2005 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 Fuel system Problems

Fuel pump housing failed allowing gas to leak, further degrading parts of the fuel system, ultimately causing the locking ring to fail and gas to leak under rear passenger seat. Fumes filled the cabin while my family and I including two young children were inside. Fortunately, this issue was discovered rather quick, if not the fuel could have leaked onto the hot exhaust under the tank and ignited. I recently found this issue is well known in the Mercedes-Benz W211 chassis. You have multiple complaints on file. Mercedes had in fact issued an extended warranty of the fuel system however, it has since expired. The car provided no warning messages prior to failure. The car has yet to be inspected by the dealer, mechanic, or insurance.

NHTSA ID

11599777

Incident

Jul 3, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and arriving to the residence; the contact became aware that after parking the vehicle in the garage, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact saw fuel leaking from the fuel tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was part of an Extended Warranty program however, the Extended Warranty Program had expired. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

NHTSA ID

11596811

Incident

Jun 25, 2024

Mileage

54,000 mi

Gas tank leak from under heat Shield Recall claims in 2012 it was extended for 15 years

NHTSA ID

11527903

Incident

Jun 1, 2023

SHARP GAS ODER WHEN ENTERING THE CAR CABIN AND DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11375728

Incident

Oct 2, 2020

Mileage

145,400 mi

AFTER FILLING VEHICLE GAS TANK, EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR NOTICED IN CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. SMELL EXISTED BOTH AT STANDSTILL AND AT STREET SPEEDS (40MPH) WITH WINDOWS DOWN OR UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327188

Incident

May 30, 2020

Mileage

52,000 mi

STRONG GAS ODOR AROUND AND INSIDE THE CAR

NHTSA ID

11193923

Incident

Apr 2, 2019

Mileage

87,000 mi

WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS, GAS LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL SENDER/FILTER IS LOCATED. THE FUEL WICKED UP THE FOAM WRAPPED AROUND THE SIGNAL/ POWER WIRES, CAME BETWEEN THE ACCESS PANEL SCREWED TO THE FLOOR AND THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE FLOOR DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE FUEL SOAKED INTO THE INSULATION BELOW THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND THE FOAM SEAT. THIS CONTINUES TO OCCUR AT ALL TIMES UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL REACHES APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A TANK.

NHTSA ID

11152648

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

Mileage

64,000 mi

GASOLINE SMELL INTERIOR OF THE CAR. GETS WORSE WITH FULL GAS TANK. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE MERCEDES DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ID

11099043

Incident

May 30, 2018

I HAD FILLED MY GAS TANK TO FULL. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A LEAK BY THE DRIVERS REAR WHEEL. SMELLED LIKE GAS. I FOUND OUT THIS IS A RECALL FROM MERCEDES BENZ. "CHECK FUEL FILTER MODULE ASSEMBLY AND REPAIR OR REPLACE IF NECESSARY" THE EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGN IS: 2008020001

NHTSA ID

10908344

Incident

Sep 20, 2016

Mileage

80,900 mi

STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING TANK, DRIVERS SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON DRIVERS SIDE OF FUEL TANK LEAKING FUEL. NOTICEABLE CRACKS IN CORNERS OF UNIT AROUND FUEL PRESSURE SENDER.

NHTSA ID

10788366

Incident

Oct 29, 2015

Mileage

154,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL/PUMP SENDER UNIT IS LEAKING FUEL CAUSING STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE OF CABIN AND POSING SERIOUS SECURITY RISK TO DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. AFTER REMOVING INSPECTION COVER FROM DRIVER'S SIDE PUMP/SENDER UNIT, POOLED FUEL WAS OBSERVED ON TOP OF SENDING UNIT.

NHTSA ID

10785798

Incident

Oct 24, 2015

Mileage

103,000 mi

FUEL FILTER AND SENDING UNIT LEAKING UNDER REAR SEAT. BOTH PARTS REPLACED. REAR SEAT CUSHION SATURATED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO STRONG FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE. VEHICLE SERVICE HISTORY SHOWS SAME PART REPLACED AT 26,864 MILES BY PREVIOUS OWNER. SAME PART REPLACED AGAIN AT 69,383 MILES WITH SAME LEAKING ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680114

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

48,745 mi

FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. INSPECTED FUEL PUMP INSPECTION DOORS UNDER BACKSEAT TO FIND A POOL OF GASOLINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664652

Incident

Nov 17, 2014

Mileage

61,150 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CODE SCAN REVEALED CODE P0456. INSPECTION REVEALS FUEL LEAKAGE AT BOTH THE LEFT FUEL SENDER AND THE RIGHT FUEL PUMP HOUSINGS. LIQUID FUEL IS EXTERNALLY EVIDENT ALONG WITH THE ASSOCIATED SMELL OF RAW FUEL VAPOR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OF WHAT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664095

Incident

Dec 13, 2014

Mileage

94,580 mi

VEHICLE HAS HAD A CONSTANT STRONG GAS ODOR IN CAR. UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY THE VEHICLE HAS HAD... 2/8/08 LEFT SENDING UNIT CONNECT SEIZE AND CRACK REPLACED ALSO FUEL TANK REPLACED. 4/23/08 FUEL FILTER MODULE ASSEMBLY FUEL FILTER REPLACED.10/7 +11/6ODOR CONTINUES. CONTINUE TO BRING IN CAR NOTHING HAPPENS 1/20 SENDING UNIT,SENSOR,SEAL RINGS REPLACED(SEALS LEAKING AROUND PRESSURE SENSORS. 2/2/10 ODOR CONTINUES 8/18 ODOR CONTINUES 7/22/11 REPLACE LEFTSENDING UNIT.3/4/14 FUEL TANK AND SENSORS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED BY DEALER AT COST TO MYSELF. I HAVE ALL DEALER WORKSHEETS OF THIS FUEL LEAKING STRONG ODOR PROBLEM BEING A CONSTANT COMPLAINT. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662312

Incident

Oct 7, 2008

Mileage

32,350 mi

I SMELLED A GAS ORDER THAT WAS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. I DECIDED TO PULL THE PASSENGER SEAT TO FOLLOW THE SMELL AND NOTICED A PUDDLE OF GAS ON TOP OF MY FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. I DECIDED TO PULL OUT THE UNIT AND NOTICED THE UNIT WAS DISCOLORED AROUND THE CONNECTOR TERMINALS. I BELIEVE THE TERMINAL MELTED THE SENDING UNIT CAUSING THE SENDING UNIT TO LEAK FUEL. I HAVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658736

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

I FILLED MY TANK WITH GAS DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. LATER I WENT OUT TO THE GARAGE AND SMELLED A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I THOUGHT MY HUSBAND MIGHT HAVE LEFT A CONTAINER OF GAS IN THE GARAGE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I WENT TO A FRIENDS HOME IN THE COUNTRY SIDE AND NOTICED AN INTENSE SMELL OF FUEL IN MY CAR. I THOUGHT SOMEHOW MAYBE MY HUSBAND TRANSPORTED GAS IN A CONTAINER IT THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, BUT HE HAD NOT. I HAD TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE ON THE RETURN TRIP NOT ONLY WAS THE GAS SMELL MORE INTENSE, BUT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. IMMEDIATELY ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CAME CHANGED THE TIRE AND TOOK US HOME AND DROVE THE CAR TO THE MB DEALERSHIP. I PAID FOR A NEW TANK TO BE INSTALLED AND THEY PAID TO REMOVE THE PADDING AND LINER AND REPLACE IT FROM THE SEAT BEHIND THE TANK. FROM 2010 TO 2014 THREE MORE EVENTS OF FUEL SMELL IN AND OUT OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE TANK HAVE SINCE OCCURRED AND REQUIRED REPAIR. ONCE IT WAS SAID TO BE THE LINES OR INJECTION SYSTEM. AFTER THE LINES WERE REPAIRED THOUGH THE SMELL REMAINED AND THIS WAS SOLVED BY PLACING A NEW TANK AGAIN IN OCTOBER 2012. THE LATEST LEAK OCCURRED JUST AS THE FIRST, AND ON NOVEMBER 7, 2014 A NEW TANK HAS NOT BEEN PLACED YET. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR IS INTOLERABLY CAUSTIC WITH GAS FUMES. I AM OUT OF WARRANTY AND AM DRIVING AN EXPLOSIVE TIME BOMB FILLED WITH CARCINOGENIC PETROLEUM. THESE CARS NEED A RECALL. I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT FOR THIS DANGEROUS HAZARD. THE TANK FUEL LEAK FOR THE S CLASS AND E CLASS SPANNING 2003-2008 IS DISCUSSED ON MERCEDES BENZ FORUMS, AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654775

Incident

Jul 12, 2007

Mileage

20,000 mi

TOPPED THE GAS TANK WITH GASOLINE ON 11/02/14, ONLY TO FIND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. LATER THAT SAME DAY MY WIFE AND KID NOTICED THE SMELL AS WELL AND THAT MADE IT A CONCERN FOR ME TO FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER A SNIFF TEST, I LOCATED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL EMITTING FROM UNDER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT. I DETACHED THE REAR SEAT CUSHION AND THE COVER PLATE THAT CONCEALS THE FUEL SENDER UNIT. WHEN I REMOVED THE COVER PLATE, GASOLINE WAS SITTING ATOP OF THE FUEL SENDER UNIT AND AROUND THE GAS TANK- FUEL SENDER CONNECTION AREA. AT THIS TIME THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS VERY STRONG AND WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT FEED POWER TO THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR WHICH SITS ATOP/CONNECTED TO THE FUEL SENDER UNIT MAKES FOR A VERY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION. AFTER DRYING THE GASOLINE, I NOTICED A LARGE NUMBER OF SMALL HAIR LINE CRACKS ALL AROUND THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDER UNIT. IN THE PROCESS OF PRICING FUEL SENDER UNIT FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653828

Incident

Nov 2, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT SMELL OF FUEL WHENEVER I GET IN AND OUT OF MY E55. I HAD THE DEALER LOOK IT AT DURING MY LAST SERVICE A MONTH AGO AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG... I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY FUEL LEAKING FROM BELOW THE CAR. AFTER VIEWING THE HUNDREDS OF THREADS AND COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING 30 PAGES ON A MERCEDES FORUM, I DECIDED TO HAVE A LOOK FOR MYSELF: HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W211-AMG/363759-URGENT-NOTICE-03-06-E55-S-WERE-INVOLVED-FUEL-SENDER-RECALL-BOMBS.HTML WHEN I TOOK OFF THE METAL COVERS ON TOP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE SENDING UNITS I FOUND FRESH FUEL ON TOP OF BOTH UNITS. THE PASSENGER WAS VERY LITTLE. THE DRIVER SIDE WAS SIGNIFICANT AND SQUIRTING OUT FROM A PLASTIC NIPPLE THAT IS PART OF THE SENDING UNIT. MERCEDES REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM BASED ON THE 30+ PAGES FOUND ON THE LINK ABOVE. YOUR ORGANIZATION IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MBNA. I WILL HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE BY MY OWN MECHANIC BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO PUT UP WITH AN ARROGANT SERVICE ADVISOR WHO WILL SURELY DENY THIS IS WAS EVER A PROBLEM ON THE W211 E55 MERCEDES. I THINK ITS TIME THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION FORCE MBUSA/MBNA TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652377

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

Mileage

85,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10643352

Incident

Oct 7, 2014

Mileage

91,000 mi

JUST FOUND OUT MY FUEL SENDING UNITS ARE LEAKING, STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL.. HG MOTORSORTS DIAGNOSED, WILL BE TAKING TO ACG AUTOMOTIVE FOR SECOND OPINION.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640281

Incident

Sep 23, 2014

Mileage

52,000 mi

FUEL LEAK IN SENDING UNIT ABOVE GAS TANK. VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN CAR AND GAS LEAKING IN MY GARAGE. TOOK IT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF COLORADO SPRINGS AND IT TOOK THREE VISITS TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN 2009. NOW 9/14/14 HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE CAR AND FUEL LEAKING IN THE SENDING UNIT ALL THE WAY TO THE FOAM OF THE BACK SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633073

Incident

Aug 20, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK...STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10633013

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

EXISTING ISSUE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA13003 FUEL SENDER LEAKAGE ALREADY 116 REPORTS ON THE E55AMG MODEL PER THE REPORT. THIS WILL INCREASE TO 117. TOTAL COST TO ME QUOTED AT $1300.00 IN 2012 I PAID APPROX. $2000.00 FOR A SEPARATE ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE PERFORMED BY MERCEDES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632555

Incident

Sep 11, 2014

Mileage

88,700 mi

VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. REGARDING THE INTERIOR, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A LEAKING SEAL AT THE FUEL SENDER UNIT. THE SEAL AT THE FUEL SENDER UNIT WAS REPLACED IN MARCH 2010. THIS PROBLEM RECURRED IN LATE 2013. IN MARCH 2014 THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, FUEL PUMP LOCK RING AND FUEL SENDER SEAL WERE ALL REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS. THE PROBLEM HAS RE-APPEARED AGAIN. REGARDING THE EXTERIOR SMELL IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL TANK VENT AREA. THIS WAS INITIALLY MANAGEABLE BY KEEPING THE FUEL LEVEL BELOW 3/4 FULL. IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THIS PROBLEM EXISTS AT ANY FUEL LEVEL. THIS OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL WILL COMPLETELY ENVELOP THE ENTIRE GARAGE WITHIN 15 -20 MINUTES AND POSSESSES AN EXTREME HEALTH RISK AND POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. THE LEVEL OF EXTERIOR ODOR NOW IS SO HIGH THAT IT PENETRATES INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STANDING STILL, IN MOTION AND WITH THE ENGINE ON OR OFF. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM IS COMMON TO THIS MODEL MERCEDES BENZ AND HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION OR COMMUNICATION FROM MERCEDES BENZ AT ANY TIME REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10631463

Incident

Mar 15, 2010

Mileage

55,675 mi