on my van actually resulted in replaced parts or not (I bought this van used after the recall work order was completed). This is a health and safety hazard and Mercedes should have a permanent fix, not give us a part that needs regular expensive maintenance.

Intake line assembly Crank case ventilation system PCV valve failure

The fuel line is leaking again. I have had this replaced three times already. Once under warranty and twice out-of-pocket. Why wasn't the MY2016 included in the recall? The raw fuel smell permeates the cabin and is nauseating. This is a safety issue were something needs to be done for a permanent fix before someone dies in a fiery death.

Crank case ventilation valve failure and a common issue for this model. Code: P052E Failed NJ motor vehicle inspection due to emissions code: P052E

The Crankcase ventilation valve called (Crankcase Rebreather)comes with a defect making engine light to come on after about an average of 50.000 miles, with a code p052e, preventing passing state vehicle inspection. Feedback from many Metris ownership highlights exact same challenge with engine light turned on at all times. But dealership is charging up to 3.000 dollars to remove their own faulty designed part.

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, CODE P052E(71) Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Regulator Valve Performance Malfunction.

there is couple knocking sound and noises from the engine and vehicle shaking intermittently and lack of power after engine knocking sound. smell gas leaking and dealer did Fuel hose performed inspection found lower fuel hose from tank to high pressure pump leaking causing fuel leaks. replace fuel hose and clamps.

New heavy fuel odor in cab. I wonder how much fuel I am leaking. Where is the fuel that is being leaked out go? On a hot exaust system? Fuel line was replaced once by MB dealer. I think they used the same defective fuel line to replace the first one. One of the last times the van was in at the dealer they "didn't have time" to check the fuel line complaint. And there is no mention of my request in the service writers document that says I wanted it checked out.

In 2019, the fuel line was recalled for my Mercedes Benz Metris. I had this fixed and it was ok for a while. In 2020, it started smelling like gas again. We moved out of state in 2020 and in 2021 I took it into my local dealership to have them look at it. They replaced the fuel line again. Since then, it has smelled like gas badly. It gives me headaches and I feel unsafe driving it. The dealership told me last time that this would not be covered under the initial recall from 2017 but they fixed it "goodwill." I do not understand how this could NOT be covered since the issue is still not rectified. I absolutely need to get this fixed correctly as the smell is very very bad and I worry that fuel may be leaking into compartments somewhere that could cause a fire. I am concerned for my safety every time I drive it for my business. Mercedes has been unhelpful, I contacted them in 2021 to tell the dealer to fix it, they never followed up with me, I have put two formal complaints in recently: 3/11 and today, 3/17, with no response from Mercedes.

FUEL FUMES INSIDE CAB WHEN IDLING OR VERY SLOW MOVING TRAFFICS

VAN STALLED WHILE BACKING INTO STREET. THREW CODE P0627. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME DID NOT INCLUDE STALLING AND CODE CLEARED AFTER A COUPLE DAYS. REPORTING DUE TO STALLING WHILE MOVING IN ROAD.

Mileage: 44,380

I HAD THE 2016 FUEL LINE RECALL REPAIRED IN COCONUT FL BY THE MERCEDES DEALER - HOWEVER I CAN STILL SMELL GAS FUEL FUMES WHEN STANDING OUTSIDE THE STATIONARY DRIVERS DOOR. IT SMELLS JUST LIKE IT DID BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO TO REMEDY THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE. THIS HAS CONTINUED FOR OVER A MONTH FOLLOWING THE RECALL REPAIR. IT IS NOW JUNE 2019 IT SCARES ME TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE CALL AND TELL ME WHAT TO DO. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN GREEENVILLE, SC - MY SUMMER HOME AND IS CLOSEST TO THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM IN CHARLOTTE NC. MY PHONE IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE AND GAS LEAKS OUT ON GROUND. RISK OF FIRE IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST WHEN WARMING IT UP OR AFTER PARKING IT.

THERE IS A MILD TO STRONG ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING. IT SEAMS STRONGER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS COLD . I HAVE DONE A CURSORY SEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER METRIS OWNERS AS WELL AS OTHER MB MODELS

Mileage: 30,000

RAW FUEL SMELL, LEAKING

Mileage: 48,571

STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE MORNINGS AFTER IT SITS OVERNIGHT IN MY GARAGE, ESPECIALLY ON COLD NIGHTS. IT GETS TRIGGERED WHEN WE OPEN A DOOR AND THE AIR STARTS CIRCULATING (BEFORE CAR IS TURNED ON). IT STARTED LAST WINTER AND IS HAPPENING STILL. I'M GETTING A LITTLE LIGHT-HEADED SOME MORNINGS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I CAN'T OPEN THE WINDOWS (LIKE WHEN IT'S RAINING)

Mileage: 26,000

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MERCEDES REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT'S LEAKING SOMEWHERE ELSE AND IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S AN EMISSIONS ISSUE(RAW FUEL LEAK) AND A FIRE HAZARD. CHECKING THE INTERNET IT SEEMS THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM W/O A COMMON CURE.

Mileage: 35,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE DURING COOLER WEATHER. AFTER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR AWHILE, THE ODOR WENT AWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. *TT*JB

Mileage: 59,000

THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I TOOK IT FOR THE SERVICE AT MERCEDES BENZ IN OXNARD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING. I STILL HAVE NO UPDATE ON MY VEHICLE AFTER A WEEK OF LEAVING MY CAR AT THEIR SHOT. NO ONE HAS CALLED ME TO UPDATED WAS GOING ON TO MY CAR. I NEED MY CAR FIX. PLEASE HELP ME.

STRONG GAS SMELL WHEN DRIVING AND SITTING STILL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE SMELL STARTED WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGE TO 47-50 DEGREES. ITS A CONSTANT STRONG GASOLINE SMELL.

Mileage: 4,700

THE VEHICLE HAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I TOOK IT FOR A SERVICE AT MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SAID THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING. I STILL HAVE NO UPDATE ON MY VEHICLE AFTER A WEEK OF LEAVING MY CAR AT THEIR SHOP. NO ONE HAS CALLED ME TO FOLLOW UP ON MY CAR.

Mileage: 12,000

THERE IS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR UNDER HOOD AFTER VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN COLD WEATHER (UNDER ~45F). I CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM IN MY CITY DUE TO WEATHER BEING TOO WARM.

Mileage: 62,000

VEHICLE NOT RUNNING, SAT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY, TEMPERATURES IN THE 30SF, STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE VEHICLE HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. THE DATE AND MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATIONS. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE PRECISE DATES. IT WAS THIS PAST WINTER. IT WAS ONLY AFTER READING OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I DECIDED TO FILE A REPORT

Mileage: 19,000

I CAN SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL ALMOST EVERY MORNING AFTER BEING PARKED COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE HOOD REGION. MORE NOTICEABLE ON COOLER MORNINGS. VERY UNPLEASANT TO BE WORKING NEARBY WHILE PREPARING FOR WORK. SMELL IS ALSO NOTED IN CABIN PRIOR TO STARTING THE ENGINE. I HAVE BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM LEAVING IT FOR A FEW DAYS AT TIME BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETECT OR SOLVE THIS CONSTANT AND HAZARDOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE. I OTHERWISE LOVE THE VEHICLE BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED AND SOLVED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OVER 1 YEAR .

****NOTE - NEED MORE INFORMATION, CONTACTED CONSUMER 5/21/2018. **** HAS ANYONE HAD THAT GAS SMELL FROM THE METRIS FRONT DRIVER EXTERIOR? I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN AT LEAST 1-2 TIMES A MONTH THE LAST FIVE MONTHS. USUALLY IF IT SITS OVER NIGHT OR IT'S BEEN COLD. I HEARD IT WAS A RUBBER VALVE COMPONENT ON A FUEL SYSTEM. CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY OBSERVED IT. WORRIES ME THOUGH BECAUSE IT'S A FIRE AND HEALTH HAZARD WHEN THE METRIS SITS IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE GARAGE OVER NIGHT. THE GAS VAPORS ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR BREATHING AND IGNITION.

Mileage: 13,000

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE AS WE HAVE FIVE SMALL CHILDREN. A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, A STRONG AND HORRENDOUS GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BEGAN EACH TIME UPON START UP IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE GAS SMELL/FUMES LAST BEYOND 10 MINUTES INSIDE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO TRANSPORT OUR MINOR CHILDREN. UPON RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND MULTIPLE WEBSITES AND FORUMS DISCUSSING THE FREQUENCY OF THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OUR METRIS. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.

Mileage: 36,063

THERE IS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VAN WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNINGS. THE SMELL IS TO THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THE FIRST FEW MILES WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TOOK THE VAN TO HENDRICK MOTORS IN CHARLOTTE, NC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW TO HAVE IT CHECKED AT 40,250 MILES. THEY OFFERED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR $603 AND I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE FIXED AT NO CHARGE. THE ESTIMATE THEY GAVE ME STATES, "REPLACE LONG RUBBER FUEL FEED LINE AND CLAMPS TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP (RUBBER FUEL FEED LINE TO HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP POROUS CAUSING CONCERN)

Mileage: 35,000

FUEL SMELL AROUND FRONT ENGINE AND UNDER VEHICLE WHEN STOPPED AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IN COOL WEATHER. CAN PERSIST FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF. FIRE SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 37,000

SMELL OF GAS ON THE INTERIOR OF CAR. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN TEMPERATURE IS COLD OUTSIDE. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE.

Mileage: 6,000

FUEL SMELL FROM THE ENGINE AREA AND NEAR AND AROUND THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING IN COLDER/COOLER TEMPERATURES. THE SMELL LINGERS AFTER THE ENGINE IS OFF.

Mileage: 37,000

SMELL OF GASOLINE LEAK SEVERAL TIMES NOW IN THE MORNING BEFORE STARTING UP THE VEHICLE AFTER BEING PARKED OVERNIGHT. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

Mileage: 41,052

MAJOR FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL HOSE FEEDING THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. WE HAD IT TOWED TO A MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY REPORTED THAT THE C-CLASS MODEL SEDANS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. THE MB METRIS HAS A C-CLASS ENGINE AND THE SAME COMPONENTS.THE DEALERSHIP IS JUST REPLACING THE HOSE FOR THE FIX BUT REALLY HAS NO EXPLANATION OF WHY IT IS HAPPENING. THE PART IS ON BACKORDER FROM GERMANY DUE TO SO MANY EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I NOW AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE BUT IS BEING KEPT QUIET. I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE MB METRIS FORUMS ABOUT THE SAME FUEL LEAK ISSUE.WE NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN WE STARTED OUR CAR TO LET IT WARM UP IN THE MORNING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARKED POSITION. I CAME BACK OUTSIDE AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED THE FUEL LEAK. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 26 DEGREES F AT THE TIME.

Mileage: 43,000

CAR HAS REPEATEDLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, HAD A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN CABIN WHEN STARTING WITH ENGINE COLD IN SUB 45F WEATHER. FUEL SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT WINDOWS NEED TO BE OPENED FOR SMELL TO CLEAR. ISSUE IS NOT PRESENT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE WARM OR AFTER VEHICLE WARMS UP. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR SAME ISSUE IN MAY 2017 (INVOICE ATTACHED).

Mileage: 22,000

RUPTURED FUEL LINE CAUSING FUEL SMELL IN CABIN. SMELL WAS MOST APPARENT AFTER VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING AND AT SLOW SPEEDS.

Mileage: 13,000

MERCEDES METRIS VAN FUEL SMELL WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE WARMING UP FOR WINTER DRIVING. GAS WAS SEEPING FROM "POROUS GAS LINE" WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD FROM DEALERSHIP AND THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENED TO TWO OTHER VEHICLES IN AMERICA. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR COMPANY BOUGHT MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND WE HAVE THREE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE PARTS READILY AVAILABLE IN THE STATES AND THE FUEL LINE HAS TO BE MANUFACTURED IN GERMANY. PLAN ON BEING WITHOUT YOUR VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THERE ARE MULTIPLE FORUMS ON THE WEB ILLUSTRATING THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU SMELL GAS OUTSIDE YOUR METRIS I SUGGEST TAKING IT IN RIGHT AWAY. *TR

Mileage: 7,700