2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 Problems

Approximately in March 2026, I started noticing a very strong gasoline odor coming from my 2004 Mercedes-Benz E 500 4-matic with original miles approximately 56,300. The fuel odor always got stronger whenever I would fill up the gas tank. The history on my car is such that it has always been garage kept. The gasoline odor coming from my car started getting stronger and stronger while in my garage. On Memorial Day 2026 I called HQ, Mercedes Benz and told them about the gas odor coming from my car. After the call ended I decided that the car needed to be towed to the nearest Mercedes Benz service center. I considered that the gas order to be very dangerous so I parked my car in the driveway. Once parked in my driveway, there was no longer a gasoline order in my garage. Now even while parked in my driveway, I could smell gasoline around the rear of my car when I opened the doors the gasoline smell was very strong. All of this happens suddenly and only grew worse within the last four days. The gasoline smell was probably there for a long time but I didn’t notice it since I do not drive the car very often. That should be obvious because there is only approximately 56,300 miles on the car and those are original miles. I called Mercedes-Benz headquarters and requested a tow to the nearest Mercedes-Benz repair shop which is in Tampa Florida. As my car was being placed on the flatbed tow truck gasoline started spilling out onto the bed of the tow truck. That is a very dangerous situation. My car could’ve caught fire if it hit something hard or if I had been in an accident. I read where there is a 15 year extended warranty from year the analysis was actually completed in 2012 by the ODI NHTSA. I believe my car falls under the purview of the extended warranty. I’m reporting this problem because it is very dangerous and there could be other vehicles out there.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a suspected safety-related defect involving the fuel system of my Mercedes-Benz vehicle. I have experienced a persistent gasoline odor originating from the vehicle. The presence of fuel odor is not a normal operating condition and reasonably indicates a potential failure involving the fuel tank, fuel lines, or related fuel system components. Fuel vapors present a known fire and explosion hazard and constitute a safety risk to vehicle occupants, surrounding vehicles, and property. This condition was not present prior to the issue and has persisted despite inspection. I reported this concern to Mercedes-Benz USA and referenced that fuel odor and fuel tank-related defects have been documented in other Mercedes-Benz vehicles. During my communication with Mercedes-Benz USA, I was informed that an extended or long-term warranty related to the fuel tank or fuel system had existed but was no longer applicable because the coverage period had expired. I was not made aware of this extended warranty at the time it was active and therefore had no opportunity to seek inspection or repair while coverage was in effect. Mercedes-Benz USA has acknowledged my complaint but has declined to provide corrective action beyond internal review. Given the safety implications of fuel system defects and the potential impact of inadequate disclosure of extended safety-related warranty coverage, I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and evaluate whether this condition represents a broader defect trend and whether recall or further investigation is warranted. This complaint is submitted to ensure the issue is formally recorded as a potential fuel system safety defect.

the car has smelled like gas from the minute i received it. the previous owner told me that mercedes had quoted 5 grand to fix it so i would only put half a tank in at a time. turns out there was a warranty on it but has since expired. why wasn't it fixed for free when the previous owner brought it? this is very dangerous and can cause an explosion. the warranty should have been fixed rather than quoted and seems very greedy to not disclose that information but instead giving a quote. i have lung and heart problems and this is a definite safety issue that needs to be corrected regardless of the age of the car also brought it to dealership scared and they told me too bad it's been too long. how is a gas leak an ok thing to dismiss?????? i have been trying to get this fixed for years and this is my 2nd attempt for a recall with no response at all

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake malfunction warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the SBC hydraulic unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 04V296000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 199,700.

AIRMATIC SUSPENSION DROPPED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. RED LIGHT WARNING FLASHED THAT VEHICLE WAS LOW. TRIED TO RAISE CAR BUT IT WOULD NOT RAISE. CAR WAS VERY CLOSE TO GROUND AND WOULD NOT RAISE..BEGAN LOOKING UP, IF OTHER SAME MODELS AS OURS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DO. READ SEVERAL CONSUMERS COMPLIANTS/ CONCERNS WHO ALSO OWN A MERCEDES BENZ THEY SEEM TO HAVE THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX AT A DEARLERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE THIS VEHICLE MAY HAVE A PROBLEM/DEFECT WITH THEIR AIRMATIC SUSPENSION AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY UNKNOWING THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS DROPPING TO GROUND.THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR AIRMATIC SUSPENSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED WHILE DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE SUSPENSION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THE 'STOP DRIVING/VEHICLE DRIVING LOW' WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT CONTINUED TO ROLL WITHOUT STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED, AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO COME OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

