Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 41 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.
The 25 most recent of 41, in the owner's own words
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR LOST POWER. PULLED OVER FOR VISUAL INSPECTION, NOTICED THE FUEL WAS LEAKING RAPIDLY. IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE CAR. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. DEALER VERIFIED THE TANK WAS LEAKING.
STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN TANK FULL. DOESN'T HAPPEN IF TANK IS 3/4 FULL OR LESS. ANY RECALLS? WILL DEALERSHIP FIX PROBLEM?
STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT. THE SMELL SPREAD TO THE CABIN AND THE WHOLE GARAGE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL. THE SMELL WILL LESSEN AFTER THE TANK IS ABOUT HALF FULL.
"TAKATA RECALL" EACH YEAR IT FAILS THE EMMISSION TEST THE FAILED CODE IS PO456. I HAD AN EVAP SYSTEM TEST RAN THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PURGE VALVE, EVAL HOSE, AND THE FILLER NECK. (LEAKS). IN MY OWN WORDS, THE ENGINE COMES ON AND OFF, THE COMPUTER IS INDICATING THAT THE TRUCK IS OPEN WHEN IT IS NOT, THE SEATBELT TIGHTEN UP AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHILE I'M DRIVING, AND SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR IT LOCKS ME INAND I HAVE TO PUSH THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DASH, AND THE ALARM COMES ON WHENEVER! AND THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR STAYS ON AND WE RECENTLY HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON. WE HAD IT BALANCED AND AN ALIGNMENT DONE AS WELL. OTHER THAN THAT THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING WELL. I THOUGHT BENZ WAS ONE OF THE BEST VEHICLES BUT I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT NOW WITH THESE CONCERNS! THESE THINGS HAPPEN WHEN IN MOTION EXCEPT FOR THE ALARM GOING OFF. I THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM AND I HOPE THIS CAR DON'T BLOWUP ON ME! S ROYSTER
MY CAR HAS A STRONG AND OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR WHEN I DRIVE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 2 WEEKS NOW WHENEVER I DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS UP. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO BREATH.
SHORTLY AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK, I SMELL GAS FUMES TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE CAR BEHIND DRIVE SIDE OUTSIDE. THERE IS NO FUEL LEAKS THAT DROP ON THE CAR AND ALSO THERE IS NOT FUEL LEAKS UNDER THE HOOD OF THE ENGINE NEITHER.
MY VEHICLE STARTED PUTTERING AND FINALLY SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES BENZ SHOP LOCATED ON INDEPENDENCE DRIVE IN CHARLOTTE. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. I INFORMED THE SERVICE ADVISOR COLTON AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TODD ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. I WAS DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE CRACKED BEFORE THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY. TO MY UNDERSTANDING IF THE ITEM IS A PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS, IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO SATISFY THE WARRANTY AND I ENDED UP NOT AUTHORIZING THE REPAIRS. NOW BECAUSE MERCEDES WILL NOT REPAIR THE COVERED PART, I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR MY TIME AND PARTS AND LABOR FOR NOT SATISFYING THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY.....UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF
WE PURCHASED OUR USED VEHICLE IN MAY, 2013 AND HAVE FOUND THE GAS SMELL PROBLEM TO GROW INCREASINGLY WORSE. ESPECIALLY INITIALLY WHEN THE TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED, IT IS VERY STRONG BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL AFTER I FILL THE TANK. THIS SMELL IS CONCENTRATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY THE REAR WHEEL. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPAIR OR DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH, MERCEDES HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 15 YEARS UNLIMITED MILES FOR "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS". THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT THE SEVERITY OR THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR MY FUEL LEAK/SMELL WITHOUT PAYING A LARGE DIAGNOSTIC FEE/ W NO GUARANTEE OF WARRANTIED SERVICE. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO SHARE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH ME WITHOUT CHARGING DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *JS
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE NOW. WHEN I FILL UP MY FUEL TANK THERE IS A DRASTIC SMELL OF GAS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR OUT ON THE STREET IN FEAR MY WATER HEATER WHEN IGNITING WOULD SET OFF A EXPLOSION. I AM SURE MB KNOWS OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REMARKS AND INSTANCES ON JUST THIS SUBJECT. I WOULD HOPE THAT MB WILL ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND INDEED THEY SAID THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS A CRACK ON TOP ALLOWING THE FUEL TO LEAK WHEN FILLED UP TO THE FULL MARK. THANK YOU ADVANCE IN REPORTING THIS TO MERCEDES. *TR
FUEL ODOR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. *JS
I HAD REFUELED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF GAS FUMES WHEN I PARKED IN MY GARAGE. I ALWAYS USE THE AUTO SHUTOFF AT THE PUMP SO THERE WAS NO CONCERN FOR ME TO "TOP OFF" SOMETHING I NEVER DO. I NOTICE THAT IF I FILLED MY TANK CLOSER TO THE 3/4 OR BELOW LEVEL IT WAS NOT NOTICEABLE. *TR
WHEN THE TANK IS FULL IT HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE AND AROUND THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, ALSO MISFIRE DURING THESE FEW DAYS. I'M AFRAID THIS MIGHT CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MERCEDES-BENZ ASAP REGARDING THIS POSSIBLE DANGEROUS ISSUE, ANY HELP TO CORRECT THIS MATTER WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR
THE CAR WHEN WE HAVE FULL TANK GIVES A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS, UNTIL COUPLE OF DAYS, ALSO WHEN GING SLOWLY THERE IS A MISFIRE ON THE ENGINE. READING ON THE FORUM SAYS THIS IS A KNOW INCIDENT WITH MERCEDEZ. I AM AFRAID THIS MIGHT CAUSE FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO DEALERSHIP ON THIS, ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
CRACK AROUND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE. CONSTANT STRONG ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. FILLS THE GARAGE WITH GAS ODOR AND INTO HOUSE. WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE GAS CAN STILL BE SMELLED. UNSAFE WHETHER PARKED, OR BEING DRIVEN. *TR
GAS SMELL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. GAS LEAK FROM FUEL TANK. *TR
FUEL LEAKS AND FUEL FUMES IN CABIN. *TR
AFTER REFUELING MY E500 (FILLING IT UP), DRIVING IT HOME AND PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN MY HOME. I HAVE AN ATTACHED GARAGE WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS A PIECE OF DOOR FACING MISSING FROM THE SIDE ENTRY DOOR, WHICH IS HOW THE FUMES FLOWED INTO MY ATTIC AND THROUGH THE AC VENTS THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE HOME. THE FUMES WERE SO INTENSE I EXPERIENCED CHRONIC COUGHING, HEADACHE, AND ITCHING AROUND MY EYELIDS. THE LOCAL GAS COMPANY CAME OUT AND PERFORMED THEIR NORMAL ROUTINE ONLY TO INFORM ME IT WASN'T NATURAL GAS NOR CARBON-MONOXIDE. AS HE CHECKED THE HOT WATER HEATER LOCATED IN THE GARAGE, HE IMMEDIATELY STATED IT WAS MY CAR. I COULD SMELL GASOLINE FUMES AROUND MY CAR AS WELL AS INSIDE. IT WAS SO STRONG, I LEFT MY CAR OUTSIDE THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT, RAISED THE GARAGE DOOR (BOTH DOORS), OPENED ALL WINDOWS IN MY HOME AND SHORTLY THE FUMES HAD DISSIPATED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MB CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE THEY WILL OFFER ME AS MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OWNERS WHO STILL HAVE WARRANTY VEHICLES, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE REPAIR BURDEN SHOULD NOT BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. I AM MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. IT IS MY HOPE MB WILL DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR
CAR SMELLS OF GASOLINE IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE. YOU CAN SMELL IT OUTSIDE OF THE CAR ALSO. AFTER READING THE MESSAGE BOARDS ON THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS LIKE MB SHOULD FIX THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO OWNERS. *TR
I SMELL GAS INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHEN I FILL UP MY GAS TANK AND IT SMELLS REALLY STRONG IN THE CAR , I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A LEAK I HAD PAY FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSIS IT AND THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS LEAKING A LITTLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TANK AND FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT . *TR
DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I CONSISTENTLY SMELL GAS LEAK FROM MY CAR. [XXX] 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TT
REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001 AFTER FILLING VEHICLE GAS TANK, VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. FUEL IS LEAKING AROUND SENDING UNIT AT GAS TANK, AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. DUE TO THE LEAK, VEHICLE CANNOT BE KEPT IN THE GARAGE UNTIL FUEL LEVEL REACHES 3/4 TANK. ALSO, THE SMELL IS SO BAD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILL UP, IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR
STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CABIN OF VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE ON DRIVERS SIDE AFTER FILLING UP THE NIGHT PRIOR. THE CAR WAS NOT "TOPPED OFF". ONLINE SEARCH FOR CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM FOUND THIS IS COMMON AMONG W211 MERCEDES VEHICLES. THIS CAR IS NEW TO ME, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I FUELED THE CAR. *TR
I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES E500. 100, 000 MILES AND I CAN SMELL HEAVY GAS FUMES FROM BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF MY CAR.THE CARS REARLEFT DRIVERSIDE HAS EXTREME GAS VAPOR FUMES COMING FROM FUELTANK AREA BEHIND RIGHT REAR WHEEL. SINCE I'VE NOTICED THE HEAVY FUEL ODORS, THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED BECAUSE ITS UNSAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. INHALING THE FUEL SMELL IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH. I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF FILING A COMPLAINT OR CLAIM IS POSSIBLE AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS OR CAN THE MERCEDES DEALER HELP WITH OPTIONS TO FIX MY CAR? ANY POSITIVE ANSWERS WILL BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU *TR
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2012. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CANISTER REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE ($1000), AND AFTER THAT REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE BROUGHT IT INTO MERCEDES WHEN THEY REPLACED THE SBC BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO A RECALL AND WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE WASN'T AFFECTING ANYTHING, SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO REPAIR IT. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR A SMOG CHECK SO WE COULD RENEW OUR REGISTRATION IN JULY OF 2013 AND IT FAILED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE BEING OPEN. WE CANNOT GET THE ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF, SO WE CANNOT PASS A SMOG CHECK. WE ALSO CANNOT FILL IT UP ALL THE WAY BECAUSE STRONG FUMES FILL UP THE GARAGE AND GAS LEAKS OUT. WE WERE LOOKING UP AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY ON GOOGLE ON 11/10/2013 AND COME ACROSS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH MERCEDES BENZ ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE SO WE WILL FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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