2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 complaints

WHEN YOU FILLED THE TANK UP AT ANY TIME, THERE WOULD BE A HORRENDOUS RAW FUEL SMELL UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL DROPPED OFF OF FULL. IT WAS SO BAD I HAD TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF IN THE GARAGE FOR FEAR OF A FIRE STARTING AND A SUBSEQUENT EXPLOSION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEDUCTIBLE WAS $200. THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP AND ALL RELATED ITEMS TO AN UPDATED MODEL TO GET RID OF THE PROBLEM. I AM STILL OUT THE $200 DEDUCTIBLE FOR MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS AT SENDING UNIT/PUMP AFTER FUELING UP VEHICLE. FUEL SITS ON TOP OF SENDING UNIT/PUMP UNTIL FUEL TANK REACHES APPROX 3/4 OF A TANK. VEHICLE HAD CAMPAIGN(RECALL) FOR FUEL SENDER CONDUCTED IN 2008 ACCORDING TO DEALER AND MB USA. HAVE CONTACTED BOTH ABOUT THE ISSUE AND NEITHER SAY THEY'VE HEARD OF A PROBLEM. DEALER SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT BUT WOULD CHARGE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. HAVE PICTURES OF FUEL ON OF SENDING UNIT/PUMP ALSO. AFTER FUELING VEHICLE THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE STORED IN MY GARAGE DUE TO THE VAPOR FUMES FILLING MY GARAGE AND ALSO MY HOUSE. AFTER FUELING A STRONG SMELL OF GARAGE CAN BE SMELT OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IN THE SUMMER MONTHS SMELT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AT TIMES. *TR

MELT BROKEN GAS TANK, FUEL LEAK: * DRIVE SHAFT HAS SIGN OF RUBBING THE HEAT SHIELD * BURNED/MELTED RUBBER TUBE THAT COVERS THE METAL EMERGENCY BRAKE LINE (PASSENGER SIDE) * BURNED/MELTED HEAT SHIELD NEAR DRIVE SHAFT (PASSENGER SIDE) * BURNED/MELTED GAS TANK (PASSENGER SIDE) THAT HAD A HOLE AND CAUSED MASSIVE FUEL LEAK. *TR

FUEL LEAKING FROM SENDER UNIT FUEL ALL AROUND RIM OF SENDER UNIT EVERY TIME CAR IS CRANKED TO START FUEL SQUIRTS OUT LONG CRANKS LOW PRESSURE IN LINE WONT LET CAR TURN ON SOME TIMES THE MORE YOU CRANK THE MORE FUEL SPILLS VERY DANGEROUS SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS $50,000 MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM ARENT THEY THE SAFEST CARS ON THE PLANET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TT

FUEL TANK LEAK. GARAGE IS FILLED WITH GAS SMELL. AFTER READING ON LINE, IT SEEMS THAT THOUSANDS OF OTHER MB E-CLASS (MODEL YEAR 03 - 06) ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD AND IN THE HOT AND HUMID VIRGINIA WEATHER, THE CAR IS A MOBILE BOMB WAITING TO GO OFF. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO THE ENGINEER THAT IS WORKING/LOOKING AT THE EXISTING COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL WAS PUDDLING UNDER THE REAR SEATS AND WAS DRIPPING ON TO THE GROUND. BOTH SENDING UNITS WERE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE. OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AND MERCEDES IS NOT COOPERATING WITH STARTING A RECALL PROCESS. THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. *TR

FUEL SENDING UNITS CRACKED ON DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING GAS TO POOL ON TOP OF SENDERS....LITERALLY SIX INCHES FROM WHERE MY THREE YEAR OLD SITS IN THE CAR. FUEL IS POOLING ON TOP OF SENDER UNITS AND THEN DRAINING DOWN GAS TANK AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE CABIN OF VEHICLE INSIDE AND OUT SMELLS OF FUEL. *TR

2004 MERCEDES E55 AMG LEAKING FUEL AFTER EVERY FILL. VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING UP (STOPPED FILL BEFORE CLICK). REPAIRED PASSENGER SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT UNDER BACK SEAT AT MB SERVICE BUT ISSUE IS STILL OCCURRING AFTER REPAIR. DURING A 6 OR 7 MONTH PERIOD, MERCEDES HAS TRIED TO FIX ON 5 OCCASIONS WITHOUT SUCCESS. THEY REPLACED ALL KINDS OF SENSORS IN THE ENGINE DEPT AND HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A MONTH BUT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE FUEL RELATED PARTS. THEY MISS DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. FINALLY MB DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE LATE 2010 AND REPLACED ONE OF THE SENDING UNITS, THE SENDING UNITS WERE ALSO REPLACED UNDER RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE IN JULY 2008. MB STATED THE CAR WAS NOW REPAIRED BUT AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CAR HAS NOW FAILED AIR CARE, AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE. ALL ISSUES RELATE TO FUEL TANK, EVAP VALVE AND DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDING UNITS. HESITATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ROUGH ENGINE OPERATION FUEL LEAKS AND SMELL. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE, FUEL VAPORS ARE COMBUSTIBLE. NOW MERCEDES HAS WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE ISSUE AND WE (CONSUMERS AND OWNERS OF E55 AMG'S) ARE LEFT TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT OUR EXPENSE. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN #2008-020001 IN 2008 HAS RESULTED IN REPEATED FAILURES OF THE SENDING UNITS HOWEVER MERCEDES BENZ IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THERE ARE OVER 40 OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES ON LINE WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES. MB USA NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND RECALL THESE VEHIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE AIR STRUT SUDDENLY EXPLODED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE FENDER WALL. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

THE SAFETY FAILURE IS THE MY TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR HAS REMAINED IN DRIVE. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR ONLY REVS THE ENGINE AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY ACCELERATION. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHETHER IT IS SAFE TO DO SO OR NOT AS I HAVE NO ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OR INCREASE MY SPEED TO SAFELY PULL OVER. AFTER STOPPING, I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE BEFORE I CAN THEN GET THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY (TWICE IN 1 WEEK). THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING SEVERAL TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 13 PIN CONNECTOR AT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A SEAL THAT IS LEAKING. THIS HAS CAUSED A NEED FOR THE FOLLOWING TO BE REPLACED: EECTR-HYDRAULIC VALVE BODY, WIRE HARNESS TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT, TRANS SERVICE W/13 PIN CONNECTOR FOR A TOTAL OF $6,164. I HAVE FOUND THAT MERCEDES ISSUED A STAR BULLETIN (DTB) DETAILING THIS BAD SEAL AT THE 13 PIN CONNECTOR. I HAVE ALSO FOUND INFORMATION THAT THE 3RD GENERATION OF THIS SEAL NO LONGER HAS THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIRS PERFORMED AT THIS TIME. *TR

I HAD A MERCEDES BENZ E-CLASS RECALL TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT DONE IN 2008 AND A YEAR AND A HALF LATER I STARTED SMELLING GAS INSIDE MY CAR EACH TIME I FILLED UP THE TANK. I IGNORED IT IN THE BEGINNING BUT AFTER A WHILE I GOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I WAS SURE IT WAS RELATED TO THE GAS SMELL SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY SAID THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY FOR A COST OF $1200 PLUS LABOR (UNFORTUNATELY I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY). I KNOW A CAR MECHANIC IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO DEALS WITH QUITE A LOT OF HIGH END CARS AND CHARGES LESS THAN A THIRD OF WHAT THE DEALER DOES, SO RIGHT AWAY I PICKED UP MY CAR, BOUGHT AN O-RING FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FROM THE DEALER'S PARTS STORE (THANKS TO THE RESEARCH I DID IN A MERCEDES FORUM), AND HAD IT REPLACED BY THE LOCAL MECHANIC I KNOW FOR $50. EVER SINCE, NO MORE LEAKS FOR NOW, BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A TEMPORARY SOLUTION AND IT MAY START LEAKING AGAIN AFTER THE SENDING UNIT'S FUEL CAP OR ITS O-RING STARTS MELTING AGAIN FROM OVERHEATING LIKE SOME OTHER MEMBERS IN THE FORUM MENTIONED. THIS MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE CAR AND DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BEFORE SOMEONE ENDS UP LOOSING HIS/HER LIFE. *TR