2004 Mercedes-Benz E Class Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E Class, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system526.3%
- Electrical210.5%
- Brakes210.5%
- Transmission210.5%
- Airbags210.5%
- Tires & wheels15.3%
- Visibility15.3%
- Body & structure15.3%
- Driver assistance15.3%
- Engine15.3%
- Powertrain (other)15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE'S STRONG GASOLINE ODOR FROM MY VEHICLE WHENEVER I REFUEL, PARTICULAR AFTER IT'S GARAGED. THE SMELL SEEMS TO GO AWAY ONCE I USED UP 1/3 OR 1/2 TANK. RECENTLY THE SMELL SEEMS TO BE STRONGER. I CAN SMELL IT EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT GARAGED. *TR
MY E 320 HAS GAS SMELL IN MY GARAGE AFTER REFUELING SINCE JUNE/2012. THE SMELL IS GETTING EVEN STRONGER FOR LAST A FEW MONTHS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE DISTRONIC RADAR-CONTROLLED CRUISE CONTROL. IN EXTREME WET CONDITIONS THE CAR IN FRONT IS INTERMITTENTLY NOT SEEN BY THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS FAULT PERSISTS FOR SOME DAYS AFTER THE WET CONDITIONS SUBSIDE. THE CAR'S FAULT DETECTION SYSTEM SOMETIMES DETECTS THIS AS A FAULT, BUT RESETS ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY LEADING TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITION RECURRING RANDOMLY. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. AS A RESULT, WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY BRAELY FUNCTIONED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BUS. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A SIGNAL FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. *AK NOT ONLY DID THE AIR NAG FAIL TO DEPLOY BUT THE DASH INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2004. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOUR TIMES WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASE FOR THE SAME ISSUE - TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK. DEALERSHIP HAS STATED THAT LEAK IS RELATED TO CONNECTOR (?) NOT BEING LONG ENOUGH AND HAS USED ANOTHER NON-MANUFACTURING SPEC'D CONNECTOR TO RESOLVE MATTER. VEHICLE IS ALSO LEAKING ENGINE OIL. ON LAST SERVICE IT WAS NOTED THAT SWEAT STAINS WERE SEEN AND GASKET REPLACED. AS OF TODAY - ENGINE OIL LEAK EVIDENCE CAN STILL BE SEEN. VEHICLE IS IN DANGEROUS STATE SINCE SERIOUS MALFUNCTION IS IMMINENT. LEMON LAW ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT DID NOT INFORM THE CONSUMER OF THE PARTS THAT WERE REPAIRED. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN, BUT CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY, AND DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SRS, (SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM) OR "AIR BAG" LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CAUSED BY THE SRSCONTROL UNIT EXPERIENCING AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL FAULT. THE FAULT DISPLAYED CODE 9120. MERCEDES VEHICLES OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL ARE KNOWN TO HAVE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ISSUES. EVEN THOUGH MY ISSUE WASN'T THE HARNESS ITSELF, IT PRESENTS A FLAW RESULTING IN A SAFETY AND STATE INSPECTION ISSUE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY BRAELY FUNCTIONED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HIT A BUS. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A SIGNAL FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING AIR BAGS MALFUNCTIONED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. *AK NOT ONLY DID THE AIR NAG FAIL TO DEPLOY BUT THE DASH INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *BF THE PLASTIC PIECE ATTACHED TO THE FENDER WAS LOOSE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE PLASTIC. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK WHICH HAD COME FROM THE PAN IN THE ENGINE. *SC WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE IN THE VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN BACKING OUT, ONE OF THE FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE IS FOR THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS TILT DOWN. THE MIRRORS DON'T TILT BACK UP UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES 8 MPH. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *BF THE PLASTIC PIECE ATTACHED TO THE FENDER WAS LOOSE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE PLASTIC. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK WHICH HAD COME FROM THE PAN IN THE ENGINE. *SC WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE IN THE VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
MERCEDES BENZ E320 2004 - VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT OPERATOR ACCELERATION. STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO HOME, GREAT CONCERN FOR THE POTENTIAL OF INJURY IF EVENT OCCURS AGAIN. VEHICLE SENT TO DEALERSHIP ( MB BLOOMFIELD, MI ) FOR EVALUATION. WEB SEARCH FINDS SIMILAR EVENTS WITH SAME MODEL 2003.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *BF THE PLASTIC PIECE ATTACHED TO THE FENDER WAS LOOSE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE PLASTIC. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK WHICH HAD COME FROM THE PAN IN THE ENGINE. *SC WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE IN THE VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *BF THE PLASTIC PIECE ATTACHED TO THE FENDER WAS LOOSE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE PLASTIC. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK WHICH HAD COME FROM THE PAN IN THE ENGINE. *SC WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE IN THE VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .