2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 Fuel system Problems

Extreme Gas Odor after filling gas tank and during time of driving.

NHTSA ID

11452891

Incident

Feb 18, 2022

DRIVER IS EXPERIENCING A HEAVY ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER FILL UP. VEHICLE IS NOT OVERFILLED/TOPPED OFF. VEHICLE WAS SITTING INSIDE GARAGE WHEN OWNER NOTICED A HEAVY FUEL ODOR AND NOTIFIED FIRE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE. PER RECOMMENDATIONS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT, KEEP VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE UNTIL ISSUE COULD BE INSPECTED BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC. MECHANIC INSPECTED FUEL SYSTEM AND FOUND FUEL LEAK UNDER REAR SEATS NEAR FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES REPAIR ISSUE SAYING IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. GASOLINE FUMES/VAPORS ARE ESPECIALLY HEAVY INSIDE A SINGLE CAR GARAGE, AND IF A IGNITION SOURCE IS INTRODUCED IT COULD BECOME FATAL.

NHTSA ID

11397478

Incident

Jan 20, 2020

Mileage

147,000 mi

I FILLED THE GAS TANK FULL AND ON PULLING IN THE GARAGE COULD SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE... WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGE THE NEXT DAY AND THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED HE COULD SMELL GAS COMING FROM MY CAR AT VALVOLINE OIL CHANGE.... VERY STRONG SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AS WELL AS WHEN WALKING AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR YOU COULD SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GAS... THE GENTLEMAN FROM VALVOLINE LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAID THERE'S SOME TYPE OF COVER THAT GOES UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK ITSELF AND PUT HIS FINGER INTO IT AND COULD TOUCH GASOLINE ON HIS HAND... I JUST WENT ONTO THE INTERNET AND READ MANY MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING WITH THIS TYPE OF CAR LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED... IN THOSE COMPLAINTS THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT THEIR CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REMEDY AND THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL... AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE BIT AND REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE IN THE TANK THE SMELL HAS SUBSIDED SOMEWHAT... THOSE COMPLAINTS ALSO MENTION THAT IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WITH THIS TYPE OF LEAK

NHTSA ID

11388481

Incident

Jan 12, 2021

Mileage

165,000 mi

HEAVY FUEL ODOR EMANATING FROM VEHICLE. VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY STRUCTURES COULD CATCH FIRE IF FUEL IS LEAKING AND AN IGNITION SOURCE IS INTRODUCED. ONLY VIABLE REASON WHY FUEL ODOR IS PRESENT IS EITHER THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT A LOCATION OR THE VENT HAS FAILED. VEHICLE FUEL ODOR IS ESPECIALLY STRONG IF VEHICLE WAS FILLED UP RECENTLY BUT IS PRESENT 24/7.

NHTSA ID

11315421

Incident

Nov 5, 2018

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUEL ODOR WAS PERCEIVED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AMERICAN SERVICE CENTER DEALER (703-284-2500, LOCATED AT 624 S GLEBE RD, ARLINGTON, VA 22204) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CANISTER VALVE AND PURGE VALVE SHUT OFF AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE VALVES AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11245208

Incident

May 10, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND IN THE GARAGE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF FAIRFIELD (165 COMMERCE DRIVE, FAIRFIELD, CT 06825) STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK SEAL MAY BE FAULTY. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A FUEL TANK SEAL AND HAD IT INSTALLED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11234201

Incident

Apr 15, 2019

Mileage

82,000 mi

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR HAS BECOME STEADILY WORSE AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I INQUIRED HOW THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED, I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE DUE TO IMPACT OR TRAUMA (WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY INCIDENT). WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $2,300.00 TO REPAIR VEHICLE. CALLED MB-USA AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST. AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE, I HAD THE WORK PERFORMED AND RECEIVED A 10% "GOODWILL" DISCOUNT. PICKED UP VEHICLE AND DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND CONTINUED TO SMELL FUEL. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAME TO PICK-UP. ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DID NOT TIGHTEN A CLAMP OR SOMETHING. WE PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND THE ODOR WAS PERSISTENT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND WE SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED THE VEHICLE IN. BOTTOM LINE.... I DO NOT THINK THAT A FUEL TANK SHOULD FAIL ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. I HAVE THE OLD TANK AND BELIEVE THAT MB SHOULD REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE TANK.

