TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CURB, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM RELATED TO THE BRAKES WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
2004 Mercedes Benz E320 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
MERECEDES BENZ USA CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT HONOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V296000 (SBC BRAKE PUMP FAILURE) CLAIMING FAILURE WAS BEYOND THE LIMIT OF THE CAMPAIGN. CAR WAS ALWAYS SERVICED AT MERCEDES DEALERSHIP HOWEVER THIS PART WAS NEVER REPLACED. DUE KNOWLEDGE OF POTENTIAL DEFECT IN THE BRAKE UNIT, I HAVE REQUESTED THE PART BE REPLACED AT MERCEDES EXPENSE WHICH HAS BEEN DENIED. I WAS TOLD MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE REPAIR IS QUOTED AT $2200.00
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BRAKE FAILURE THE SBC/ELECTRO HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENT, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
BERBERIAN STOCKTON DEALER WANTS $2,400 TO FIX THE SBC (SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL) $740 TO FIX FRONT BRAKES. THE REP RALPH CARRASCO SAID THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT COMPLY WITH THE REMEDY FOR RECALLS AS THE TIME PERIOD FOR RECALLS HAS EXPIRED. REALLY? REPAIR OF FAULTY BRAKES EXPIRE? I WAS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN WHEN THE BRIGHT RED MESSAGE "STOP! BRAKES UNSAFE STOP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY" [ CAN'T RECALL EXACT VERBATIM]. TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAD BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE .THE CAR FROZE UP, RESTARTS BUT WILL NOT SHIFT GEAR TO DRIVE. WHY DOES MB SELL OUTAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE BUT DEFECTIVE CARS? WHAT ABOUT CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW? NHTSA (NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY) PUBLISHED ON 4/05/2005 THIS SBC ISSUE AS MERCEDES-BENZ RECALL NO. 2004 050014. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372. NHTSA SUMMARIZED THE RECALL ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE ELECTRONIC MONITORING SYSTEM OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) IS DESIGNED TO MONITOR THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WITHIN THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. IF AN UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS DETECTED, THE SYSTEM WILL SWITCH, AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, INTO THE HYDRAULIC FUNCTION MODE. HAZARD: IF VEHICLES ARE NOT ROUTINELY SERVICED AND HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH MILEAGE COMBINED WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF BRAKE ACTUATIONS, OR FREQUENCY, THE PUMP MOTOR OF THE SBC MAY RUN OUT OF PERMISSIBLE TOLERANCES, THEREBY TRIGGERING THE HYDRAULIC FUNCTION MODE.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL
THE ERROR LIGHT STATING BRAKE FAILURE PULL OFF ROAD CAME ON THE PEDAL WAS VERY SOFT AND WENT TO THE FLOOR I WAS ON A BUSY STREET AT THE TIME AND ALMOST HIT A INDIVIDUAL ! I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE! I HAVE READ SINCE ON LINE THAT THE SBC UNIT HAD A RECALL BUT WE WERE NOT PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION AND NOW SEE THAT IT WAS ONLY FOR TEN YEARS . WHY WOULD THE NHTSA PUT A YEAR END ON SUCH A UNIT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE TAKING OF LIVES?
EXPERIENCE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING TANK. SMELL DIMINISHES WHEN TANK IS LESS FULL BUT RETURNS WITH NEXT FUEL FILL UP. SMELL NOTICED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE EXACT DATE FIRST OCCURRED IS UNKNOWN, BUT WAS FIRST NOTICED YEARS AGO.
THE SBS SYTEM HAS GONE OUT WHEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ITEM. SBS SYTEM IS NOT GOOD. NOW I'A OUT TO 2000 FOR A RECALL PART THIS IS NOT FAIR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT RETRACTOR BECAME INOPERABLE EACH TIME IT WAS PULLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000. .....UPDATED 04/15/16 *BF 05/14/18*JB *TR
RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN 2004 ON SBC HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND HAS GONE OUT AGAIN, 12/08/2015, AND THE DEALER SAID THE RECALL "EXPIRED" IN 2013. VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT AUTOHAUS IN ROYAL, OAK, MI.
BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES TODAY. AT ONE POINT, WE WERE FORCED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP, AND AT ANOTHER POINT, WE WERE FORCED TO DRIVE OFF INTO THE GRASS TO STOP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING, WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GO INTO BACKUP MODE. THE VIN WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V133000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 01/27/16*LJ *JS
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE (SBC) SYSTEMS FAILED WITH A RED STOP SIGN ON THE DASH BOARD. I MANAGED TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP BY PUSHING THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WITH MY LEFT FOOT SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE AS IT WAS A STORMY LATE NIGHT WITH 10% VISIBILITY DUE TO THE RAIN. I MANAGED TO PARK/TOWED THE CAR TO MY HOUSE AND IT HAS BEEN IN MY DRIVE WAY EVER SINCE THE INCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) 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.
2004 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR REPAIRS OF FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN LATE 2009. HE EXPERIENCED A GAS SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE THE SMELL BECAME WORSE AND EVENTUALLY WAS NOTICEABLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, TOO/ THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE SEAL RINGS FOR THE FUEL LEVEL SENDERS, FUEL PUMP, FILTER ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FUEL LEAK. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 (FUEL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
HORRIBLE GAS SMELL AFTER REFUELING AND WHILE CAR IS PARKED IN GARAGE.
THIS WAS ONE OF 4 ACCIDENTS OR FENDER BENDERS I'VE BEEN IN IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS DUE TO BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I HAVE CHANGED MY BRAKES 2 IN 14 MONTHS AND ITS NOT THE BRAKES ITS A MALFUNCTION THE BRAKES LOOSE PRESSURE THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES COMPLETELY DOWN BUT DO NOT ACTUALLY BRAKE WITH THIS I HAVE HIT 4 VEHICLES FROM BEHIND.. I CONTACTED MCB CORAL GABLES AND THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS THEREFORE CAN ONLY SERVICE IT IF I PAY. I FEEL LIKE I WILL LIKELY GET INTO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT , SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE I AM IN DANGER..I DO NOT HAVE MEANS OF OTHER TRANSPORTATION.
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR DEALER SUPPLIED PART FAILED ON REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN SUDDEN STALLING IN MOVING TRAFFIC FOLLOWING MAKING LEFT TURN
AT THE ANNUAL SERVICE THE MERCEDES DEALER TESTED THE BRAKES AND INFORMED ME THE BRAKE SYSTEM SBC HAS FAILED. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. IT'S AN APPROXIMATELY $4,000 DOLLAR REPAIR AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE JUST DISCOVERED IT ONLY MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS ENDED. THEY DO NOT WANT TO REPAIR THE BRAKES UNDER THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUE TO DO SO BUT HAVE SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE JUST UNDERWENT A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY AUTHORIZED REPAIR FOR A LONG STANDING FUEL LEAK PROBLEM THE MONTH BEFORE. THERE REMAINS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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. LOOK FOR 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
THE FUEL LEAK, FUEL SENDER LEAKS, I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO REPLACE ALL THOSE PARTS. IT SHOULD HAVE DEALER RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THOSE ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SMELL STARTED AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
CUSTOMER COMPLAINS OF FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE ON APPROACH. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE THE SMELL IS UNBEARABLE AND CAUSES NAUSEA WHEN DRIVING. INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT SIDE (DRIVER'S) FUEL PUMP SEAL IS LEAKING CAUSING FUEL TO PUDDLE AND SATURATE INSPECTION PLATE. THE FUEL WICKS PAST INSPECTION PLATE GASKET AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SATURATING THE AREA DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR SEAT. REPLACED FUEL PUMP MODULE WITH SEAL (GASKET) AS WELL AS GASKET ON RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG PERSISTENT ODOR OF FUEL PERMEATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
I JUST REPLACED MY BRAKES AND I GET AN MESSAGE ON MY DASH THAT SAYS REDUCED BRAKE EFFECT LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. I TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER PENSKE MERCEDES AND THEY TELL ME THE SBC PUMP AND ANOTHER PART ARE BAD AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $2200 TO REPAIR BECAUSE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED 10 YEARS AFTER THE DATE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. I THOUGHT EXTENDED MEANT AFTER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRES NOT THE DAY I BUY THE CAR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE IF MY BRAKES FAIL BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
SBC SYSTEM FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. MULTIPLE POSTS ON LINE REGARDING ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE A RECALL NOT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD REGARDING A PART THAT APPEARS TO HAVE A MUCH HIGHER FAILURE RATE. *TR
THERE IS A VERY STRONG GAS ORDER IN AND AROUND MY VEHICLE WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK. I HAVE AVOIDED FILLING MY TANK MORE THEN 3/4 FULL DUE TO THIS ORDER. THIS CANNOT BE SAFE. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. *JS
FUEL TANK LEAKS AND STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AFTER A FILL UP. VERY DANGEROUS COMBINATION. A FIRE IS LIKELY AT SOME POINT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA ACTION # EA13003 AND MERCEDES DISAVOWS ANY KNOWLEDGE OF EXTENSION OF WARRANTY AND REPAIRS. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2100. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE. PLEASE HELP. YOU HAVE NEGOTIATED A FIX AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO IT. YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE THEM RECALL THE VEHICLES. NOW WE HAVE JUST MORE HEADACHES FOR OWNERS OF EFFECTED CARS. *TR
STRONG SMELL OF FUEL WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO GROW WORSE, AND IS VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER FUELING. THERE APPEARS TO BE FUEL POOLING UNDER THE CAR AS WELL AS IN THE CABIN UNDER THE REAR SEATS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED OVER 75% THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. IF I FILL LESS THAN 75% THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH FUEL LEVELS FROM FULL ( NOT TOPPING OFF ) DOWN TO THE 75% AND WILL HAVE THE FUEL SMELL. THE SMELL WILL CEASE WHENEVER THE LEVEL DROPS BELOW THE 75%. LEAK IS COMING FROM FUEL PUMP SEAL / GAS TANK. CALLED MULTIPLE DEALERS AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 23, 2014, I TOOK MY 2004 E320 SEDAN TO SCHUMACHER MERCEDES BENZ IN SCOTTSDALE ARIZONA. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK OUT A 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT AND INFORMED THEM THAT THERE WAS AN OCCASIONAL STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 24, 2014, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO INFORM ME THAT THE GAS TANK AND SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A LEAK. MY SERVICE COORDINATOR ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON / KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. THE COST TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE $4000 + I CONTACTED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND LEARNED THAT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION AND A COMPLAINT OPENED MARCH 15, 2013 ,,, HOWEVER THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED AS OF THIS TIME. THE CAR HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. ON OCTOBER 24TH, I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP WHO WORKS EXCLUSIVELY ON MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES, FOR A SECOND OPINION / EVALUATION. *TR
VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN. TECHNICIAN INSPECTED FUEL SENDING UNIT(S). LEFT SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING FUEL INTO THE CABIN. LEFT SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED AND SEAL ON RIGHT SIDE UNIT WAS REPLACED. *TR
WIRE IN WIRING HARNESS TO TRUNK LID SEVERED, PREVENTING THIRD BRAKE LAMP AND BOTH LICENSE PLATE LAMPS FROM FUNCTIONING. *TR
SMELLED GAS IN CAR. EACH DAY I WOULD GET A HEADACHE, NORMALLY I NOT PRONE TO HAVE HEADACHES. THIS WENT ON FOR A FEW WEEKS. I TOOK CAR IN AND LEARNED THAT BOTH FUEL PUMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. *TR
STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE OF CAR AFTER FILL UP. THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH E-CLASS MERCEDES OF ALL YEARS. YOU NEED TO INITIATE A RECALL ASAP..UPDATED 11/03/14 *BF *TR
STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE CAR AFTER FILL UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AFTER REFUELING. THE CONTACT THEN EJECTED THE ENTIRE REAR SEAT BENCH AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FUEL WHERE THE FUEL TANK UNIT WAS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AFTER REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE ODOR WAS PRESENT ON 35 OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,854.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR. WHEN I FILL UP GAS, IT SMELLS NOT ONLY IN THE CAR ALSO IN THE GARAGE, EVEN SMELL IT IN THE ROOM ABOVE THE GARAGE. I'VE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO FIX IT IN MERCEDES AUTO REPAIR SHOP, BUT IT STILL SMELLS. JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEM, IT SEEMS A MANUFACTURE FAILURE, AND I WISH A SOLUTION BY MERCEDES SOON. *TR
WE DISCOVERED THAT THE CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD US THAT THE GAS TANK IN THIS MODEL HAD A PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD BE QUITE EXPENSIVE TO FIX, APPROXIMATELY $2,000, HE ADVISED THAT THIS WILL LIKELY ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE FILL THE TANK AND THAT WE COULD PREVENT THE PROBLEM BY NOT FILLING THE TANK FULL...WHICH WE HAVE DONE SINCE BUT IT IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE AND IT SCARES US TO THINK THAT WE ARE DRIVING A CAR WITH A LEAKING GAS TANK. RECENTLY WE BECAME AWARE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE OWNERS LIKE US AND THAT THERE WAS A COMPLAINT PROCESS THAT WE COULD USE WITH THE NTSB....I AM RESPONDING WITHIN 24 OF HOURS OF KNOWING THIS. THE MERCEDES DEALER WAS NOT FORTHCOMING ABOUT THIS AND DID NOT FULLY ADVISE US OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM AND WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED. WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE CAR IN PASSING EMISSIONS TESTING IN TN (WHERE WE NOW LIVE)....FL DID NOT HAVE AN EMISSIONS TESTING POLICY. WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE FROM A CERTIFIED MERCEDES REPAIR SHOP THAT IT WILL COST ALMOST $2,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WE FEEL THAT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER EACH COMPLETE FILL-UP. THIS VEHICLE IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE.AND ODOR LINGERS FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING EACH FILL-UP. I HAVE CHANGED THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.NO SMELL IF I FILL-UP TO NO MORE THAN 80% OF THE TANK CAPACITY. DATE AND MILEAGE ARE OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE ARE AS SHOWN ARE ONLY AN ESTIMATE. *TR
GASOLINE SMELL IN GARAGE AND INSIDE THE CABIN. READ ONLINE STATING THAT RECALL ON E CLASS FOR 2004 ON GAS TANK LEAKS OR FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNIT. HOWEVER, MB DENIED THERE IS ANY RECALL LINK TO THE VIN OF MY VEHICLE. *JS
I HAVE AN ISSUE SIMILAR TO MANY OTHER W211 CHASSIS MERCEDES OWNERS. THE FUEL TANK LEAK/FUEL ODOR HAS BEEN GOING ON IN MY CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO COVER THE COSTS OF REPAIR. THEY QUOTED A ~$2000+ REPAIR JOB FOR WHAT'S OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER EACH FILL-UP. THIS IS A GARAGED VEHICLE AND THE ODOR LINGERS FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOLLOWING EACH FILL-UP. IT IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A LONG TIME AND THE DATE/MILEAGE OF FIRST OCCURRENCE AS SHOWN ABOVE ARE ESTIMATES. *TR
I AM DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WE?VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME SINCE LAST YEAR WHEN WE WENT TO OUR DEALERSHIP THE COMPLAINT OF SMELLING GAS FUMES AFTER PUMPING GAS. WE SMELLED THE FUMES IN THE REAR CABIN AREA PRIMARILY. WE HAD THE DEALERSHIP AND A COUPLE OTHER CERTIFIED MERCEDES BENZ SHOPS LOOK AT THE ISSUE DETERMINING THAT THE SENDING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE GOING TO DO THE SERVICE LATER AFTER ONE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO JUST KEEP THE CAR HALF FULL WITH FUEL UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO COMPLETE THE SERVICE REPAIR FOR OVER $1,000 OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS. *TR
REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS ON MY CAR. THE INSULATION ON THE 2 WIRES TO THE BULB CRUMBLED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN I TOUCHED THE WIRES. WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WIRES COULD TOUCH CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2004 Mercedes Benz E320 → · Every E320 year → · How the figures are calculated →