RoadVitals

2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Dec 2, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
38%
of 56 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Fuel system
Filed Dec 2, 2023

Everytime I fill the gas tank I smell gas strongly I paid out of pocket to have the fuel pump done the gas cap the purge valve and I’m still getting a check engine light for a evap leak and still smelling gas from inside and outside the car I also have a rattle noise comeing from inside the gas tank u can take the gas cap off and heat it inside the gas tank from outside and inside the car it’s a constant knocking noise inside the gas tank I replaced everything and their is still a knock noise and fuel smell I have proof receipts from Merceds dealer of all work I did and I have videos of the noise I can’t afford a new gas tank I bought the car in Connecticut with a 2 year extended warranty the warranty place won’t cover a new gas tank I saw their were recalls for gas smells on other models same year as mine but not the c class a lot of other people I noticed on google have had this same knocking noise and fuel smell the car only has 70 thousand miles on it I can’t afford 5 grand for a new gas tank and labor espically after I already paid for all this stuff and already had this problem diagnosed but yet everytime I get my car back it’s never fixed but they tell me it’s fixed they have my car for months at a time and never give it back to me fixed I’m always paying for rental cars because of this they won’t supply me with a loaner please put a recall in for these fuel tanks 2007 c280 4 matic only has 70 thousand miles I bought it 4 months ago and no one will fix this properly for me when they have diagnosed this problem multiple times the rattle is the baffles in the fuel tank they keep working their way around it and keep telling me it’s other things just to get my money instead of properly diagnosing it I’m just sick of geting my car back saying it’s fixed when it’s not out of the 4 months I’ve had this car it has Ben in my possession for maybe one of them the other 3 months it’s Ben in and out the shop for the same problem please recall these tanks car has low miles

NHTSA ID
11558138
Incident
Aug 16, 2023
Fuel system
Filed Apr 15, 2021

SEVERAL TIMES I'VE FILLED MY GAS TANK I GOT A STRONG SMELL OF GAS BEFORE ENTERING MY VEHICLE. I HAD THEN MADE SURE NOT TO FILL THE TANK UP DUE TO THIS LEAKAGE. I BELIEVE ITS VERY DANGEROUS. THE SMELL DOESN'T GO AWAY UNTIL I DRIVE THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

NHTSA ID
11408210
Incident
May 15, 2019
Mileage
156,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 2, 2020

WHEN RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM I FOUND THIS TK HE A COMMON PROBLEM. IF I FILL MY GAS TANK IT LEAKS GAS. THE CABIN OF CAR IS FLOODED WITH FUMES. SO MANY WITH SAME CAR HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ID
11315703
Incident
Jul 9, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Nov 18, 2019

WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FILLED THERE IS A STRONG GAS ORDER COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11280883
Incident
Aug 23, 2019
Mileage
191,034 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 16, 2019

WE JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR. AFTER I FILLED IT UP, THERE IS STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE GARAGE. PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE AND IT STILL HAS SMELL. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES BENZ C280? UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THERE WAS EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM MERCEDES TO COVER E CLASS AND CLS CLASS FUEL ODOR ONLY. WHAT ABOUT THE C CLASS CARS? DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR SHOULD BE PERFORMING. BY THE WAY, THE CAR IS 2007 WITH 102K MILES. I BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD ALSO COVER C CLASS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM,

NHTSA ID
11207992
Incident
May 15, 2019
Fuel system
Filed May 8, 2018

VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLS THE GARAGE AND HOUSE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED INSIDE AFTER FUELING TO FULL TANK. THE GASOLINE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE FUMES, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE

NHTSA ID
11092403
Incident
Apr 10, 2018
Mileage
78,250 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 26, 2017

STRONG GASOLINE ORDOR COMING FROM LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL EVERY TIME THE CAR IS REFUELED. THE STRONG ORDOR LINGERS ON FOR 2-3DAYS FILLING THE GARAGE AND HOUSE WITH FULE ORDOR. SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS E CLASS, WHICH IS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE FUEL ORDOR ISSUE. MB SERVICE REP SAID THAT C CLASS VEHICLES ARE NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND OWNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
11029913
Incident
Feb 3, 2017
Mileage
50,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 7, 2017

WITH FULL TANK, GAS SMELLS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID
10949960
Incident
Feb 6, 2017
Mileage
104,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 26, 2016

76000 ML NICE AND CLEAN BUT, ALL OF THE SUDDEN STRONG SMELL OF THE GASOLINE INSIDE. WHEN DID MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND A LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AS WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED ON REPORT# VRTC-DCD-3206 BY NHTSA. UPON FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS FROM SANDING UNIT UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT. CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SAME RECALL IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE C-CLASS MB, MAKES NO SENSE TO ME AS TO THE OTHERS UNHAPPY MB OWNERS. MY NEXT CAR IS LEXUS, DONE WITH MB

NHTSA ID
10928087
Incident
Nov 2, 2016
Mileage
76,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 8, 2016

MILEAGE 54,606 1 OWNER CAR STRONG GAS ODOR WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED, AND MOVING. TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER STATED WE NEED TO DRAIN TANK AND REPLACE LEAKING L/H FUEL SENSOR MODULE. L/H FUEL UNIT FUEL SENDER O RINGS FUEL SENDER LOCK RINGS ALL FOR THE LOW COST OF $1,095.84 FOR NOW WE ARE NOT FILLING TANK. I'VE READ ON LINE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MB A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE.

NHTSA ID
10873240
Incident
Feb 19, 2016
Mileage
54,606 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 15, 2016

THIS VEHICLE SHOWS SAME SYMPTOMS AS WHAT WAS INVESTIGATED ON REPORT# VRTC-DCD-3206 BY NHTSA. UPON FILLING UP THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS FROM SANDING UNIT UNDER REAR PASSENGER SEAT. FEW TIMES THE GAS HAS MADE ITS WAY OUT AND DRIPPED FROM REAR LEFT WHEEL WELL. REACHED OUT TO MB USA AND WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS ONLY IN E-CLASS AND THEY WILL NOT EXTEND IT TO C-CLASS. I SEE THIS AS A POOR PRODUCT DESIGN AS THE CAR ONLY HAS UNDER 14,000 MILES. IT'S BOTH HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
10849745
Incident
Jan 13, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Mar 10, 2016

STRONG GAS ODOR IN GARAGE & HOUSE. THIS OCCURS AFTER FILLING UP CAR AND PARKING CAR IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT.

NHTSA ID
10845931
Incident
Mar 9, 2016
Mileage
80,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 11, 2016

GAS SMELL IN GARAGE - GAS CAP TIGHT JUST FILLED TANK

NHTSA ID
10825724
Incident
Feb 11, 2016
Mileage
110,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 31, 2014

THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FUMES IS EXTREMELY STRONG AFTER FILLING THE TANK. THE INTENSE SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLS THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AS WELL. I FEEL THAT THIS CONDITION IS UNSAFE AND PROVIDES THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE HAZARD. THIS CONDITION ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS FILLED AND LAST A DAY OR TWO. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576067
Incident
Jan 4, 2013
Mileage
43,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 17, 2013

AFTER FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLS THE GARAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED INSIDE AFTER FUELING. THE ODOR OF GASOLINE IS SO STRONG THAT I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE TO PARK THE VEHICLE INSIDE THE GARAGE BECAUSE OF THE FUMES, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10544070
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
85,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 2, 2013

EVERY TIME I FILL UP THE GAS TANK, I GET A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FOR A DAY OR TWO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533229
Incident
May 7, 2013
Mileage
36,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 16, 2013

NOTICED STRONG FUEL SMELL. FUEL TANK BEHIND DRIVER SIDE HAD CRACK-HAD IT REPLACED. 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND NOTICED I COULD NOT FILL UP TANK BEYOND 1/2 TANK TOOK IT BACK INTO SERVICE DEFECT WAS LOCATED IN PASSENGER SIDE TANK. ON 7/15 CAR STALLED ON FREEWAY---SHOWED 1/2 TANK OF GAS-ASSUMED IT WAS THE BATTERY. TOOK IT INTO SERVICE AGAIN AND IT WAS THE FLOAT IN THE TANK THAT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED---PROBLEM SOLVED-----SO FAR. WAS TOLD BY DEALER MY YEAR/MODEL DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL. RECALLS ARE DETERMINED BY FACTORY WHERE IT WAS BUILT AND EXCESSIVE COMPLAINTS FOR SAID PROBLEM FROM THAT FACTORY. IF THE SAME FUEL PUMP WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS WHY WAIT FOR CONSUMER TO COMPLAIN AND PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR.. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL PUMPS GRATIS ----SOUNDS LIKE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10525190
Incident
May 24, 2011
Mileage
59,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2013

AFTER MY CAR WAS SERVICED ON JANUARY 11, 2013, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERY TIME I FILLED MY GAS TANK. THE SMELL WAS EVIDENT INSIDE MY CAR AND IN THE GARAGE AND EVEN IN MY HOUSE. AFTER THE THIRD FILLING OF MY GAS TANK AND AN EVER-WORSENING SMELL, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER TO ASCERTAIN AND FIX THE PROBLEM (MARCH 15, 2013). THEY FOUND FUEL LEAKING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND REPLACED IT FOR $1200. I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES ON MARCH 20, 2013, THAT FEDERAL SAFETY REGULATORS ARE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM IN THE E-CLASS, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW IT IS OCCURRING IN THE 2007 C-CLASS, ALSO. I CAN STILL DETECT AN ODOR, THOUGH NOT AS STRONG, AFTER I FILL THE GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508865
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
39,699 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 7, 2013

AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CABIN WHILE AT A STOPLIGHT. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND COULD SMELL THE GASOLINE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE EXTERIOR. AFTER THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ROUGHLY 3 HOURS, WE NOTICED A "POOL" OF GASOLINE ON THE DRIVEWAY SURFACE. CONTACT WITH MERCEDES-BENZ OF WACO REVEALED THAT THE TECHNICIANS THERE HAVE DONE MANY TANK/SENDING UNIT REPLACEMENTS AS THESE ARE "KNOWN TO FAIL AND BEING OUT OF WARRANTY THESE REPAIRS WOULD COST NO LESS THAN $1800 OUT OF POCKET AND WILL LIKELY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WE SUGGEST YOU RESEARCH RECALL STATUS AND COMPLAINTS MADE BEFORE DOING A POSSIBLE TEMPORARY FIX." WE ARE CONCERNED WITH DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION AND ARE EXTREMELY UPSET WITH THE LACK OF SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10491629
Incident
Oct 24, 2012
Mileage
56,243 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 17, 2012

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE MERCEDES C280 2007 WHEN IT'S FILLED UP, OR FILLED PAST THE SECOND NOTCH ON THE FUEL METER. INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEATS REVEALS A VISIBLE FUEL LEAK ON THE LEFT SENDING UNIT A THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS SUGGEST THIS LEAKAGE MAY BE RELATED TO A MARCH, 2008 EMISSIONS RECALL CONDUCTED BY MERCEDES BENZ (EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN # 2008-020001) WHICH INVOLVED POTENTIAL CRACKING OF THE FUEL FILTER MODULE IN VEHICLES EXPOSED TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. I CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS WHO OWN MERCEDES REPAIR SHOPS, AND THEY BOTH CONFIRMED THESE ARE COMMON PROBLEMS WITH MERCEDES VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT MODELS AND YEARS. FIXING IS VERY EXPENSIVE (CLOSE TO $800). MEANWHILE, THE LEAKED FUEL COULD IGNITE A FIRE, EXPLOSION, AND, TO THE LEAST EXTENT, IS SENDING FUEL FUME OUT TO THE ENVIRONMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10489060
Incident
Dec 17, 2012
Mileage
54,125 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2009

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STALLED WITH NO WARNING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR FAILED DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS STILL ALMOST ONE QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL SENSOR. RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A PART 573 DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT FILED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND A MANUFACTURER'S CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS ISSUED #2008070001. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BY THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY INSTEAD OF A LOCAL STREET AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259674
Incident
Feb 19, 2009
Mileage
28,639 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .