2003 Mercedes-Benz E500 Problems

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?

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal was depressed but the pedal was stiff. The vehicle was taken to two dealers where it was diagnosed that the brake pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that there was leakage coming from the driver’s and the passenger’s side sunroof. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer. The contact was informed that the only warranty would be for the module. The contact stated as he was driving the vehicle into the dealer service center the ESP warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after the ESP warning light disappeared, the brake warning light illuminated. The contact stated that when the brake pedal was depressed the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 97,648.

Air suspension in the rear suddenly failed making it impossible to drive, also triggered a red warning of "stop, car too low"

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, the air bag suspension detached from the subframe which caused the shock to lean into the tire. The rear driver’s side wheel ceased turning. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 139,000.

I am in immediate need of a confirmation that Mercedes Benz USA or any dealership performed a Sensotronic Brake Control services on my 2003 E500 Mercedes Benz relative to Safety Recall #2005110001. Is MZBUSA required to report ALL vehicles that were serviced under this recall? Please , if service was completed, provide the dates(s) and place where the work was done. I cannot stress how important this is, and a timely response is VERY relevant to the Court situation about MZBUSA's contention that the SBC pump was replaced.

MZB ISSUED A 25-YEAR-WARRANTY/SAFETY RECALL EXTENSION ON MY 2003 E500 MZB CAR; #2005110001 -FOR THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM. AROUND AUGUST 2020 I WAS DRIVING ON SURFACE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING RED WARNINGS AND THE SPEED IMMEDIATELY REDUCED AND TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED IN FIRST GEAR. I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED AND MANAGED TO PULL CAR CURBSIDE. I THEN SLOWLY DROVE CAR HOME, AND THE NEXT DAY CONTACTE A MASTER ASE MZB MECHANIC AND HAD CAR TOWED THERE IN TEMECULA. HE DETERMINED THE SBC UNIT WAS THE CAUSE AND EVEN CALLED MZB TEMECULA TO ASSURE THEY HAD THE PART. HE THEN INFORMED ME MY CAR WAS UNDER A 25-YEAR RECALL EXTENSION TO REPAIR THE SAFETY- HAZARD ISSUE. DEALER AND MZB USA REFUSES TO REPAIR - THEY SAY SINCE THEIR COMPUTER DOES NOT SHOW FAULTS, THE CODES THAT THE ASE MASTER MECHANIC ( WHO IS KNOW TO TEMECULA MZB SERVICE MANAGER FOR YEARS) SENT TO THEM DO NOT MATTER...ONLY THEIR SYSTEM CODES. I LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE FREEWAY DRIVES ARE ESSENTIAL AND FREQUENT; A SBC LIMP MODE BREAKDOWN WOULD PUT MINE AND OTHERS LIVES IN DANGER. MZB TEMECULA AND MZB USA IN GEORGIA TOLD ME THAT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM UNLESS IFTHE SYSTEM GOES DOWN AND I HAVE TOWED TO THEM.

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the air bags on the driver’s side of the vehicle inadvertently deployed without warning. After the air bags were deployed, a message showing an air bag malfunction was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact received medical attention for ringing in his ear from the air bag deployment. The vehicle was not diagnosed because the dealer informed the contact that he had to pay for the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED BUT DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXTREME FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND PAINS TO THE WRISTS DUE TO THE FORCE FROM THE IMPACT THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD RESTRAINT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED YET TO DETERMINE HOW THE FAILURE HAPPENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBINE SENSOR, THE WHEEL, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND THE COIL PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBINE SENSOR, THE WHEEL, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND THE COIL PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2003 MB E500 WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND SHAKE @ AROUND 1500 RPM, THIS OCCURRED CONTINUALLY. MADE IT HOME AND GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM THAT SOMEHOW GETS INTO THE TRANSMISSION,CAUSING IT TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WHICH PRODUCES THIS FIERCE/POTENTIAL DANGEROUS STUTTER/JERKING. TO MY SURPRISE, MERCEDES BENZ IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS HAZARD AND HAS NOT HAD A RECALL/BULLETIN TO FIX THIS COMMON PROBLEM, LEAVING THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST ON THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE COST IS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH AND TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS COSTLY REPAIR IS UNFAIR. *TR

IN JUNE OF 2010 I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CAR AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT HEAVY AND AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT DOWN SUDDENLY OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESS LIGHTLY FROM A STOP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE NOW IN THE WINTER MONTHS. I KNOW THE CAR IS A POTENTIAL DANGER BUT HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUT TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE HELP! *TR

THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR FOR THE 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500 LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND JUMP. THE COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS AN CONTAINMENT AND RUINS THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH LATER WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE RADIATOR. THESE THREE MAJOR PART INCLUDING GASKETS, HOSES, AND LABOR ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP IS STATING THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ALL THREE COMPONENTS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *TR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER RESERVOIR FLUID LEAKS AND ALSO CAUSING WARNING MESSAGE TO APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD. NO EVENT CAUSED IT TO CRACK OR LEAK. HAD CALLED MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE ADVISER HAD SAID MANY OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE HAS OCCURRED. NO CONSEQUENCES HAS HAPPENED FROM THE LEAK BUT IN A LUXURY CAR IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN DONE BUT DEALERSHIP COULD ONLY REPLACE IT AT A COST. *TR

I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES E-500. BOTH SUN VISORS FAILED IN 2007 AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THEY SIMPLY SEIZED IN PLACE AND CAN NOT BE MOVED. MERCEDES HAD REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VISORS AS PART OF THE WARRANTY CITING MILEAGE LIMITATIONS. THE REPAIR COST IS OVER $800. I THINK VISORS AND OTHER INTERIOR EQUIPMENTS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 4 YEARS! *TR

MERCEDES BENZ E500 AIRMATIC STRUT COLLAPSE. LOW MILEAGE: 43000 AT TIME OF FAILURE. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN STRUT FAILED. CAR LEANED TO RIGHT & MADE AN EMERGENCY STOP. MERCEDES BENZ CHARGED $1100 FOR REPLACEMENT PART, I INSTALLED. IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW: PROTECTIVE BELLOWS FAILS & CONTAMINATES AIR BAG. *TR

ON MARCH 31,2005 ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL NEWS,THE CRYSLER COMPANY SAID IT WOULD INSTALL BATTERY CONTROL SOFTWARE ON THE E-CLASS AND CLS-CLASS MODELS BUILT FROM JANUARY 2002-JANUARY 2005. THE COMPANY ALSO SAID THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE E, SL AND CLS-CLASS MADE SINCE JUNE 2001 WOULD BE UPDATED. MY CAR HAD BATTERY PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE NEWS, SOMEHOW THEY FIX IT BUT NOT THE SOFTWARE. UP TO PRESENT, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL LETTER FROM THE COMPANY DESPITE OF THE NEWS, DESPITE THAT MY CAR IS AFFECTED (I HAD CHECKED WITHTHE COMPANY REGARDING MY VIN # AND CONFIRMED THAT IT IS AFFECTED ). I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO START RECALLING AND FIXING THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANY INCIDENT WILL HAPPEN. IT HAPPEN TO ME ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM IN WHICH MY CAR JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, WHICH I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE IRONY IS THAT ,THAT DAY I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER AFTER THE FACT. AT THAT TIME, I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM 5 MONTHS PRIOR. PLEASE ASSIST WITH THIS PROBLEM.

I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR ABOUT 25 MPH .SHE PUT ON THE BRAKES AND A BRIGHT RED SIGNAL APPEARED ON THE SCREEN AND THE CAR BRAKES FAILED .TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT ,MY WIFE DROVE INTO AN UPHILL PARKING LOT WHERE THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT THE CARS BRAKES HELP .AFTER WE CALMED DOWN ,WE CALLED AAA AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO RIZZOLI'S MECEDEZ REPAIR 702 WEST GRAND AVE GROVER BEACH CA 93433 PHONE NUMBER 805-481-0832 WHICH WAS CLOSED AND THE CAR WAS LEFT IN THEIR PARKING LOT WITH THE KEYS LEFT IN THE DROP BOX .THIS WAS THE CLOSEST MERCEDES REPAIR PLACE WE COULD THINK OF IN OUR STATE OF SHOCK. WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT SBC BRAKE SYSTEM HAD FAILED AND IT WOULD COST $3453.06 TO REPAIR .I FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A 25 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VIN NUMBER IN QUESTION .AFTER THE REPAIR I STILL NOTICED SOME CUSHIONING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR BRAKES DID WORK . RIZZOLIS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP .I CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ALPHONOS ,1423 CALLE JOAQUIN,SAN LUIS OBISPO ,93405 ,805 4382701 PRIOR TO GET THE CARS BRAKES REPAIRED AND THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL LISTED ON THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT HELP ME . I AM SEEKING REEMBERSEMENT OF THE COST OF REPAIR SINCE THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM WOULD NOT HONOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE ON THE 25 YEAR WARRANTEE . THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH HOUSTON LOCATED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS) WHO INDICATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC SBC BRAKE PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SBC BRAKE PUMP WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2011. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED, INCLUDING THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,801. UPDATED 09/05/17*LJ *CN *TR

I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A CITY STREET WHEN I HEARD A CLICK/ CRACK, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME AND HIT A PARKED CAR. THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT WASN'T A CASE OF THE POWER STEERING FAILING BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL (I DO KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE). I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, SURVEYED THE DAMAGE, THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND WAS ABLE TO REVERSE IT AND PARK THE CAR BEHIND THE ACCIDENT. THE STEERING WAS FINE. AFTER I COLLECTED MYSELF, I DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE BLOCK (RESIDENTIAL AREA) AND SAW THE CAR DROVE FINE, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT I WAS JUST IN AN ACCIDENT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED BECAUSE THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING, CAUSING SMOKE, AND I DIDN'T WANT THE BELT TO BREAK. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED IN THE CRASH. BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO TURN THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL, I INJURED MY RIGHT ELBOW FROM THE IMPACT. MY STOMACH MUSCLES WERE ALSO HURT, PROBABLY DUE TO THE FLEXING OF MY CORE AS I WAS TRYING TO YANK THE WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. AS I STATED EARLIER, THESE WERE VERY MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MAIN REASON I'M REPORTING THIS IS BECAUSE I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY SON TO DRIVE. AND I CANNOT LET HIM DRIVE THIS CAR NOW, KNOWING THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN. THANK GOD HE WASN'T DRIVING AND IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED.

EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND TIRE WEAR RESULTING IN INCREASED HYDROPLANING. *JB