2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E55. The contact stated that upon placing fuel into the gas tank, a strong gasoline odor began to emit from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact removed the rear seat and saw that fuel had leaked from the fuel pumps. The contact reached out to the manufacturer through the manufacturer’s website and his request to repair the vehicle was denied. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer and the manufacturer denied the repair a second time. The contact stated that the same failure occurred back in 2008 and that the vehicle was repaired under a manufacturer’s recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11433603

Incident

Sep 6, 2021

Mileage

111,000 mi

When the vehicle is has a full tank of gas, there are heavy fumes of gasoline in the interior of the car. It appears to be the fuel pumps that are underneath the rear seats, leaking fuel on top, next to the the wiring. It is a hazard for fumes and possibly a fire

NHTSA ID

11428180

Incident

May 11, 2020

STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE WAS COVERED AT SOME POINT BUT WAS NEVER DONE TO THIS SPECIFIC CAR VRTC-DCD-3206. I PURCHASED THE CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD BY MB THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER REFUSED TO DO THE FIX/SERVICE. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE THE CABIN HAS AN INCREDIBLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. IF THE FIX WAS OFFERED AT SOME POINT AND WAS NEVER DONE, WHY CANT THEY PERFORM IT NOW? QUOTE FOR FIX ATTACHED

NHTSA ID

11364187

Incident

Oct 2, 2020

Mileage

148,000 mi

GAS LEAK, THERE A STRONG GAS SMELL

NHTSA ID

11343092

Incident

Aug 3, 2020

Mileage

95,000 mi

SMELL OF STRONG GAS ODOR. RECALL EXPIRED LESS THEN ONE YEAR AGO SO MERCEDES WONT FIX IT. WHY IS THERE A CUT OFF DATE TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION? *TR

NHTSA ID

11328300

Incident

May 22, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR WHEN HALF TANK OR MORE OF GAS. CANNOT PARK IN GARAGE OR WILL SMELL ENTIRE GARAGE WITH FUEL ODOR. ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS CAR WHICH WAS A 2004 MERCEDES E500.

NHTSA ID

11319169

Incident

Mar 17, 2020

Mileage

110,500 mi

STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND GAVE ME A CODE P0456. PLESSE ADVISE!

NHTSA ID

11222839

Incident

Jun 12, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL OK I BOUGHT MY WIFE THE 04 E55 AMG MERCEDES ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR WE STARTED TO NOTICE A FAINT FUEL SMELL OCCASIONALLY, SO WITHIN THE PAST THE THREE YEARS THE FUEL SMELL HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE AND WORSE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR CAUSING MY WIFE TO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF A FUEL SYSTEM RELATED FIRE WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE, I DO NOT BLAME HER. SO I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR MYSELF WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS I FILLED THE TANK UP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASION AND IT HAS THE FIRST TIME THE GAS SMELL WAS SO BAD I HAD A HARD TIME DRIVING THE CAR MYSELF BUT THIS LAST TIME, IT DRAINED OVER HALF OF THE GASOLINE INTO THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. NOT ONLY MAKING THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE GASOLINE COVERED MISS BUT MAKING THE ENTIRE CAR SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE MY GARAGE SMELL LIKE GASOLINE. AS WELL AS THE INSIDE OF MY HOUSE. ONCE THIS HAD HAPPENED I LOOKED INTO TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING GOING TO THE FUEL FUEL PUMP SYSTEM HAD BURNED A HOLE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK INTO THE GAS TANK CAUSING THE LEAK. (HOT ENOUGH WIRES TO BURN THOUGH THE GAS TANK LID VERY CONCERNING IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF... AND THIS GAS STATION IS ONLY 4 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE AND THIS WAS UNDER NO HARD DRIVING CONDITIONS JUST SEMI- STRAIGHT SHOT FROM THE GAS STATION TO THE HOUSE HOPEFULLY THEY CAN REMEDY THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS RATHER CONCERNING TO KNOW THAT THESE CAR WILL LEAK GAS NOT ONLY INSIDE THE CAR BUT OUTSIDE PUTTING OUR FAMILY AND OTHERS AT RISK

NHTSA ID

11218219

Incident

Apr 21, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

2004 E55, I AM SMELLING A LARGE ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF CAR. GAS CONSUMPTION HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND FEEL OF CAR HA DROPPED. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING CAR WITH FAMILY. I SMELL THE FUMES IN THE MOTION AND NOT IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11088381

Incident

Feb 23, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

EVERY TIME I FILL THE GAS TANK. IT STARTS SMELLING LIKE GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN THE REAR. AND EVEN WHEN YOU APPROACH THE CAR FROM BEHIND YOU CAN SMELL THE GAS ODOR. IF I CAN BE HELPED HERE WITH THIS SITUATION. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR WITH A FULL TANK.

NHTSA ID

11022568

Incident

Aug 26, 2017

Mileage

142,000 mi

I HAVE GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CHECK THE PUMP SENDER , AND I FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE CONNECTOR FOR THE PUMPS. SEE PICTURE. THIS ISSUE COULD CREATE ELECTRICAL SPARK AND YOUR CAR COULD BE ON FIRE! BIG ISSUE CHECK YOUR VEHICLE. THE DESIGN OF THE CONNECTOR ARE UNDER HEAT CAPACITY. AND THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF LEAK OF FULL.

NHTSA ID

10910680

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

35,000 mi

THE FUEL SMELL IS CONSTANT AND SO STRONG IT BURNS YOUR EYES. FUEL IS LEAKING INTO THE CAR AND DAMAGING THE REAR SEATS, DISCOLORATION IS EVIDENT FROM THE LEAKING FUEL ON THE LEATHER. A SIMPLE TOWEL LEFT WILL STINK LIKE GASOLINE OVER A MATTER OF MINUTES WHEN LEFT IN THE BACK SEAT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10871398

Incident

May 27, 2016

Mileage

122,100 mi

NOTICED FUEL SMELL WHEN FILLING TANK MORE THAN HALF WAY. INVESTIGATED TO FIND POOLING FUEL ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP / SENDER ASSEMBLY BENEATH REAR SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10837986

Incident

Feb 23, 2016

Mileage

101,000 mi

SMELLS OF FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS 3/4 OR FULL TANK.. (FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT).

NHTSA ID

10811840

Incident

Dec 2, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE SMELL OF FUEL IS COMING FROM MY CAR WHEN IT IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THE SMELL OF SO OVERWHELMING THAT I CAN SMELL IT EVEN BEFORE ENTERING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10806432

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

Mileage

55,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM PURE MOTORS IN SACRAMENTO CA. WITH A EMPTY FUEL TANK. I TOOK TO A GAS STATION LESS THAN A QUARTER MILE FROM THE DEALER. I FILLED IT UP AND MY WIFE DROVE IT HOME ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP. SHE PULLED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY AND TOLD ME HOW BAD THE GAS ODER WAS AND THAT SHE HAD TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN TO KEEP FROM PASSING OUT. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MERCEDES BENZ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK OUT AND TOOK IT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IN ROCKLIN. CA. AFTER THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK. THEY SAID IT WAS ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO GET ONE. THAT WAS 02/25/2015, IT'S NOW 05/06/2015. NO WORD FROM MERCEDES AS TO WHEN THEY WILL GET IT. I RECEIVED A EMAIL LETTER FROM AN ATTORNEY THAT MERCEDES BENZ USA LLC WOULD COVER THE ISSUE BUT ALL I GET FROM THEM ARE WASTED WORDS, THE RUN AROUND. THE LETTER FROM MB USA LLC WAS SIGNED BY RALPH S. FISHER THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10714997

Incident

Feb 23, 2015

Mileage

105,095 mi

MY FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK WHERE I CAN SMELL FUEL BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE TANK ALL THE WAY. THE ODOR IS VERY PRONOUNCED AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IF THIS MUCH FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP CONFIRMED A LEAK FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. BASED ON INFORMATION I READ ON A MERCEDES BENZ FORUM WEBSITE, IT SAID TO REFERENCE ACTION NUMBER PE12001 (THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SERIES OF VEHICLE). I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND FORCE MERCEDES BENZ TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE FUEL TANKS AT NO COST TO CONSUMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683966

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

GAS SMELL IN CAR SO WENT TO SHOP FOR INSPECTION. FOUND GAS TANK WOULD NOT HOLD VACUUM AND THAT IT WAS LEAKING WITH GAS POOLING AROUND TANK BELOW REAR SEAT. I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO RECOVER THE OVER $4000 IN EXPENSES TO REPAIR MY GAS TANK. A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT LEAK AND NEED REPLACING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10678258

Incident

Apr 17, 2013

Mileage

36,323 mi

A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS IN THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE TANKS AND EMITTERS. GAS HAD GOTTEN IN THE SEATS AS WELL AND THEY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG THAT IT MADE ME AND WIFE SICK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671176

Incident

Nov 12, 2014

Mileage

77,000 mi

AFTER FILLING UP CAR AT GAS STATION STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAR. WHILE CAR WAS IN DRIVEWAY I NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE. I LOOKED UNDER DRIVER REAR SEAT THERE WAS A POOL OF FUEL AROUND THE CROWN OF THE FUEL PUMPS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10669123

Incident

Dec 18, 2014

Mileage

146,735 mi

NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL IN GARAGE AFTER A FILL UP. I AM A MECHANIC SO REMOVED REAR SEAT TO INSPECT FUEL PUMPS, FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE FUEL PUMP LEAKING QUITE A BIT OF FUEL THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BECAUSE HOUSING WAS MELTING AROUND THE ELECTRICAL PINS ALLOWING FUEL TO POOL UP ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THESE FUEL FUMES TRAPPED IN THE GARAGE AROUND SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN SPARK. ALSO NOT SAFE AT ALL TO HAVE STANDING GASOLINE ON CONTACT POINTS OF THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. VEHICLE NEEDS FUEL PUMP MODULE REPLACED. VERY HIGH RISK OF FIRE!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10664115

Incident

Dec 9, 2014

Mileage

67,105 mi

A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55 I NOTICED AN OCCASIONAL FUEL SMELL FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. OVER THE PAST YEAR IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE, FUEL APPEARS TO BE POOLING ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DIRECTLY UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SEAT WHERE THERE IS AN ACCESS PANEL. I HAVE REMOVED THE PANEL AND NOTICED THE FUEL ON TOP OF THE TANK. LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE I CAN SEE WHERE FUEL HAS BEEN RUNNING OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK ONTO THE GROUND RIGHT NEXT TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN OF MINE AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES WANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS WELL AS NAUSEATING TO DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662628

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

156,000 mi

I FILLED THE CAR WITH FUEL AND DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN THE GARAGE. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT INTO THE GARAGE THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FUMES. THE FUMES WERE NOT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT RATHER, OUTSIDE THE CAR. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A WHILE AND USING ABOUT 1/8TH TANK OF GASOLINE, THE ODOR WAS NO LONGER PRESENT. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS DETERMINE THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. I THINK MERCEDES DID A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM EARLIER. *JS

NHTSA ID

10661658

Incident

Nov 19, 2013

Mileage

73,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG ,I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR BOUGHT IT ON DECEMBER 2012 WITH ODOMETER READING 118,000 DURING THAT TIME.I HARDLY USED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE COUPLE OF DAILY DRIVER CAR. COUPLE OF MONTH AGO I SMELLS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR AND ENGINE CHECK WAS ON. I WENT TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK IT AND HE CANNOT FIND WHERE IS IT COMING FROM.SO I TOOK HOME MY CAR AND DIDN'T DRIVE IT FOR AWHILE. I ONLY USE IT OCCASIONALLY AND UNTIL THE SMELLS IS NO LONGER COMING. YESTERDAY , NOVEMBER 22,2014 , IUSED THE CAR FOR WORK AND EVERYTHING SEEMS NORMAL. ON MY WAY HOME I WENT TO FILL UP THE GAS FULL TANK ,WHEN I LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF MY CAR ,FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER AREA ,I SAW A POOL OF GAS COMING FORM THAT AREA UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER REAR SEAT AREA BUT COMING FROM THE METAL LID OF THE CAR.ITS KIND OF STRONG AND THE GASOLINE GUY NEED TO APPLY SOME CHEMICALS ON THE SURFACE OF THE TANK WHERE PARK MY CAR DURING FILL UPS. ITS KIND OF STRONG DRIPPED AND I DECIDED TO TOW IT TO MY MECHANIC ON MIDNIGHT. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE BECAUSE ITS NEAR THE EXHAUST UNDER THE PASSENGER REAR SEAT. I WENT ONLINE WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOWING TRUCK AND REALIZED THAT THERE IS A SIMILAR CASES LIKE THIS ON THIS MODEL,THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS CAR AND IM NOT SURE IF THE ORIGINAL OWNER EXPERIENCE THIS BEFORE. WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE I CAN GET FROM YOUR AGENCY TO MAKE SURE THIS ISSUE IS TAKING CARE OF.ITS NOT VERY SAFE FOR ME TO USE THIS CAR WITH THIS CONDITIONS AND IM SURE MERCEDES BENZ WILL DO CHARGE ARM AND LEGS FOR THIS FAULTY DESIGN FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM AND HOW CAN I GET THIS FIX THROUGH RECALL ISSUES THAT NHTSA HAS ISSUED FOR THIS MODEL. LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOUR AGENCY .THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10660369

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

124,759 mi

FUEL TANK/SENDING UNITS ARE LEAKING BADLY ON TOP OF TANK AND SEEPING RAW FUEL AND HEAVY FUMES INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A HORRIBLE SAFETY RISK AND I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS BECOMING A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE WITH SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL SOAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE AFFECTED AREA IF USEFUL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658715

Incident

Nov 17, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi