2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 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.

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.

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT HAS A SERVICE THRESHOLD. WHEN THIS THRESHOLD IS REACHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS MAY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A DRAMATIC REDUCTION OF BRAKING CAPACITY. THIS OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND RESULTS IN GREATLY INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. MERCEDES SERVICE BULLETIN S142.46-P-0012A PROVIDES DISCUSSION CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. MERCEDES CEASED INSTALLING THIS SYSTEM IN 2006. DUE TO CONCERNS WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THIS VITAL ELECTRONIC SAFETY SYSTEM. MERCEDES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE, AS PART OF A RECALL, THE FAILURE PRONE ELECTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS THAT HAVE REACHED THEIR SERVICE LIFE THRESHOLD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT LEADS TO FATALITIES

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IN TRAFFIC AND IN THE LEFTMOST LANE. A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD THAT ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD DIMINISHED BRAKING CAPABILITY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO DETERMINE HOW DIMINISHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS AS I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND IN TRAFFIC. UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN, I HAD NO BRAKES. AT THAT TIME A SECOND AND DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD WITH A STOP SIGN IKON; THE WARNING STATED: STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE (OR SOMETHING JUST AS DIRE AND TO THAT EFFECT). I MANAGED TO NAVIGATE ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC, WITHOUT BRAKING, AND CONTINUED ON THE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT BRAKES AND IN A COASTING MANNER, WHILE NOT APPLYING ADDITIONAL POWER TO THE CAR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP I ENCOUNTERED A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, WHICH WAS RED TO MY TRAFFIC LANE, AND BEING UNABLE TO STOP I TRAVELED THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. I CONTINUED ALONG A HEAVILY-TRAVELED ROAD UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO ENTER A SIDE STREET AND BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AND CALLED THE COLORADO AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION FOR A TOW OF THE CAR AS IT WAS CLEARLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR AS IT WAS, WAS A DANGER TO ME, TO OTHER MOTORISTS, VEHICLES, PEDESTRIANS AND PROPERTY. IN PURSUING A REMEDY FOR THE BRAKE FAILURE I ENCOUNTERED I LEARNED FROM A MERCEDES BENZ LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT THE FAILURE I ENCOUNTERED WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS IN THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, I LEARNED FROM THAT THIS DEFECT WITH THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT WAS KNOWN TO MERCEDES BENZ, YET MERCEDES BENZ DID NOT ADVISE ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS LIFE-THREATENING, CATASTROPHIC CONDITION WITH ITS CARS. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR WITH A KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR UPDATED 09/30/2014 *JS

The Alternator died after just over two years from being replaced by Mercedes part and labor causing a loss of electrical power and a loss of brake in the car.

MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN SRS WARNING LIGHT THAT THE DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH BAY, DIAGNOSED AS BEING A PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FAILURE. THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MODELS, WHICH UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I BELIEVE IS THE CASE, AND QUOTED ME OVER $4,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS FAILURE TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG UNLESS THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED. MY UNDERSTANDING, HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKING FOR ANOTHER OEM FOR 15 YEARS, WAS THAT AIRBAGS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS FAILURE IS SO COMMON WORLDWIDE THAT AFTERMARKET COMPANIES SELL "EMULATOR" KITS THAT TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND MAKE THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONAL FOR APPROXIMATELY $100. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE OF A CRUCIAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND SHOULD REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS.

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

DURING INITIAL WARMUP OF VEHICLE (GENERALLY SOAKED AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES 60F AND BELOW) A SHORT TERM (5-8 SECONDS) UNSTABLE IDLE OCCURS 20-30 SECONDS AFTER INITIAL ENGINE START AND WHILE IN A FORWARD DRIVE GEAR. THIS UNSTABLE IDLE GENERATES TORQUE VARIATIONS THAT WILL OVERCOME A BRAKE APPLY AND INCUR VEHICLE MOVEMENT. THE BRAKE APPLY IS A LEVEL WHICH WOULD KEEP THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON LEVEL GROUND TO COUNTER ACT NORMAL CREEP TORQUE. APPLYING THE BRAKE HEAVIER WILL PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING.

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.

TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED FOR A KNOWN ISSUE IN WHICH THE RADIATOR WOULD MIX THE ENGINE COOLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER CONFIRMED I HAD THE FAULTY RADIATOR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD GLYCOL IN IT. I WAS TOLD THEY CAN NOT COVER THE REPAIRS NOR REPLACE THE PARTS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL COSTS EVEN THOUGH IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. SO I DECIDED TO FLUSH THE FLUID OUT AND INSTALL A SEPARATE COOLER TO AVOID FLUID FROM GOING THROUGH RADIATOR IN HOPES I COULD SAVE THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING DAMAGED BY THE CONTAMINATED FLUID SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPLACE THE COMPONENTS. I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER COWORKERS WHEN MY CAR'S ENGINE OVER REVVED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE MOMENTUM. NEARLY GETTING REAR ENDED BY VEHICLES BEHIND ME, I GOT OUT OF THE LANE AND MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THINKING THE CAR MAY OF HAD SOME ELECTRIC FAULT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MIGHT OF CAUSED THE ISSUE, I BEGAN TO CAUTIOUSLY DRIVE THE CAR BACK TO WORK WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. NEXT DAY I WAS TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHEN IT COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING. THE ENGINE WOULD RUN PROPERLY, BUT WHEN PLACED IN DRIVE OR REVERSE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. TOLD DEALERSHIP MY ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COSTS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CAUSED BY EQUIPMENT FAILURE, SO I PAID ALL THE COST OUT OF POCKET IN ORDER TO GET VEHICLE BACK UP AND RUNNING SINCE IT IS MY ONLY CAR. AFTER TALKING WITH SERVICE MANAGER AT DEALER AND THEIR TECH'S, THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE SPECIFICALLY WITH MY VEHICLES YEAR AND THAT IT IS NOT A RECALL NOR SOMETHING THE DEALER CAN COVER. THIS ISSUE NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT THREE TIMES AND IT IS AN ISSUE THAT THE DEALER MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND COVER AT NO COST TO OWNER SINCE THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN SRS WARNING LIGHT THAT THE DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH BAY, DIAGNOSED AS BEING A PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FAILURE. THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MODELS, WHICH UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I BELIEVE IS THE CASE, AND QUOTED ME OVER $4,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS FAILURE TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG UNLESS THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED. MY UNDERSTANDING, HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKING FOR ANOTHER OEM FOR 15 YEARS, WAS THAT AIRBAGS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS FAILURE IS SO COMMON WORLDWIDE THAT AFTERMARKET COMPANIES SELL "EMULATOR" KITS THAT TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND MAKE THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONAL FOR APPROXIMATELY $100. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE OF A CRUCIAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND SHOULD REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS.

MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN SRS WARNING LIGHT THAT THE DEALERSHIP, MERCEDES BENZ OF SOUTH BAY, DIAGNOSED AS BEING A PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR FAILURE. THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MODELS, WHICH UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I BELIEVE IS THE CASE, AND QUOTED ME OVER $4,000 FOR THE REPAIR. THIS FAILURE TURNS OFF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG UNLESS THE REPAIR IS PERFORMED. MY UNDERSTANDING, HAVING PREVIOUSLY WORKING FOR ANOTHER OEM FOR 15 YEARS, WAS THAT AIRBAGS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED PARTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THIS FAILURE IS SO COMMON WORLDWIDE THAT AFTERMARKET COMPANIES SELL "EMULATOR" KITS THAT TURN OFF THE LIGHT AND MAKE THE AIRBAG FUNCTIONAL FOR APPROXIMATELY $100. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE OF A CRUCIAL SAFETY COMPONENT AND SHOULD REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS.