2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 Problems

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

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.

SBC braking system stated as covered under 25 year/unlimited miles warranty. SBC system failed on 2/1/25. Vehicle towed to local dealer service facility on 2/3/25. Tow was authorized at no charge by MB Roadside Assistance at no charge plus $100.00 credit toward diagnostic. Was told by phone on 2/3/25 that upon confirmation that SBC did in fact fail, the SBC replacement would be performed at no charge due to warranty through 2028. As of 2/10/25 service facility did confirm that the SBC system had failed. Currently, MB USA has a HOLD pending for authorization of repairs, with no reason given as to why as of 2/13/25.

October 26, 2022 my 2004 Mercedes model E320 W211 VIN # [XXX] dash pop out warning " Brake Wearing visit workshop" October 27, 2022 I had the brake pads and wear sensors both replaced and test drive verified car running normal for 30 minutes then dash pop out RED warning "Brake malfunction stop vehicle" plus transmission shifter stick to parking port can not be shift to other position, so can not drive and car being forced to stop on the road, I managed to press the lock off so can shift out of parking but there has no brake function when driving, I called MB USA and being advised that my car qualified to 25 years extended warranty for SBC hydraulic pump repair, 2005070007 2005110001 but when I tow my car to Mercedes dealer they said it only repair the Recall: 2020040011 - Sliding Roof Bonding - Phase 2, but the SBC Hydraulic pump may be at additional service charges, Please help investigate why Mercedes USA said it is under 25 years extended warranty while dealer said it might not qualify? car can not drive because of the SBC hydraulic pump problem and defected the driving safety? Best Regards/[XXX] email: [XXX] tel: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The sunroof has a recall due to the fact that it has a bad seal, which could fly off due to this issue. I know the seal is bad because the whole roof leaked a few years ago and fried all the electronic; e.g. lights, sunroof controls, trunk light controls, side door controls. I went to the dealership and they said they would not fix it because they could not open the sunroof to see the manufacturer date on it.

The glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. Including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD, WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY ESP CAME ON, VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ALMOST RAN ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE DITCH. NOW I'M FINDING OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT, WHICH IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT THE RECALL IS NOT SHOWING UP FOR MY VIN NUMBER. I AM VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED/FRUSTRATED BY MERCEDES. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MY CAR, WHICH IS NOW SITTING DUE TO IT NOT STARTING, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER SAME YEAR VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THEIRS IS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I THINK THE ENTIRE SITUATION IS RIDICULOUS! I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES!!! *TR

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

BACK AIR BAG BEHIND DRIVER LOST AIR WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IN TO REPAIR THEY THOUGHT IT WAS AIR LINE. THEY REPAIRED BUT SAME THING HAPPENED LEAVING REPAIR SHOP AT AN INTERSECTION. ALL THE LIGHT TURNED ON TO STOP DRIVING JUST LIKE BEFORE. I TOWED BACK TO SHOP.THEY SAID THE WHOLE SYSTEM NEEDED TO ALL BE REPLACED.MY ONLY REASON TO FILE THIS IS THE FEAR I HAD OF GETTING HURT OR HURTING OTHER BY MY VEHICLE JUST BEING UNDRIVABLE WHILE IN MOTION ON MAJOR INTSECTION.THIS PROBLEM OCCURED BEFORE BUT ALWAYS WHEN LEAVING MY HOME SO ID JUST WAIT FOR THE AIR SUSPENSION SELF CORRECT. WHICH IT HAD BEFORE.I WAS ONLY GOING 15MPG OR SO WHEN IT GAVE OUT I WAS APPROCHING MY RIGHT HAND TURN. WE ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH MORE DETAILS AND DOCUMENTATION IF NEEDED.

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, 61 MPH, START RAINING HARD, POURING, CAR SLIPPED, TURNED AND HIT THE WALL ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY HEADS ON STRAIGHT. GOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR ON THE SIDE, AFTER COUPLE OF TURNS, IT STOPPED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. COUPLE OF SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES, THE FRONT AIR BAGS, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOYED. *TR

The TRUNK will not open. It is supposed to open by pressing the button on the key fob or taking the thin key out of the key fob and manually open the truck with the keyed lock. Neither method works. There is absolutely no way to open the trunk otherwise (i.e. inside button or lever). When the key fob button and the thin key do not work there is absolutely no way to open the truck. There is no way to access the lock from the trunk lid rear and there is no way to access the trunk from behind the back seat cushions. It is a very bad situation and dangerous.

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.

October 26, 2022 my 2004 Mercedes model E320 W211 VIN # [XXX] dash pop out warning " Brake Wearing visit workshop" October 27, 2022 I had the brake pads and wear sensors both replaced and test drive verified car running normal for 30 minutes then dash pop out RED warning "Brake malfunction stop vehicle" plus transmission shifter stick to parking port can not be shift to other position, so can not drive and car being forced to stop on the road, I managed to press the lock off so can shift out of parking but there has no brake function when driving, I called MB USA and being advised that my car qualified to 25 years extended warranty for SBC hydraulic pump repair, 2005070007 2005110001 but when I tow my car to Mercedes dealer they said it only repair the Recall: 2020040011 - Sliding Roof Bonding - Phase 2, but the SBC Hydraulic pump may be at additional service charges, Please help investigate why Mercedes USA said it is under 25 years extended warranty while dealer said it might not qualify? car can not drive because of the SBC hydraulic pump problem and defected the driving safety? Best Regards/[XXX] email: [XXX] tel: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A PAVED ROAD, WENT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND MY ESP CAME ON, VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND ALMOST RAN ME INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE DITCH. NOW I'M FINDING OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SBC UNIT, WHICH IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT THE RECALL IS NOT SHOWING UP FOR MY VIN NUMBER. I AM VERY, VERY DISAPPOINTED/FRUSTRATED BY MERCEDES. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX MY CAR, WHICH IS NOW SITTING DUE TO IT NOT STARTING, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER SAME YEAR VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED AND THEIRS IS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I THINK THE ENTIRE SITUATION IS RIDICULOUS! I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER MERCEDES!!! *TR

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility); however, the contact was informed by the dealer that the sunroof glass was manufactured in a year outside of the year stated in the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the sunroof glass was not covered under the recall. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The driver's side mirror auto-dim function failed (as theorized by simple research where others have this issue) December 2023 and leaked a liquid behind the glass causing blurriness, double vision, and extremely dim reflection. This makes it difficult to safely judge other traffic using the mirror and seems very dangerous while driving. It also seems to present a risk of misjudging any other objects on the road which are reliant on this mirror. The equivalent replacement mirror glass alone is prohibitively expensive and Mercedes-Benz USA was contacted twice for help and refused to provide help or replacement. Neither the manufacturer nor another entity has inspected it yet. The mirror is available for inspection upon request. The passenger side view mirror is not auto-dimming so there is no issue.

The glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. Including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable.

Mercedes Benz has a KNOWN safety problem with this model and has not put it under recall yet and it needs to be. The wire casing in the wiring harness for the headlights crumbles and leaves exposed wires that touch, short, and draw causing dim headlights. Due to being cited for dim headlights the night before, I called MBUSA on December 27 2023 and they initially REFUSED to take a case from me.

MY RIGHT FRONT AIR STRUT WENT OUT WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND HAD OUR SON IN THE CAR. SHE WAS 120 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AND STRANDED. SHE WENT TO MERCEDES BENZ OF BEVERLY HILLS AND THEY WANT 160.00 TO DIAGNOSE AND THEN WOULD PUT HER IN A LOANER. THE ESTIMATE WAS AROUND 1700.00 TO FIX 1 AIR STRUT. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SPEED SHE WAS TRAVELING AT. IM NOT SURE WHY MB HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE FAULTY PARTS. DEFINITELY WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WOULD COVER THIS. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPY ROADS THERE IS A LARGE THUMPING AND CRASHING NOISE FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR AND OCCASIONALLY FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR. TAKEN TO DEALERS TWICE AND EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT IS HAPPENING. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, EVERYTHING IS TO SPECIFICATION AND THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE NOISE. *TR

The glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. Including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable.

THE INSIDE DOOR LOCK STEMS KEEP BREAKING OFF. I HAVE REPLACED THEM WITH NON MERCEDES PARTS. THE ONES I PURCHASED DON'T FIT VERY WELL BUT THE ONES FROM MERCEDES DON'T HOLD UP. THEY KEEP BREAKING. *TR

THE SHIFTER MODULE IS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, WHEN IN DRIVE, IT STAYS IN 2ND GEAR ONLY. TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, I MUST SHUT THE ENGINE. OTHERWISE I CAN'T SHIFT FROM D TO N TO R. THE SHIFTER WILL NOT MOVE PAST NEUTRAL. TO GET TO P OR R, I MUST SHUT THE ENGINE. THIS IS UNSAFE WHEN TRYING TO BACK INTO A CITY STREET PARKING. WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY, AFTER STARTING IT, ONCE I SHIFT FROM P TO R & ARRIVE AT N, THE SHIFTER WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO SHIFT BACK INTO R WITHOUT SHUTTING THE ENGINE & THEN RESTARTING IT.

DRIVING SOUTH ON I95 NEAR SAVANNAH THE DASH LIGHTS INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN DECELERATING. APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE COULD BE STARTED BUT COULD NOT GET FROM PARK INTO A GEAR OR EVEN NEUTRAL. ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE FROZEN AND SO GETTING THE CAR ON TO THE TOW TRUCK WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. WERE TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SBC SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. THIS TOOK OVER NIGHT AS THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE DEALERSHIP. BESIDES BEING GREATLY INCONVENIENCED - WE HAD TO SPEND A NIGHT IN A HOTEL, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY MERCEDES SINCE PURCHASE NEW IN 2004. THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED DURING A SERVICE CALL, THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A RECALL THAT WAS KEPT QUIET. NOT INFORMING THE OWNERS OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY ISSUES IS A MAJOR NEGLIGENCE ON MERCEDES PART. *TR

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320 equipped with Arroyo Tires, Tire Line: Grand Sport ZR A/S, Tire Size: 225/55/R16, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an unusual sound coming from the rear tires. The contact parked the vehicle and became aware that the rear tires tread had separated, and the steel belts were visible. The tires were not replaced. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the tires were replacement tires purchased at Pep Boys. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 250,000. The tire failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

RECALL CAMPAIGN:04V296000 THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS PRIOR TO RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *NM THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO GET THE RECALL SERVICE DONE FOR THE REPEATED DEFLATING TIRE AND FRONT BRAKE PADS. THE CONSUMER WAS REFUSED A RENTAL OR LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT COMPLY TO THE PUMP AS THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT BLEED. ANOTHER CUSTOMERS PARTS WOULD BE USED AS THE PUMP CONTINUED TO BE FAULTY TO THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ALLOWED BY THE SERVICE DEPT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFF WITH FAILED SERVICE. WHILE DRIVING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SERVICE ON HIS VEHICLE WAS BROKEN UP INTENTIONALLY TO AVERT THE LEMON LAW CITATION. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE IS A MERCEDES E320. *TC *JB

The vehicle will flood after being exposed to rain which has caused all sorts of electrical issues. I have read online where several others have filed lawsuits regarding E class Mercedes for similar issues. The car’s interior will take on water and since there’s several electrical components running along the floor board of the car they will become damaged and cause the car’s computers and electrical system to go crazy. I picked up my car from having the oil changed at a local service shop a few days after it was repaired and I was driving back home after the service pick up and the car completely lost power. I got out of the car and opened the trunk in which I had to do so by using the key inside of the key fob. When I opened the trunk, I noticed that there was a little bit of water in the trunk which led me to open the back door and to my surprise there was standing water behind the driver seat. I checked the driver floor and it was soaked as well. I had the car towed back to the shop where I had the oil changed and the owner did not have the available equipment to test the car. I dried the car out over the next several days and drove to a local Mercedes dealership where they told me to do a full diagnostic on the car it would cost upwards of $19k. Are you kidding me? Now I know from reading others stories that this isn’t an unknown issue. So, what do I do now…file an insurance claim? I guess that would be the next step but they’ll turn around and get the money right back out of me by raising my policy rates. This is terrible. My car is a 2004 E320 with just under 65k miles on it.

VIBRATION WHEN VEHICULE COLD, AFTER A FEW MILES PROBLEM GOES AWAY.

My car seat belts not fastened and car door warning devices stop working. I took it to the Mercedes service department and told and showed them the safety system was not warning me when my door was not properly closed or when I removed the seat belt while driving. They told me that they needed to replace my instrument cluster in order to fix the issue. They charged me almost $2300.00 to change the panel. When I went to pick the vehicle up. And I drove off and took my seat belt off to see if the repair was done and no warning light came on. I than while driving through a parking lot open my door and no warning happened. Now the dealership is telling me that their is nothing they can do to address this dangerous safety issue and that I have no recourse to get what I paid for. Because Mercedes Benz Corp will not allow them to code the new instrument cluster. I was driving one day and did not realize the door was ajar until I hit a bump and heard the rattling. I have spoken with other Mercedes Benz owners of my model and found they've had this problem, but it is just too expensive to repair. I have been dealing with this now since December of 2021 and now no one from the dealership is returning any calls or offered a answer to this issue. I have spoken with the Service Director last on February 7 2022. And he has not reached out to me since.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT RETRACTOR BECAME INOPERABLE EACH TIME IT WAS PULLED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 216,000. .....UPDATED 04/15/16 *BF 05/14/18*JB *TR

2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. MINUTES LATER, SHE BEGAN TO FEEL HEAT UNDER HER LEFT THIGH AND A BURNING SMELL, SO SHE REACHED DOWN TO TOUCH THE SEAT, AND QUICKLY DREW HER HAND BACK AS SHE BURNED THE EDGE OF HER FINGERS. SHE IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AS THAT WAS THE ONLY THING SHE COULD THINK OF, THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE EXTREME HEAT. SHE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. BY THEN, THERE WAS A FINGER SIZE HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LEATHER SEAT AND THE INSIDE OF THE HOLE WAS GLOWING RED AND SMOKE WAS RISING OUT OF THE HOLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO REALIZED THE BOTTOM LEFT EDGE OF HER COAT WAS ALSO BURNING, AND SHE QUICKLY PUT IT OUT. THE DEALER CONFIRMED, THE CAUSE OF THE HOLE WAS THE SEAT HEATER.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING SHE TURNED ON SEAT WARMER AS WELL AS THE HEATER AND SHE DETECTED THE ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING . SHE TURNED OFF THE HEATER BUT NOT THE SEAT WARMER. SHE CONTINUED DRIVING BUT SENSED A FEELING OF SOMETHING BITING THE SIDE OF HER LEG. SHE DISCOVERED A SPARK COMING FROM A HOLE IN LEATHER SEAT. SHE EXPERIENCED A SMALL BURN TO HER LEG. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE FLAMES ONLY SPARKS. SHE TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER AND PULLED OVER. TO EXTINGUISH ANY SPARKS SHE POURED WATER ONTO SEAT. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. MERCEDES WILL REPLACE THE SEAT FREE OF CHARGE. *AK