Owners filed 140 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It has been recalled 3 times.
When it fails
09925099,250 milesMedian miles at failure
123 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000–150,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Fuel/Propulsion System
53
0
0
1
Service Brakes
33
1
0
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
17
0
0
0
Suspension
8
0
0
0
Engine
5
0
0
0
Air Bags
5
1
0
1
Vehicle Speed Control
3
2
0
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
2
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
2
0
0
0
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly24V874000
Filed Nov 19, 202433,456 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Risk. A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly22V954000
Filed Dec 23, 2022131,653 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Risk. A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly19V918000
Filed Dec 20, 2019747,928 vehiclesMercedes-Benz Usa, Llc.
Defect. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Risk. A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Dec 20, 2025NJ
This is not about an accident. It's about the vehicle's condition. Precisely, about the brake service warning. Red warning with beeping on dashboard saying I need to bring it to workshop for service. My wife was driving this car when she felt something was wrong with the car and she brought it to her trustful mechanic for check up right away sameday That mechanic gave up to look any further suggesting a visit to MB dealer.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 22, 2025CA
Car smells like gas. Constantly a couple machanic. Did some repairs. But there’s a small leak as well from a smoke test. Gas leaks in more than one area. Oil leaks everywhere. Evap leak didn’t pass smog. Then went to a smog station and repair. Check engine light back on again. I saw Mercedes had an extended warranty to avoid recalling several safety complaints. I got the car from a guy who never looked into recalls or extended warranty for these complaints. Please help me to get refunded what I payed so far with repairs on gas leaks. Also to repair the whole gas system. It is dangerously ongoing. I never got notified by Mercedes nor did the previous owner.
Suspension
Filed May 23, 2024CA
2005 e500 mercedes benz,after full tank of gas I filled. I noticed very strong gas inside my car and outside. It can catch on fired. cause cancer and lung issues.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 21, 202340,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. There was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The contact refueled the vehicle and there was an abnormal odor of fuel outside of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who stated there was no warranty coverage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 25, 2023180,000 milesAL
Per incident was back glass detached from window and broke all over the road and on the back of my car while driving. 2: Sbcc pump goes in and out admittedly and type of a no brake issue at all hard as a rock will not move car only has 180,000 miles on it and it’s been doing that since 140,000 miles Which did cause me to get in a minor accident on the right side of the car the passenger side where now I’ve had to replace a fender and still have problems because of it
Air Bags1 injured
Filed Feb 25, 2023AL
Had a minor accident no airbags deployed sitting in car I don’t know a month later something around that sitting in car key not in the ignition sitting in the driver seat when all of a sudden a big bang happened and blue out both side airbag by the sunroof sunroof. Was very loud and knocked my head sideways. Nothing had touch the car car hadn’t been hit car was sitting in the driveway with no ignition running no key in the ignition.
Electrical System
Filed Nov 8, 2022NY
Several times if the vehicle is not driven in a day or two the battery would be dead.I had to replace the battery twice in 2 years. I now receive a message (check battery) every time I start the vehicle. I bought a battery charger that I keep with me all the time. Once a month I put the vehicle on a battery charger, and if I’m not going to use it for a week or more,I put it on a trickle charger. I own 2 other vehicle and none of them need this type of treatment.
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 24, 2022156,000 milesTX
I was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. Suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and I overshot the turn. Then the car had no power. I was 36 miles from my home. I limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. There was absolutely no warning of any kind of brake problem. The car was driving just fine before this happened. I believe it could have been a much worse situation had I been in any kind of traffic.
Suspension
Filed Jul 8, 2022MN
I was sold this car and because I did not know what the red "STOP CAR TOO LOW WARNING" meant when I was driving it home, I was not only scammed by the used car dealership with no recourse, but I also was tricked into driving this car while it was not supposed to be driven for safety, per the manual of the vehicle. I will include a picture of the safety message from the manual where it states, "HIGH PRIORITY MESSAGES APPEAR IN THE MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY IN RED COLOR". and the STOP CAR TOO LOW message states very specific safety instructions that a reasonable person could not know. I am filing this recall complaint because how the system operates. I was sold this car while the struts were faulty and had already developed a leak and because the car was currently running the AIR COMPRESSOR was able to keep up with the leak during the test drive because a slow leak will only go back down after an extended time period which I believe the dealer knew because he asked me how much I was trying to spend and all of a sudden he pulled my car out of their shop telling me they just got the car and haven't put it out yet. Please help me. When I parked the vehicle at a Golf course parking lot during the test drive I was with my uncle, I did look up mechanic shops but because the car dealership was located in Farmington, MN there was no place feasibly close enough for me to have the vehicle properly inspected. The issue is the ride of the vehicle on the air suspension was perfect so there was
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 28, 2022HI
The 2005 E500 W211 gas tank cracks leaking fuel sending unit and fuel pump. The odor of gas permeates the cabin, recall campaign number 2008-020001, and it’s extension information of 15 years dated Jan. 2015 signed by Ralph S. Fisher GM customer assistance center. The dealer in Hawai’i refuse to honor the recall warranty. It’s traveling a bomb.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Mar 25, 202150,000 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO AUTO CENTER (5180 VENICE BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA 90019, (323) 938-9888) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SEATS WERE SOAKED IN FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ E500 2005 ##
Suspension
Filed Jan 28, 2021169,000 milesVA
I HAVE REPLACED THE SUSPENSION BEFORE AND NOW THE SUSPENSION LIGHT COMES BACK ON. THE CAR IS DOWN LOWER THAN NORMAL. THIS IS ALL THE TIME.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 7, 2020800,000 milesNV
EMISSION SYSTEM HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES OVER TIME THAT CAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGJT TO ENGAGE. PROBLEM S RANGE FROM, GAS CAP TO FUEL TANK PARTS TO VALVES TO CARBON CANISTER ISSUES. ALL ISSUES OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. NO IMPACT.
Suspension
Filed Apr 16, 2020175,542 milesSC
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 E500 4MATIC MERCEDES HIT A GIANT POT HOLE BUSTING MY LEFT PASSENGER RIM N WHEEL. SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION BEGIN BY THE CAR NOT RISING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO SCDOT ON 12/5/2019. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THE POT HOLE WAS FIXED A D THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE DAMAGED ROAD BECAUSE NO OTHER REPORTS WAS MADE ABOUT THE GIGANTIC POTHOLE. *TR
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Feb 20, 2020170,000 milesGA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE SUNROOF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER ENTERED THE SUNROOF, ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BATTERY AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE AUXILIARY BATTERY, THE REAR BATTERY, AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V918000 (VISIBILITY). (RBM OF ATLANTA, INC. 7640 ROSWELL RD, ATLANTA, GA 30350) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Service Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 2019CA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES LOST POWER AND DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE 'STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF ENCINO (888-280-0902, LOCATED AT 16721 VENTURA BLVD, ENCINO, CA 91436). THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEYES EUROPEAN MERCEDES-BENZ (818-574-5053, LOCATED AT 5400 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RECOMMENDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT PROVIDED.
Air Bags
Filed Apr 18, 2019130,000 milesFL
THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IS ILLUMINATED. COULD THIS BE A MANUFRACTURING DEFECT?
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 13, 2019CA
FUEL PUMP UNDER WARRANTY AND MERCEDES DEALER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 25, 2018151,000 milesTX
2005 MERCEDES E500 WAGON HAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED. THIS ODOR PERSISTS FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL HAS GONE DOWN. THIS HAS PERSISTED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, MB HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO REPAIR IT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MB OF PLANO FOR REPAIR. ONCE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURE WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO REMOVE THE MUFFLER SYSTEM TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A MUFFLER BRACKET WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS BRACKET IS ONLY AVAILABLE AS A PART OF THE COMPLETE MUFFLER AND WOULD COST ~$600 TO REPLACE AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE MUFFLER WAS OPERATING PROPERLY AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ANY OTHER REASON. THE DEALERSHIP APPEALED THE WARRANTY AND THAT WAS DENIED. I APPEALED TO THE MERCEDES EXECUTIVE REFERRAL TEAM AND THEY ALSO DENIED THE CLAIM DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. IF I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND $600 TO REPLACE A PERFECTLY GOOD MUFFLER, THEN I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT HAS A LIVE GASOLINE LEAK INSIDE THE CABIN BECAUSE MERCEDES BENZ WILL NOT REPLACE THE MUFFLER BRACKET. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH RALPH AT MERCEDES BENZ EXECUTIVE REFERRAL AS WELL AS THE MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 5, 20187 milesIL
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WAS A RED BATTERY ON THE DASH BOARD, I WAS TOLD I NEED A FUEL PUMP, I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP I HAVE A WARRANTY FOR THIS, BUT I WAS TOLD THE PAPER I HAVE EXPLAIN WHAT A WARRANTY IS, I CALLED MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS TOLD I KEEP CALLING ABOUT THE SAME THING ITS IN THE NOTES IT IS UP TO THE SERVICE MANAGER TO APPROVE THE WARRANTY I HAD TO PAY FOR THE CAR REPAIRS EVEN THO I HAD A WARRANTY. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND I WAS TOLD I NEED A BATTERY, MY CAR IN THE STREETS WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP I CALLED AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP MY GRANDBABY AND I WAS IN THE HEAT FOR OVER AN HOUR WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK, I ALSO TOOK MY CAR TO GOODYEAR AND THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER 2X AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE RED LIGHT WAS ON THEY BUT THOUGH I JUST NEED ANOTHER BATTERY
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.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Nov 19, 2024. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.