THE PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE IS THAT WITH ITS CURRENT TCM( TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) IN A 722.9 TRANSMISSION, THE CONDUCTOR PLATE THAT HOLDS THE SENSORS IN PLACE BECOME DEFECTIVE AND CREATES A PROBLEM IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. THIS CAUSES A MAJOR PROBLEM DRIVING ON ROAD WAYS THAT ARE +45MPH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE CANNOT DRIVE OVER 25MPH FURTHER CAUSING MORE PROBLEMS THAT MAY ACTUALLY FREEZE UP THE ENGINE CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP. IF THE CAR IS STOPPED AND BEGINS TO GO AGAIN, THE RMP'S CAN GO VERY HIGH WITHOUT ANY POWER OR MOTION IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 2 OF MY PERSONAL FRIENDS ALREADY WITH THE 722.9 TRANSMISSION. IN PARTICULAR THE CONDUCTOR PLATE OR VALVE BODY WAS CORRUPTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FAIL. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE THE PART CAN FAIL ANYTIME DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS AROUND WHEN THIS MAY OCCUR. MANY OTHER OWNERS (I'VE READ ONLINE) WITH THIS 722.9 TRANSMISSION CONDUCTOR PLATE FAULT IS ALSO FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY MERCEDES-BENZ DOESN'T ALLOW FOR A CONSUMER TO BUY THE PART BUT MANY WARRANTIES ARE VOIDED WITH THIS FAULT. MY VEHICLE (MERCEDES-BENZ E500 2004) ALSO IS ONLY AT 56,000 MILES ON THE SPEEDOMETER. CONSIDERING THE MILEAGE, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE PREMATURE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED BY A MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER BUT HAS NO SERVICE FOR THE VERY COMMONLY FAULTED PART.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT CONTINUED TO ROLL WITHOUT STOPPING, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED, AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO COME OUT OF PARK. IN ADDITION, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND START DECELERATING TO TURN AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR OR TO FIRST GEAR THE INITIAL TIME. I HAD TO PULL OVER, CUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY AND THEN RE-START THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. WENT ABOUT A MONTH AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT I HAD DONE SOMETHING, BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE OFTEN LIKE ONCE A WEEK AND THEN DAILY. I WAS TRAVELING AT ONE TIME ON I-64 AND DECELERATED A BIT TO GO THROUGH THE HAMPTON TUNNEL AND REALIZED THAT IT HAPPENED AGAIN AS I WAS ACCELERATING AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL. ONCE AGAIN, I HAD TO PULL OVER, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. IT ALSO HAPPENED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ONE TIME WHILE MY SON AND I WERE RIDING WE ACTUALLY FELT THE CAR JOLT AS IT SHIFTED OUT OF THE PROPER GEAR. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS ON BUSY RT. 29 RIGHT AT RUSH HOUR. I STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED GREEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AND ALL I COULD HEAR WAS THE ENGINE REVVING. I TRIED THE USUAL, CUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING IT, BUT THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T RESET ITSELF AT ALL AND I ENDED UP GETTING TOWED TO A SHOP. MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW AND THE TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED. THE CAR WILL GO WHEN IT HAPPENS, BUT IT WILL NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AT ALL. I JUST LOOKED AT A COUPLE SITES ONLINE AND SEE WHERE AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I ALSO FOUND A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THE ALLWORLDAUTO.COM WEBSITE, FOR TRANSMISSIONS DOWNSHIFTING FOR THE MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 300 MILES. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN CONSUMER WAS CROSSING LANES TO AN ON COMING TRAFFIC. AS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM FIRST GEAR TO NEUTRAL ON ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. *LA

MY CAR BATTERY KEPT DYEING AND ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOT WORKING. IN FACT WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF THOSE SPEAKERS WOULD MAKE STATIC NOISES. I HAD AN ELECTRONIC AUTO STORE LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN THEY POSED THE QUESTION TO THEIR ONLINE SITE, THE ANSWER CAME BACK AS THE "AUDIO GATEWAY" BEING DEFECTIVE. THEY WERE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, TOLD THEM OF THE BATTERY DYEING PROBLEM AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THE SAME, "AUDIO GATEWAY". I PAID THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT REPLACED THE PART. THE TOTAL COST WAS APPROX. $1,258.00, WHICH INCLUDED LABOR. *TR

MY CAR PICKED UP A NAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT BLEW A ROUND HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER IN THE TIRE RIM. THESE ARE ALUMINUM ALLOY LOW PROFILE RIMS THAT CAME WITH MY E500 2004 MERCEDES BENZ AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER I HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES PUT ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT TWO MORE RIMS WERE BENT. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER (OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE) AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A RIM GO BAD. SUDDENLY I HAVE THREE RIMS GO BAD. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR CURBS OR ANY THING OTHER THAN NORMAL BUMPY ROADS. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW RIMS AND MOUNTING. I COMPLAINED TO M B AND THEIR ANSWER HAS BEEN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY ROAD HAZARD. I SAID THAT I KNOW THAT THE ROAD HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BUT THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR USING MATERIALS THAT OBVIOUSLY CANNOT TAKE THE STRAIN OF REASONABLE DRIVING. ANECDOTALLY I CAN TELL YOU THAT A CLOSE FRIEND IS DRIVING AN S500 WITH THE SAME LOW PROFILE TIRE AND HE TOO HAS HAD TO REPLACE THREE WHEELS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. I FEEL CERTAIN THAT IT IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE RIM WHICH IS AT FAULT SINCE IT CANNOT STAND UP TO THE ROAD SURFACE PROBLEMS AS WELL AS A RIM OF THE SAME MATERIAL THAT IS NOT OF THE LOW PROFILE DESIGN. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RELEASING THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH AN AUDIBLE CHIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED LATCH SECURELY IN THE BUCKLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER SEAT BELT TONGUE CEASED IN THE BUCKLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V534000 (SEAT BELTS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.

WHILE D IRVING HOME FROM WORK, AFTER STOPPING FOR LIGHT, WHEN LIGHT CHANGED AND I PROCEEDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, I SUDDENLY COULDN'T HARDLY TURN. IT TOOK ALL I HAD TO MAKE TURNS, THEN AFTER ARRIVING HOME MY HUSBAND NOTICED THE SUSPENSION HAD DROPPED ON THE VEHICLES AND WAS RESTING ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE. POWER STEERING RESOVIOUR WAS EMPTY AND WHEN HE PUT SOME IN. IT ALL RAN ON THE GROUND. V ECHO LIE WAS IN MOTION.

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, CAR JUST LOWERED OUT OF NO WHERE SPEED AUTOMATICALLY DECREASED, AND RED LIGHT CAME ON SAYING CAR TOO LOW STOP CAR, IT SCARED ME THAT IS SO DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE GOING AT A CERTAIN SPEED AND THEN IT DROPS OUT OF NO WHERE. THEN I HEAR AIR LEAKING FROM BACK BUT NOT OUT OF TIRE. *TR

ON 12/6/07 MY FAMILY WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT CAUSED BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. MY CONCERN IS REGARDING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED ACCORDING TO THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE. WHEN MY 7 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE ?PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF? LIGHT STAYED ON AND THIS WAS THE ONLY REASON WE LET HER RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED MINOR HEAD INJURIES. I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ OF SACRAMENTO TO LOOK INTO THIS AND THEY INDICATED THAT IF THE LIGHT INDICATED THE AIRBAG WAS OFF, THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF THE PASSENGER WEIGHED LESS THAN 60 LBS. IN THIS SITUATION THE PASSENGER WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 50 LBS. I ASKED MERCEDES BENZ TO CHECK THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE EQUIPMENT TO CHECK THE CAR IN THE FIELD. I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY SO I AM NO LONGER THE LEGAL OWNER. TO AVOID THIS SITUATION FROM HAPPENING TO ANY OTHER UNSUSPECTING FAMILY, I NEED TO KNOW IF WE WERE DOING SOMETHING WRONG OR IF THERE IS A MANUFACTURER?S DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR