RoadVitals

2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 8, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 142 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 8, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REFUELED, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR DETECTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS RED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF GOLDENS BRIDGE 321 NY-22, GOLDENS BRIDGE, NY 10526, (914) 232-8122 TO BE DIAGNOSED. A FUEL LEAK WAS CONFIRMED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID
11297903
Incident
Dec 1, 2019
Mileage
180,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Dec 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTICED. IN ADDITION, THE COOLANT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING AFTER THE COOLANT WAS REFILLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ID
10809765
Incident
Nov 16, 2015
Mileage
127,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 3, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE IGNITION KEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000.

NHTSA ID
10723295
Incident
Mar 24, 2015
Mileage
109,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE NO BREAKAGE POWER AND THE SHUT DOWN ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SBC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,600.

NHTSA ID
10679582
Incident
Jan 23, 2015
Mileage
91,600 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 19, 2015

BENZ E500 2004 (54K MILES) SAFETY ISSUE1: NOV 2008(36K MILES), THE CAR USED TO LOSE POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITH ALL THE LIGHTS BLINKING ON THE DASH BOARD. BUT I WAS ABLE TO BREAK ANSDSTOP . SOMETIMES IT STARTED BACK ON AND SOMETIMES IT DID NOT.DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND THE SENDER UNIT. HAD TO PAY THE BILL OF $600 PLUS TOWING. THEY DID NOT INSPECT OTHER SAFETY ISSUES LIKE THE SBC PUMP OR LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY. NEITHER DID THEY TELL ME IF SBC PUMP FAILURE OR ITS MALFUNCTION HAS ANY IMPACT ON OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. SAFETY ISSUE 2: JAN 6TH 2015.(REFER TO COMPLAINT #10676289)SBC PUMP FAILED DURING A LONG ROAD TRIP AND THINKING IT WAS JUST BRAKE PADS, COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. DEALER/MB REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRS. COST US $2200. WHEN THE DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE SBC PUMP BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY KNOW IT IS GOING TO FAIL, CUSTOMER IS IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION WITH SAFETY ASPECT, HUGE REPAIR COSTS INVOLVED AND POSSIBLE IMPACT ON OTHER PARTS AND SITUATIONS. THEY DESIGNED A WARRANTY ON THIS PROGRAMMABLE UNIT THAT IS PROGRAMMED TO LEND CERTAIN CYCLES OR SERVICE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS TURNED THIS MAJOR DEFECT INTO A MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY LATELY. THEY ARE INSTALLING REMAN UNITS WITH A HIGH REPAIR COST OF $2000-3000. SOMETIMES, MORE THAN THE WORTH OF THE CAR. REGULATORS SHOULD REVISIT THE CASE AND HAVE THEM PROVIDE LIFE TIME WARRANTY ON THIS MAJOR FLAW AND MAYBE MORE. WHEN THERE WERE TWO RECALLS JUST A YEAR AFTER IT WAS BOUGHT, HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH A 10 YEAR WARRANTY AND A HUGE REPAIR COST. SINCE THEY HAVE MORE LAWYERS THAN ANY COMMON MAN, ONLY REGULATORS CAN HELP THE CITIZENS AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS AND SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676537
Incident
Oct 26, 2009
Mileage
36,003 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 25, 2014

CAR MAKES AN UNUSUAL, LOUD, HUMMING NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, UPON STARTING AND CONSTANTLY, NO MATTER THE SPEED. ON OCCASION, THERE IS NO NOISE, BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE HUMMING IS PRESENT. THE NOISE EMANATES FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR, AND CAN BE HEARD ON THE INTERIOR AND FROM THE OUTSIDE. HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP 3X FOR THE ISSUE, AND THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 10K MILES. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE GAS SMELL ISSUE SINCE 35K MILES, AND LOST THE BRAKES RANDOMLY; BOTH ISSUES DESCRIBED BY OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639110
Incident
Feb 14, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/21/14

NHTSA ID
10628177
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
49,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2014

I FILLED UP MY CAR & NOTICED A GAS SMELL I WAS ON MY WAY TO ATLANTA FOR WORK I HAD TO INHALE STRONG GAS FUMES FOR MOST OF MY TRAVEL. WHEN I GOT THERE I TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP & THEY DISCOVERED MY GAS TANK HAD A LEAK AND GAS WAS LEAKING NEAR BACK SEAT THEY GAVE A ME AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT 2500 TO FIX I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAD BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MERCEDES BUT NO RECALL YET WHICH I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT ONLY THE INHALATION OF THE FUMES & GAS LEAKING IN A CAR WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING & PARTS THAT GET EXTREMELY HOT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS SINCE MERCEDES ARE AWARE THAT THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED PROPERLY. WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR POOR MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS THAT PUT OUR LIVES IN DANGER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604788
Incident
Jun 18, 2014
Mileage
139,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 21, 2013

AFTER REFUELING, CAR HAD STRONG ODOR OF FUEL LEAKING. FILLS GARAGE WITH FUMES. WORRIED THAT PILOT LIGHT WILL IGNITE FUMES. ALSO, FUEL GAUGE STICKS ON 1/2 TANK EVEN WHEN TANK IS EMPTY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504055
Incident
Mar 1, 2012
Mileage
105,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 27, 2008

I OWN A MERCEDES-BENZ E500 BOUGHT NEW IN 2004. 3 DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND CAR STALLED AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT START THE ENGINE BACK FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME, WHICH WOULD HAVE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I LATER TOWED THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES SERVICE STATION. THEY REPORTED IT AS AN ELECTIRCAL FAILURE DUE TO FAILING OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY SENSOR AND THE CAR IS RUNNING OK NOW. I AM STILL WONDERING WHY DID THE CAR COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BACKUP SAFETY MECHANISM IN A FAILURE LIKE THIS TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I AM WORRIED WHETHER THERE IS A DESIGN FAULT IN THIS VEHICLE THAT DID NOT ALLOW THAT BACK UP MECHANISM TO KICK-IN. MY SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS THIS FAULT IS UNLIKELY TO RECUR. I FEEL THAT THE SENSORS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY MECHANISM TO AVOID ABRRUPT STOPS LIKE THIS. IF I WAS ON A FREE WAY THIS WOULD HAVE CREATED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH SO MANY VEHICLES PILED UP ON TOP OF ME! MY CAR HAS DONE ONLY 40,000 MILES WITHIN THE LAST 4 YEARS. IT HAS NEW TIRES, A NEW BATTERY AND NEW BRAKES -ALL TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AT MY LAST SERVICE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO.

NHTSA ID
10232543
Incident
Jun 25, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .