2004 Mercedes Benz E500 complaints

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, CAR JUST LOWERED OUT OF NO WHERE SPEED AUTOMATICALLY DECREASED, AND RED LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CAR TOO LOW STOP CAR, IT SCARED ME THAT IS SO DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE GOING AT A CERTAIN SPEED AND THEN IT DROPS OUT OF NO WHERE. THEN I HEAR AIR LEAKING FROM BACK BUT NOT OUT OF TIRE. *TR

A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE PASSENGER CABIN AS WELL AS OUTSIDE DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROMPTED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS A LEAKING FUEL PURGE VALVE AND SHUT OFF VALVE. AFTER A $1,600 QUOTE, I REQUESTED THEY NOT DO THE WORK SO I COULD TAKE IT FOR A SECOND OPINION. WAS CALLED BACK LATER THAT DAY AND INFORMED OF A "MISCOMMUNICATION" AND THAT THE CAR WAS FIXED WITH A $1,600 BILL AWAITING ME. I WORKED OUT A PAYMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE DEALER AND NEVER TOOK THE CAR BACK DESPITE INTERMITTENT GAS SMELLS IN AND OUTSIDE THE CAR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON AND OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON FOR GOOD LESS THAN 12 MONTHS LATER. TOOK CAR TO ANOTHER LOCAL SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD ONE OF THE FUEL PUMPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. $600 LATER, AND 4 MORE TRIPS BACK TO THE SHOP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STRONG GAS FUMES STILL PERMEATE THE CAR. TOOK IT TO SHOP #3 TODAY AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE QUOTE IS $1,700. I DON'T TRUST THE DEALER, AND BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL PUMP REPLACE BY SHOP #2 WAS NOT THE ISSUE. IT APPEARS AS IF IT'S BEEN THE FUEL TANK ALL ALONG. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE PART AS THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS LESS THAN 70K MILES ON IT CURRENTLY. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD AND WITH TWO CHILDREN, I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ADDITIONAL NECESSARY TO HELP CONCLUDE THIS INVESTIGATION. I'M HOPING TH

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE RECENTLY FROM A PRIVATE SELLER. THE FIRST TIME WE FILLED UP THE TANK, WE NOTICED A VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. I CALLED THE SELLER AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID THAT IS BY NOT TOPPING OFF THE TANK. I FIGURED THIS WASN'T NORMAL, SO I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH. TURNS OUT MERCEDES E CLASS VEHICLES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SEAL. IN FACT, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS ONLY FOR THE AMG MODELS. BUT MY MODEL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THEN, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MERCEDES WAS BEING FILED THIS YEAR FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE CONCERNING E CLASS VEHICLES FROM 2003-2009. *TR

UPON FILLING UP THE CAR EMITS A STRONG GAS SMELL. THE GAS SMELL CONTINUES TO BE PRESENT ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND NOT TURNED ON. *TR

EVERYTIME I FILL MY FUEL TANK I'VE NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. UPON INSPECTION I HAVE FOUND THE FUEL TANK TO HAVE TRACES OF FUEL ON THE EXTERIOR OF TANK, SO MY TANK HAS A LEAK SOMEWHERE. *TR

CAR WAS NOT MOVING WHEN WE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE REAR SEAT AREA, WHEN WE PULLED INTO OUR GARAGE THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG WE MOVED THE CAR TO THE OUTSIDE TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE FIRE IN OUR HOME, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THE GAS TANK SENDER/SENSOR WAS LEAKING AND POSSIBLY THAT BOTH SENSORS WERE LEAKING AND POSSIBLY THE TANK. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT GASOLINE COULD BE POOLING ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK CAUSING THE ODOR. HE LATER CALLED ME AND CONFIRMED THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE HAD HAPPENED AND COULD BE REPAIRED FOR APPROXIMATELY $3250.00 I ASK IF THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL HE SAID THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARNING BUT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I THEN WENT ON LINE AND FOUND A LOT OF BLOGS DESCRIBING MY PROBLEM ALMOST IDENTICALLY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS CAR AND COULD AND PROBABLY WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY AND POSSIBLY DEATH TO SOME ONE RIDING IN THIS MODEL. I BELIEVE THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE IN THE RECURRING BLOGS THAT MERCEDES IS QUITE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND ARE PROBABLY IGNORING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THIS COMPLAINT UNTIL SOMEONE OR SEVERAL ARE HURT OR KILLED. *TR

I OWN 2004 MERCEDES E500 4MATIC ONE DAY AFTER FILLING GAS TANK WITH FUEL NOTICE STRONG SMELL CAME FROM DRIVER REAR SIDE OF THE CAR. I DROVE TO MY GARAGE AND INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. THE SENDING FUEL UNIT LOCATED UNDER REAR SEAT DRIVERS SIDE HAS A CRACK FROM WHICH FUEL LEAKING OUT. CALLED TO MERCEDES BENZ OF USA SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY REFUSED FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

CRACKED FUEL FILTER MODULE WITH LEAKING FUEL UNDER LEFT BACK SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE FUMES IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 225,000. UPDATED 11/1/12 *CN UPDATED 11/13/2012 *JS

THE VEHICLE HAS THE SMELL OF GAS VENTING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CONCERNED FOR PASSENGER SAFETY. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS NOT PROPERLY MEETING OR COMPLYING WITH EPA REGULATIONS CONCERNING PROPER EMISSIONS OF FUEL VENTILATION AND HAS GROSS PRODUCT SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING PASSENGER(S) INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FUELING SYSTEM IS VENTING IMPROPERLY AND FUEL SENDER IS NOT SEALED PROPERLY. CAR HAS NEVER HAD PROBLEM UNTIL CURRENT DATE OF FILING. AWARE OF CURRENT MERCEDES CORPORATE LEGAL RESPONSE TO YOUR ENQUIRE HOWEVER THE SYSTEM HAS NEVER BEEN WORKED ON (BY MERCEDES DEALER) NOR IS THIS JUST A MINOR ISSUE WITH LOW VEHICLE COUNT. PLEASE PROTECT ME AND MY FAMILY CONCERNING THIS ISSUE! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK. MERCEDES BENZ DEALER FOUND THE ISSUE ASSOCIATED TO LEFT SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT, WHICH SEEM TO BE A RECURRENT ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL IN MERCEDES. DEALER REQUIRES $875.34 TO FIX THE ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED MBUSA TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP WITH THIS REPAIR. IN 2008 THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL #2008-020001,ON SOME E AND CLS CLASS FOR 03-06 VEHICLES, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD MY CAR VIN IS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL. WEB FORUMS OF MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS ARE FILLED WITH SAME COMPLAINT FOR ALL E CLASS MODELS WITH CHASSIS W211. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN OPEN NHTSA CASE PE12-001 THAT MAY BE RELATED TO MY COMPLAINT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION. THIS IS MY SECOND MERCEDES W211 MODEL VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E-500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE EMITTED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,838. UPDATED 10/10/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER FOUND GASOLINE LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEATS AND PUDDLING. UPDATED 10/10/2012 *JS

THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS FUMES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. WHEN THE TANK IS FULL, LIQUID GAS CAN BE SEEN RUNNING FROM THE TOPSIDE OF THE TANK, TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL PUMP. *TR

NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN MY GARAGE AND INSIDE MY VEHICLE. ALSO NOTICED THAT MY LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS DISCOLORED WITH DARK YELLOW STAINING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON CAR AND TOOK TO LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER TO CHECK PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAD FAILED AND THAT RAW FUEL WAS LEAKING IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING THE GASOLINE ODOR AND STAINING TO UPHOLSTERY. WAS STRONGLY URGED BY SERVICE ADVISOR AT MERCEDES-BENZ TO REPLACE THE SENDING UNIT "ANYTIME YOU'RE LEAKING FUEL THAT'S A SAFETY ISSUE". HAD SENDING UNIT REPLACED AS ADVISED AND WAS TOLD TO KEEP WINDOWS DOWN TO AIR THE CAR OF GASOLINE FUMES. MERCEDES- BENZ ATTEMPTED TO CLEAN UPHOLSTERY HOWEVER THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR AFTER REFUELING. *TR

AFTER FILLING MY CAR WITH GAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IS PRESENT. YOU SMELL THE ODOR FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. AFTER THE GAS GOES BELOW ABOUT 3/4 OF A TANK THE SMELL IS NO LONGER PRESENT. I HAVE READ SEVERAL ONLINE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

THE CAR LOWERED TO AN UNACCEPTABLE POINT TO WHERE THE CAR IS A VERY ROUGH RIDE AND ANY BUMP IS HIT HARD. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY E CLASS HOME FROM WORK MY INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP AND DISPLAYED "VEHICLE LOW DON'T DRIVE". I WAS AT THE ENTRANCE WAY TO MY HOME AND PROCEEDED TO MY GARAGE. UPON GETTING OUT OF MY VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER WAS LOWERED DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE TIRE. I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE AIR MATIC STRUT ASSEMBLY; WHICH IS A COSTLY REPAIR. MY RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT AT 88,000 MILES. MERCEDES SHOULD ON UP TO THE FLAWS IN THIS SYSTEM AND FIND A CHEAPER FIX FOR THE VEHICLE OWNERS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MATTER I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES. *TR

STRONG GAS ODOR FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL AREA AFTER FILLING TANK FULLY. STOPS LEAKING FUEL WHEN TANK REACHES ABOUT 3/4 FULL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, HE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE ALSO EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS COLLECTING UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,945.

CONSTANT FUEL LEAK, WITH FUEL VAPORS THAT CAN BE SMELLED OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE LEAK IS WORSE AFTER FUELING THE CAR. THERE IS A CONSTANT FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. *JS

GAS ODOR BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN TANK IS FILLED TO MAXIMUM CAPACITY. ODOR LINGERS UNTIL TANK IS ABOUT HALF EMPTY. INSPECTED FUEL PUMP/FILTER LOCATED UNDER REAR DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND DISCOVERED GAS LEAKAGE/PUDDLE. GAS LEAK IS WITHIN A COUPLE OF CENTIMETERS FROM TWO ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTIONS ATTACHED TO FUEL PUMP/FILTER - AN IMMINENT FIRE HAZARD. PREVAILING FUMES ARE HAZARDOUS TO VEHICLE PASSENGERS, ESPECIALLY SMALL CHILDREN, AND MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS WHILE DRIVING OR LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. *TR

CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION STRUT ON A 2004 MERCEDES E500 STATION WAGON. THE CAR HAS AN AIR RIDE SYSTEM WHICH MAINTAINS THE RIGHT HEIGHT OF ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY BY MERCEDES SINCE PURCHASE. THE AIR BLADDER INSIDE THE STRUT BLEW OUT WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOME. THIS RESULTED IN THE RIDE HEIGHT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR DROPPING IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WARNING TO THE POINT WHERE THE FRAME WAS BARELY 2" ABOVE THE PAVEMENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED ON A ROUGH ROAD OR ONE WITH CROWN OR AN IRREGULAR SURFACE, OR IN HEAVY SNOW, THE FRAME COULD CONTACT THE GROUND CAUSING ANY NUMBER OF POSSIBLE OUTCOMES INCLUDING SEVERE CHASSIS DAMAGE AND TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. *KB

MY MERCEDES E500 2004 RANDOMLY LOSES POWER AFTER COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND STOP. I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AND IT THE POWER IS OK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT AFTER RESTARTING. THIS WOULD HAPPEN ONE OR TWICE A MONTH. I ONLY HAVE 45K ON THE CAR. NOW IT'S HAPPENING QUITE OFTEN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THAN GO OUT AFTER RESTARTING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY HAVE FOUND NO TROUBLE. THEY GIVE ME THE GAS CAP , BAD GAS, ECT. TODAY I LOST POWER TOOK IN TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEY ARE STATING A POWER TRAIN PROBLEM. I GET NERVOUS ON THE ROAD WAY WHEN I LOSE POWER BECAUSE I CAN NOT SPEED UP AND GET AWAY FROM ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER IS STATING 2 TO 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIR. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 45K AND I KEEP IT IN MINT CONDITION AND ONLY DRIVE IT ON WEEK ENDS. I SEE THAT SEVERAL E500 2004 OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM VIA AN ON LINE FORUM FOR 2004 E500. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE WARNING LIGHT "BRAKE FAILURE AND ESP FAILURE" WERE DISPLAYED AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY DOWNSHIFTING AND ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO VIEWED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS VIA THE INTERNET REGARDING BRAKE FAILURE FOR HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL BUT WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS. IT WAS DETERMINED THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED. ALSO, THE FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/24/11

THE AIRMATIC SUSPENSION SYSTEM HAS FAILED 3 TIMES - FIRST IN MARCH 2010, THEN APRIL 2010, AND NOW MAY 2010. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THE FIRST 2 INCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME, THE CAR DROPPED TO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED, THE SECOND TIME IT WAS SLIGHTLY LOW, AND THEN WHILE DRIVING THE REAR DROPPED AND THE CAR BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE. IT IS NOW DROPPING ON THE RIGHT AGAIN, AND PULLS STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT. SERVICE WAS COMPLETED AT THE DEALER. EVEN THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE SYSTEM FAILS, AND FAILS IN A MANNER IN WHICH THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS LIKELY TO GO IN A CHAIN REACTION FASHION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A TOW TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000. UPDATED 12/10/10 *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS SENSOTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. IT WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. UPDATED 12/27/10 THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER THEN DECIDED TO USE THE COMBINATION OF THE FOOT BRAKE AND THE HILL WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. UPDATED 01/31/11

E500 4MATIC SUSPENSION FAILURE - FRONT AIRMATIC SUSPENSION COLLASPED. CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. *TR

WE HAD NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN OUR GARAGE EACH MORNING JUST AFTER WE HAD FILLED THE CAR WITH GAS. WE TOOK THE MB TO MYERSTAR MERCEDES, THEY FOUND CRACK IN THE UPPER MIDDLE FRONT OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THIS DEFECT SHOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED IN A VEHICLE THAT'S ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD WITH 45,000 MILES. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN OUR GARAGE. *TR COPY OF MOVIE.WMV UPDATED 05/02/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/11 *CN

MY CAR BATTERY KEPT DYEING AND ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOT WORKING. IN FACT WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF THOSE SPEAKERS WOULD MAKE STATIC NOISES. I HAD AN ELECTRONIC AUTO STORE LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN THEY POSED THE QUESTION TO THEIR ONLINE SITE, THE ANSWER CAME BACK AS THE "AUDIO GATEWAY" BEING DEFECTIVE. THEY WERE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, TOLD THEM OF THE BATTERY DYEING PROBLEM AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THE SAME, "AUDIO GATEWAY". I PAID THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT REPLACED THE PART. THE TOTAL COST WAS APPROX. $1,258.00, WHICH INCLUDED LABOR. *TR

DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND START DECELERATING TO TURN AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR OR TO FIRST GEAR THE INITIAL TIME. I HAD TO PULL OVER, CUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY AND THEN RE-START THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. WENT ABOUT A MONTH AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT I HAD DONE SOMETHING, BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE OFTEN LIKE ONCE A WEEK AND THEN DAILY. I WAS TRAVELING AT ONE TIME ON I-64 AND DECELERATED A BIT TO GO THROUGH THE HAMPTON TUNNEL AND REALIZED THAT IT HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS ACCELERATING AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. ONCE AGAIN, I HAD TO PULL OVER, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. IT ALSO HAPPENED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ONE TIME WHILE MY SON AND I WERE RIDING WE ACTUALLY FELT THE CAR JOLT AS IT SHIFTED OUT OF THE PROPER GEAR. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON BUSY RT. 29 RIGHT AT RUSH HOUR. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS THE ENGINE REVVING. I TRIED THE USUAL, CUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING IT, BUT THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T RESET ITSELF AT ALL AND I ENDED UP GETTING TOWED TO A SHOP. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED. THE CAR WILL GO WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AT ALL. I JUST LOOKED AT A COUPLE SITES ONLINE AND SEE WHERE AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THE ALLWORLDAUTO.COM WEBSITE, F

I OWN A MERCEDES-BENZ E500 BOUGHT NEW IN 2004. 3 DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND CAR STALLED AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT START THE ENGINE BACK FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME, WHICH WOULD HAVE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I LATER TOWED THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES SERVICE STATION. THEY REPORTED IT AS AN ELECTIRCAL FAILURE DUE TO FAILING OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY SENSOR AND THE CAR IS RUNNING OK NOW. I AM STILL WONDERING WHY DID THE CAR COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BACKUP SAFETY MECHANISM IN A FAILURE LIKE THIS TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I AM WORRIED WHETHER THERE IS A DESIGN FAULT IN THIS VEHICLE THAT DID NOT ALLOW THAT BACK UP MECHANISM TO KICK-IN. MY SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS THIS FAULT IS UNLIKELY TO RECUR. I FEEL THAT THE SENSORS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY MECHANISM TO AVOID ABRRUPT STOPS LIKE THIS. IF I WAS ON A FREE WAY THIS WOULD HAVE CREATED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH SO MANY VEHICLES PILED UP ON TOP OF ME! MY CAR HAS DONE ONLY 40,000 MILES WITHIN THE LAST 4 YEARS. IT HAS NEW TIRES, A NEW BATTERY AND NEW BRAKES -ALL TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AT MY LAST SERVICE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO.

6 DISC CHANGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. RIGHT AFTER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY WAS OVER, DEALER SAID THEY HAD REPLACED MANY OF THEM THAT WEEK, BUT REFUSED TO FIX IT AND IT WAS ONLY 1,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. BEFORE WARRANTY WAS UP, THE DEALER SAID THE FIXED GAS HOSE RECALL BUT STILL SMELL GAS AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT IT ANYMORE. *TR

ON 12/6/07 MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT CAUSED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. MY CONCERN IS REGARDING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED ACCORDING TO THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE. WHEN MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE ?PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF? LIGHT STAYED ON AND THIS WAS THE ONLY REASON WE LET HER RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED MINOR HEAD INJURIES. I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF SACRAMENTO TO LOOK INTO THIS AND THEY INDICATED THAT IF THE LIGHT INDICATED THE AIRBAG WAS OFF, THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF THE PASSENGER WEIGHED LESS THAN 60 LBS. IN THIS SITUATION THE PASSENGER WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS. I ASKED MERCEDES BENZ TO CHECK THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE EQUIPMENT TO CHECK THE CAR IN THE FIELD. I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY SO I AM NO LONGER THE LEGAL OWNER. TO AVOID THIS SITUATION FROM HAPPENING TO ANY OTHER UNSUSPECTING FAMILY, I NEED TO KNOW IF WE WERE DOING SOMETHING WRONG OR IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

DROVE CAR FINE ALL DAY ON SATURDAY. SUNDAY AM, PUT SON AND WIFE IN CAR, STARTED OUT DRIVE WAY AND CAR GAVE NOTICE THAT CAR WAS TOO LOW. WALKED AROUND EXTERIOR OF CAR AND FOUND THAT RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION MECHANISM HAD LET AIR OUT ITSELF AND TIRE WAS WELL INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. DTB (DAIMLER TECHNICAL BULLETIN) P-B-32.22/15A FEB07 VEHICLE LEVEL DECREASES AT FRONT AXLE. IN EXTREME CASES THE AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR WILL NOT ACTIVATE TO RAISE THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE COMPRESSOR IS NOT ACTUATED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT RESIDUAL PRESSURE IN THE SUSPENSION STRUTS. ANY AFFECTED STRUTS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE COMPRESSOR WILL BE ACTUATED WITH STAR DIAGNOSIS. *TR

MY CAR PICKED UP A NAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT BLEW A ROUND HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER IN THE TIRE RIM. THESE ARE ALUMINUM ALLOY LOW PROFILE RIMS THAT CAME WITH MY E500 2004 MERCEDES BENZ AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER I HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES PUT ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT TWO MORE RIMS WERE BENT. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER (OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE) AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A RIM GO BAD. SUDDENLY I HAVE THREE RIMS GO BAD. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR CURBS OR ANY THING OTHER THAN NORMAL BUMPY ROADS. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW RIMS AND MOUNTING. I COMPLAINED TO M B AND THEIR ANSWER HAS BEEN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD. I SAID THAT I KNOW THAT THE ROAD HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BUT THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR USING MATERIALS THAT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT TAKE THE STRAIN OF REASONABLE DRIVING. ANECDOTALLY I CAN TELL YOU THAT A CLOSE FRIEND IS DRIVING AN S500 WITH THE SAME LOW PROFILE TIRE AND HE TOO HAS HAD TO REPLACE THREE WHEELS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. I FEEL CERTAIN THAT IT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE RIM WHICH IS AT FAULT SINCE IT CANNOT STAND UP TO THE ROAD SURFACE PROBLEMS AS WELL AS A RIM OF THE SAME MATERIAL THAT IS NOT OF THE LOW PROFILE DESIGN. *NM

2004 500E ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PURPOSE OF AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS THAT WHEN ALL BRAKES ARE LOCKED, IT WILL THEN PULSATE THE BRAKES SO THAT THE DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE TO. THE CONSUMER STATED ON HIS VEHICLE THE BRAKES SYSTEM COULD LOCK WITHOUT PULSING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKES DID NOT LOCK AND THE BAS DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MILES PER HOUR DOWN HILL, THE OWNER HEARD A WARNING LIGHT STATING THAT THE BRAKES HAD FAILED. THE OWNER HAD TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

TAPPING NOISE INSIDE THE CAR : THE FUEL CANISTER TOUCHES THE CHASIS AND MAKE LOUD TAPPING NOISE INSIDE THE CAR, REPORTED THIS TO MBUSA AND REPERESETATIVE PUT INSULATION AROUND FUEL CANISTER AND WHICH IS NOT SAFE. *JB

ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE FROM AIRCRAFT CAUSED LIGHTS TO COME ON WHEN PARKED AT AIRPORT AND DRAINED BATTERY. CAR PARKED MORNING OF 9/4/04. SINGLE INCIDENT OF CAR ALARM REPORTED EVENING OF 9/6/04. RETURNED TO CAR 9/11/04 AND FOUND LIGHTS IN OFF POSITION AND BATTERY DRAINED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 300 MILES. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN CONSUMER WAS CROSSING LANES TO AN ON COMING TRAFFIC. AS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM FIRST GEAR TO NEUTRAL ON ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. *LA

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DRIVER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVER AND IT WOULD ONLY GO BACKWARDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THE NEED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK