2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an abnormal gasoline odor inside of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the rear seats, the contact observed gasoline pooling underneath the rear seats. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to TSB: 2008-020001. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11558414

Incident

Nov 15, 2023

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON A LONG ROAD TRIP, THERE WAS AN INCREASINGLY LARGE RATTLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER LOAD. EVENTUALLY THE RATTLE STOPPED. THEN WHEN I TRIED TO FILL UP THE CAR WITH GAS, IT LEAKED EVERYWHERE CAUSING A MASSIVE FIRE HAZARD. WHILE THIS WAS PUT UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 15 YEARS BY MERCEDES BENZ, A 2003 MODEL IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3 YEARS. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AS IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN RURAL MONTANA ON A ROAD TRIP (I'M FROM WA) AND POSED A MASSIVE FIRE HAZARD IN THE BLAZING HEAT OF SUMMER. I HAD TO TOW IT BACK ON A UHAUL TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR OR A POTENTIAL FIRE. EVEN THE MECHANICS AT A NEAR-ISH (200 MILES AWAY FROM THE MONTANA HIGHWAY I BROKE DOWN ON) WERE HESITANT TO EVEN MOVE THE CAR DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS OR BEEN GIVEN A MUCH LONGER EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO THE SHAKE, NOW THE BRAKES WILL NOT LET GO WHEN I TRY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THIS WOULD NORMALLY BE A SEPARATE ISSUE, BUT IF IT CREATES A SPARK NEXT TO THE FUEL ISSUE, IT COULD MEAN THAT THE CAR IS QUITE LITERALLY A BOMB IF DRIVEN. THE WHOLE INTERIOR SMELLS LIKE FUEL AS WELL. MERCEDES SEEMS TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM BY COMPLYING WITH A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE FUEL TANK AND ADDING THE WARRANTY BUT REFUSES TO DO A RECALL OR LONGER EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO GREED. THIS CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS LIKE MY OWN AND EVEN WORSE ONES WHERE THE FUEL MAY IGNITE IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID

11350309

Incident

Aug 17, 2020

Mileage

103,700 mi

WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CLASSIFIED AS A TOTAL RECALL TURNED INTO AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, AND AS A RESULT I HAVE LOST $1700. AFTER A BATTLE WITH THE NHTSA, BACK IN 2015 MERCEDES SETTLED TO DO A RETROACTIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON CERTAIN 2003-2011 VEHICLES DUE TO HOW MANY PROBLEMS AND SAFETY CONCERNS THERE WERE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. UNKNOWN TO ME, NOT RECEIVING ANY LETTERS ABOUT THE ISSUE SINCE PURCHASE, MY CAR WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD BY 3 MONTHS WHEN I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I HAD THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT READ BY A REPUTABLE GAS-STATION SHOP, AND THEY FOUND AN EVAP LEAK. THIS WAS NO NORMAL HOSE LEAK/GAS CAP OPEN EVAP LEAK. THEY ENDED UP FINDING A MASSIVE LEAK AT THE TOP FUEL PUMP! THERE WAS ACTUALLY DARK PLASTIC/SIGNS OF HIGH-HEAT INSIDE THE GAS TANK (ON THE PUMP). FIRE HAZARD?!? I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MERCEDES OF WILMINGTON FOR A SECOND EVALUATION BECAUSE IT WAS A TIME BOMB. I WAS QUOTED $2100 TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP AND FUEL SENDER. I FOUGHT WITH MBUSA TO GET IT COVERED FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT MY CAR, AFTER 15 YEARS, WAS OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD! THEY WOULDNT EVEN DROP THE COST DOWN TO $2000 EVEN WHEN I ASKED FOR SOME SORT OF GOOD WILL IF I GOT THE WORK DONE. I NEEDED MY CAR SO I HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO THE MOST REPUTABLE PRIVATE BENZ SHOP IN DELAWARE - "EURO TECH". I PURCHASED AN FCPEURO FUEL PUMP KIT AND HAD THEM INSTALL IT FOR LESS THAN THE DEALER WANTED. THIS SHOULD BE A TOTAL RECALL AND PEOPLE ON THE BIGGEST MB-FAN WEBSITE, MBWORLD.COM, ARE STILL POSTING WEEK AFTER WEEK WITH FUEL PUMP HORRORS! THIS IS WELL DOCUMENTED ALREADY BY YOU GUYS. I AM ALSO SENDING THIS EMAIL TO MBUSA. IF I DON'T HEAR BACK FROM MBUSA I WILL BE SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE. I HAVE SPENT $100 AT SHOP #1, $100 AT THE MB DEALER TO TELL ME 'NO', $1050 IN PARTS, AND $450 IN LABOR, FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11282213

Incident

Oct 10, 2019

Mileage

90,000 mi

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY RECALL

NHTSA ID

11208727

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

113,000 mi

I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG. UPON DRIVING IT HOME FROM THE STATE WHERE I PURCHASED IT, I SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. THIS IS STRONG INSIDE THE CABIN AND ALSO OUTSIDE THE CABIN, TO THE POINT THAT OTHERS AROUND THE CAR NOTED THE FUEL SMELL. I CAN SMELL IT WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. A GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS YEARS AGO AND MBUSA OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF AN ADDITIONAL 5 YEARS BEYOND THE INITIAL 10 YEARS IN LIEU OF HAVING A COURT REQUIRE A FULL RECALL. AFTER, FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY PART, I LEARNED THAT IT IS NOT A MATTER OF IF BUT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR W211 VEHICLE. I CALLED MY LOCAL MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM ON MY CAR ENDED LAST YEAR. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THE PREVIOUS OWNER(S) DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. MAYBE THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FULL RECALL! THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE ASTHMA AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR DUE TO THE POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK INVOLVED. MBUSA SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIGGLE OUT OF FAULT ON A VERY POORLY DESIGNED FUEL SYSTEM BY OFFERING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT ONLY GAVE OWNERS A FEW YEARS TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND ALSO GET THE WORK DONE.THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS FINALLY OFFERED BY MBUSA IN 2015, ONLY GIVING THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF MY CAR A FEW YEARS TO LEARN ABOUT THE WARRANTY AND GET THE WORK DONE. NOT TO MENTION THAT MY CAR WENT THROUGH SEVERAL OWNERS DURING THAT TIME FRAME. MEANING THAT THE OWNERS DID NOT OWN THE CAR LONG ENOUGH TO DISCOVER THE ISSUE AND FIND OUT ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THESE OWNERS NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MBUSA ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY IN ITALY WHEN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED. IT WAS LATER BROUGHT BACK TO THE US.

NHTSA ID

11204677

Incident

Apr 28, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILL UP. FUEL LEAKING ON TO TOP OF TANK AND VAPORS ENTERING CABIN

NHTSA ID

11170456

Incident

Jan 15, 2019

Mileage

83,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, ALSO HAVING PROBLEM WITH FUEL CAP AND EVACUATION SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

10837153

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

Mileage

65,170 mi

BAD FUEL PUMPS UNDER REAR SEAT CAUSING FUEL SMELL IN MY ENTIRE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10787463

Incident

Aug 29, 2015

BOUGHT A PRE-OWNED 2003 E55 FROM MERCEDES DEALER 2005. HAVE HAD CAR SERVICED REGULARLY AND EXCLUSIVELY AT DEALER EVER SINCE. HAVE SMELLED GASOLINE SMELL IN GARAGE ESPECIALLY AFTER FILLING-UP CAR. MOST RECENTLY, ON 21-APR-15 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. DEALER SAID GAS TANK LEAKING AND THEY WOULD FIX IT - COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ - NO COST TO ME. MY CONCERN IS: IF MERCEDES KNEW ABOUT THIS DEFECT (SEE LINK TO MERCEDES LAWSUIT (BELOW)) FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THEM FOR SERVICING, REGULARLY, FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS (AND SPENT MORE THAN $10,000 IN SERVICE OVER THOSE YEARS) WHY DID THE DEALER NOT PREEMPTIVELY ALERT ME EARLIER TO THIS VERY DANGEROUS LIABILITY AND RECTIFY IT YEARS AGO? HTTP://WWW.SCRIBD.COM/DOC/100877072/MERCEDES-LAWSUIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712220

Incident

Apr 21, 2015

THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ASWELL AS IN THE CABIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705985

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

FUEL APPEARS TO BE LEAKING UNDER SEAT FROM GAS TANK STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN GARAGE, VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EXPLOSION DUE TO FUMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702298

Incident

Mar 27, 2015

REFERENCE THE NHTSA ACTION# PE12001 THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUEL SENDING UNITS AND AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUEL PUMPS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK OF THIS CAR. WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS AND PRODUCES A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE AND AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. I HAVE REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE UNITS AND I HAVE OBSERVED STANDING GASOLINE ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS. THERE ARE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS INSIDE OF THESE UNITS AND THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SHORTING DUE TO THE LEAK. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY HAZARDOUS, LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. *JS

NHTSA ID

10669345

Incident

Jan 7, 2013

Mileage

39,625 mi

THIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED IN 2008 FOR THE SAME ISSUE AS PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN BY MERCEDES-BENZ, #2008-020001. I WAS NOT THE OWNER AT THE TIME. THE IDENTICAL ISSUE IS NOW PRESENT ONCE AGAIN, VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN THE INTERIOR, AND A LESS-PRESENT ODOR AT THE EXTERIOR. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER UNITS WILL NOW BE REPLACED AT MY PERSONAL EXPENSE, HOWEVER SINCE THIS IS A REPEAT OF A PREVIOUS ISSUE WHICH HAD ALREADY WARRANTED A RECALL, I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MERCEDES-BENZ USA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662873

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

168,600 mi

I PARKED MY CAR IN MY GARAGE AND SMELLED GASOLINE. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND IT WAS LEAKING GASOLINE. IT LEFT A BIG PUDDLE AND WILL NOT STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662601

Incident

Dec 6, 2014

Mileage

84,575 mi

FILLED MY JUST PURCHASED 2003 E55 AMG WITH GASOLINE ON 10/30/14 AND DROVE STRAIGHT HOME. AFTER A FEW MINUTES MY BROTHER TOLD ME THE GARAGE HAD A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL. DROVE TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING AND NOTICED THE SMELL WAS EXTREMELY STRONG IN THE CAR AND LEFT WINDOWS DOWN TO VENTILATE. DROVE HOME WITH WINDOWS DOWN AND STILL NOTICED SMELL THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM BACK SEAT OF CAR. ENTERED CAR AND "GASOLINE SMELL" INTO INTERNET SEARCH TO FIND THERE IS A LARGE SCALE ISSUE, INVESTIGATION, AND LAWSUIT. WHEN PICKING THE CAR UP FROM DEALER I NOTICED THE ENTIRE REAR SEAT BOTTOM WAS NOT ATTACHED. THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO AN INSPECTION. HOWEVER, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE ACCESS PANEL FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS DIRECTLY UNDER THE SEAT. AFTER LEARNING THIS I REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO FIND GASOLINE ON THE ACCESS PANEL. REMOVED THE PANEL TO FIND A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON TOP OF THE TANK AROUND THE SENDING UNIT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID TO PARK THE CAR AND A TOW TRUCK WOULD DELIVER IT TO THEM. THEN THE DEALER CALLED AND PROVIDED A NUMBER FOR ME TO CALL MERCEDES BENZ USA TO ARRANGE A TOW TRUCK. MERCEDES ARRANGED THE TOW TRUCK AND HAULED THE JUST PURCHASED CAR BACK TO DEALER. DEALER IS SUPPOSED TO BE CHECKING IT ON MONDAY 11/3/14 TO LET ME KNOW THE STATUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651898

Incident

Nov 1, 2014

Mileage

52,400 mi

I GOT HOME FROM THE STORE SMELT GAS THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT FIRST. THE NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN GOT A BIG SMELL OF FUEL, THAT GOT ME THINKING. LATER THAT DAY WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED SMELLING AROUND MY VEHICLE. OPENED TRUNK SMELT GAS. THEN I SMELT BOTH REAR WHEEL WELLS AND SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR ON THE DRIVE SIDE REAR WHEEL. FURTHER INVESTIGATION I GOT UNDER THE VEHICLE TO CHECK IT OUT. I COULD SEE FUEL RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF MY FUEL TANK. SO I REMOVED MY REAR SEAT AND THE CAP UNDER THE SEAT TO SEE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FROM ABOVE. WHEN I REMOVED THAT THERE WAS A STREAM OF FUEL SHOOTING OUT OF MY SENDING UNIT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS CLAIM AND I FOUND OUT ITS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL AND THAT DIDN'T DO THE FIX. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE SENDING UNIT SHOOTING THE SPRAY OF FUEL BUT THERE IS NO AREA TO UPLOAD IT ON HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING WITH THIS. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641361

Incident

Sep 28, 2014

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE PUDDLES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10621823

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

98,000 mi

I FILLED MY CAR UP YESTERDAY AND I HAVE A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE MY CAR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610008

Incident

Jul 11, 2014

Mileage

116,115 mi

SMELLED STRONG FUEL SMELL IN GARAGE AND CAR. REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO ACCESS FUEL PUMP FUEL SENDER UNITS. UPON REMOVAL OF ACCESS DOOR LID I SEEN A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WHERE IT WAS SEEPING OUT BETWEEN A SEEM ON TOP OF THE UNIT. THIS SAME PART WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL IN 2008. THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FUEL LEAKS IS WIDE SPREAD AND WELL DOCUMENTED IN MBWORLD.ORG I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES IF NEEDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595175

Incident

May 30, 2014

Mileage

60,121 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ID

10592347

Incident

Mar 12, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND STANDING GASOLINE UNDER THE REAR SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588523

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

75,842 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE RIGHT REAR SENDING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,147 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10585252

Incident

Oct 2, 2009

Mileage

61,147 mi

AS A LOYAL MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER FOR YEARS IT PAINS ME TO WRITE THIS LETTER. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MBNA AND HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TWO FUEL CELL ISSUES IN TWO SEPARATE AMG CARS 6 YEARS APART. IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE COST BEFORE AND THIS TIME. IT SICKENS ME THAT MBNA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTS UTILIZED IN THESE AMG VEHICLES YET THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED. CUSTOMERS ARE NOT TOLD THAT THIS IS A FLAW THAT HAPPENS ON MANY OF THE AMG INSTEAD THEY ARE TREATED AS IF EACH ARE UNIQUE CASES. SHAME ON MBNA FOR TREATING SUCH LOYAL CUSTOMERS WITH SUCH DISREGARD AND NOT ADMITTING TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A LIMITATION THAT CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR THEIR SAFETY. IT PERSONALLY PLACED MY FAMILY IN HARMS WAY THIS PAST WEEKEND DURING A TRIP TO NAPLES FL. I THINK EACH EXECUTIVE OF MBNA SHOULD BE FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR FAMILY WITH THIS ISSUES SO THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL. FOR A COMPANY SO FOCUSED ON SAFETY...THEY ARE DROPPING THE BALL FOR THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND HIDING THE TRUTH. RESPECTFULLY I DEMAND THAT MBNA BE HELD DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND ADMIT THE ISSUE TO ALL AMG OWNERS 2003-2009. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585251

Incident

Oct 2, 2009

Mileage

62,579 mi

LEAKING FUEL IN CAR AROUND NECK OF FUEL TANK /SENDING UNIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574260

Incident

Mar 13, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK, FUMES FILLED THE CABIN. I LIFTED THE REAR SEAT AND EXPOSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE GAS TANK SENDING UNIT & THERE WAS A GAS PUDDLE SURROUNDING THE RING. THIS LEAK, ACCORDING TO POSTS, SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573156

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

47,867 mi