NHTSA ID

11192462

Incident

Mar 28, 2019

FUEL TANK LEAK, SMELL GAS

NHTSA ID

11169924

Incident

Jan 5, 2019

Mileage

157,000 mi

WHILE PARKED, ENGINE WOULD DIE IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED IT. MECHANIC DISCOVERED FUEL SEEPING OUT OF TOP OF FUEL SENDING UNIT IN FUEL TANK.

NHTSA ID

11155773

Incident

Nov 26, 2018

Mileage

170,870 mi

AFTER FILLED UP THE CAR WITH GAS. STRONG GAS ODOR AND GAS LEAKING FROM DRIVERS SIDE REAR OF CAR. WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE EXTREMELY UNSAFE!!!

NHTSA ID

11085147

Incident

Apr 15, 2018

Mileage

137,000 mi

THER IS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE CAR WHEN THE TANK IS OVER 3/4 FULL. DANGEROUS FIRE HARZARD. THINK THAT IT IS A RECALL ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11082254

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN FUEL TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED. STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

10969763

Incident

Feb 15, 2017

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNCIAN SPECULATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

NHTSA ID

10958868

Incident

Jan 6, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi

HEAVY ODOR OF GASOLINE IN GARAGE AFTER FILL-UP.

NHTSA ID

10958419

Incident

Nov 20, 2014

Mileage

95,000 mi

GAS SMELL ALL THE TIME, MAIN COMPUTER KEEPS ON AND DRAINS BATTERY, BRAKES LIGHTS

NHTSA ID

10926034

Incident

Jun 10, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

EXPERIENCE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING TANK. SMELL DIMINISHES WHEN TANK IS LESS FULL BUT RETURNS WITH NEXT FUEL FILL UP. SMELL NOTICED BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE EXACT DATE FIRST OCCURRED IS UNKNOWN, BUT WAS FIRST NOTICED YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ID

10854205

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA13003 (FUEL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10764687

Incident

May 12, 2015

2004 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR REPAIRS OF FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN LATE 2009. HE EXPERIENCED A GAS SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE THE SMELL BECAME WORSE AND EVENTUALLY WAS NOTICEABLE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, TOO/ THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE SEAL RINGS FOR THE FUEL LEVEL SENDERS, FUEL PUMP, FILTER ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS WERE REPLACED IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FUEL LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10680226

Incident

Dec 31, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

10764111

Incident

Jul 8, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

HORRIBLE GAS SMELL AFTER REFUELING AND WHILE CAR IS PARKED IN GARAGE.

NHTSA ID

10748295

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR DEALER SUPPLIED PART FAILED ON REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN SUDDEN STALLING IN MOVING TRAFFIC FOLLOWING MAKING LEFT TURN

NHTSA ID

10725329

Incident

Jun 13, 2015

Mileage

228,000 mi

THE FUEL LEAK, FUEL SENDER LEAKS, I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO REPLACE ALL THOSE PARTS. IT SHOULD HAVE DEALER RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THOSE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704807

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL SMELL STARTED AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10703313

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

55,000 mi

CUSTOMER COMPLAINS OF FUEL SMELL OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE ON APPROACH. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE THE SMELL IS UNBEARABLE AND CAUSES NAUSEA WHEN DRIVING. INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE LEFT SIDE (DRIVER'S) FUEL PUMP SEAL IS LEAKING CAUSING FUEL TO PUDDLE AND SATURATE INSPECTION PLATE. THE FUEL WICKS PAST INSPECTION PLATE GASKET AND INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SATURATING THE AREA DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR SEAT. REPLACED FUEL PUMP MODULE WITH SEAL (GASKET) AS WELL AS GASKET ON RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695084

Incident

Mar 18, 2015

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG PERSISTENT ODOR OF FUEL PERMEATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10694135

Incident

Mar 13, 2014

Mileage

84,000 mi