2005 Mercedes Benz 211

Routine

Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes7
110
Fuel/Propulsion System3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Fuel System, Diesel1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service BrakesCrashFire
Filed Sep 9, 2018120,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 6, 2018CA

CAR WENT INTO BRAKE FAILURE BARELY COULD STOP THE CAR ONCE IN PARK COULD NOT GET INTO DRIVE

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2017143,000 milesNC

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 201783,000 milesFL

I WAS DRIVING MY MERCEDES E320 2005 ON I-75 AND TOOK EXIT 107. WHEN I PUSHED MY BRAKE PEDDLE I HAD WHAT SEEMED TO BE NO BRAKES AND A RED WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH. I RAN THE CAR OFF ON THE GRASS TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. I HAD A GREEN LIGHT AND RAN ON THE SIDE STREET. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM UPSET THAT MERCEDES WOULD DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT COULD DO THIS.

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 2017148,000 milesFL

SBC BRAKE FAILURE ALMOST CAUSES ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. AT THE MOMENT I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO BLINK RED AND BEEPING WITH BRAKE FAILURE MESSAGE AND THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE BRAKE POWER. I PUSHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND FELT NO RESISTANCE AND VERY LITTLE BRAKING POWER. I'M ESTIMATING 5% POWER FROM NORMAL. I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC IN THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE I BLEW STRAIGHT THROUGH IT AND EVENTUALLY MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER ABOUT 200 YARDS. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO PRIOR MESSAGES OR WARNINGS ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND BRAKING POWER RESUMED AS NORMAL. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO MESSAGES ABOUT BRAKES. IT'S LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 29, 201650,000 milesFL

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE VAPORS IN GARAGE WHEN VEHICLE HAS A FULL TANK. FAINT SMELL DETECTABLE IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SMELL SUBSIDES WHEN FUEL TANK LEVEL REACHES 3/4 TO 1/2 FULL.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 24, 201574,000 milesWI

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM DEFAULTS TO NON POWER ASSISTED HYDRAULIC MODE TO THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULTS IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. I HAVE SENT A COPY OF THE MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A WHICH ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES STOPPED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. AT THE VERY LEAST, MERCEDES SHOULD ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL TO INTERROGATE THESE VEHICLES WITH STAR DAS TO DETERMINE HOW CLOSE TO THE SERVICE THRESHOLD THE SBC UNIT IS AND REPLACE THEM AT THE DEALER'S EXPENSE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 6, 2015146,000 milesCT

CAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THE CAR BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. A RED LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH SAYING "REDUCED BRAKING POWER".

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 24, 2015160,955 milesMA

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED TO SEE IF ANY FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. NOTHING APPEARED TO BE LEAKING. I THEN OPENED UP THE HOOD FOR THE ENGINE, AND OBSERVED THE COMPARTMENT FOR ABOUT A MINUTE TO SEE IF THE ODOR WAS DETECTABLE FROM THE ENGINE. IT WAS NOT. I WALKED BACK TO THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND BEGAN TO DETECT THE ODOR ONCE MORE. I OPENED THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AND FROM THE BACK SEAT I COULD DETECT A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR, SO I GOT DOWN ON THE GROUND TO SEE IF THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. NO FUEL DETECTED. THE NEXT DAY, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING OVERNIGHT, AS SOON AS I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A REALLY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. I STARTED THE VEHICLE NORMALLY, BUT THE VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO START, IT TURNED OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STARTING. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL FOR MY VEHICLE. I GOT OUT AND GO INTO THE BACK SEAT AND THE ODOR WAS OVERWHELMING, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 27, 2014AZ

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE NEAR LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN TANK IS FILLED. WHEN TANK GETS TO HALF FULL SMELL GOES AWAY. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 19, 2014151,000 milesMD

I FILLED THE CAR UP WITH GAS AND IT SET OVER NIGHT IN FRONT OF HOUSE. UPON MY RETURNING TO MY CAR THE NEXT DAY A STRONG GAS ODOR WAS OUTSIDE ON DRIVER SIDE.WHEN I ENTER THE CAR THE ODOR WAS ALSO STRONG. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING I FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I ALSO FOUND GAS UNDER THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT WAS A PUDDLE OF GAS. THIS IS NOT SAFE OR HEALTHY. PLEASE HELP. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Apr 10, 2014158,331 milesCA

AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AND FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AFTER UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL IS USED DOWN TO ALMOST HALF FULL, THERE IS S VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND WHEN PARKED, FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHEN IT IS PARKED ESPECIALLY IN THE GARAGE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 6, 201438,100 milesTX

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 MERCEDES E55 AMG (AKA 211 & W211). I HAVE EXPERIENCED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AFTER REFUELING MY CAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE SMELL OF GAS IS STRONG NOT ONLY INSIDE THE CAR, BUT FILLS THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND FUMES ARE NOTICED INSIDE THE HOUSE AS WELL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A LEAKING FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILTER MODULES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL STICKER REFERENCING 2008020001 FROM 2009 ON THE UNDER SIDE OF MY HOOD. THIS IS FROM A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT BY MERCEDES TO FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH STATES TO "REPLACE FUEL FILTER MODULES IF NEEDED". THE RECALL FROM MERCEDES ALSO STATES THAT IT "DOES NOT EXPIRE". IN SPITE OF THIS INFORMATION, I HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS IS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND QUOTED A PRICE OF $4000. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE ISSUE MERCEDES AS INSTRUCTED BY THE RECALL. *TR

13 of 13 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2005 — this page13010Routine
20043000Routine
20039000Routine

Compare every 211 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.