2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of a fuel leak, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. A diagnostic test revealed an Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) control system leak. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11723628

Incident

Dec 1, 2025

Mileage

77,000 mi

My father and mother were driving back home on the evening of 1/29/25 when all of a sudden they heard a loud pop/explosion and their seat belts tightened. They were traveling at a speed of approximately 35 mph on local roads. There was no accident, collision, or warning signs, but the driver's side airbags, left side of the car, deployed. The message on the odometer said SRS Restraint system malfunction. The car is a 2006 Mercedes E500 with 58,900 miles having one owner and all maintenance performed on time. This is a high safety concern as it could have caused a severe accident and if the front airbags had deployed erroneously, this could have injured my elderly parents. I put a call into Mercedes corporate on 1/31/25 at 9:30 am but so far they do not appear to be taking this issue seriously. When my father contacted his local Mercedes dealer, they too do not want too deal with the issue.

NHTSA ID

11639842

Incident

Jan 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2006 Mercedes-Benz E 500. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, she noticed arrows were pointing at the sunroof. The contact stated that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V954000 (Visibility). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined the failure was due to a shortage in the lights. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.

NHTSA ID

11620362

Incident

Oct 17, 2024

Mileage

114,000 mi

Undergoing changing of front lights, wires under hood leading to the lights were found to be completely exposed in areas. The protective covering had disintegrated off, causing risk of fire or explosion from bare wires touching.

NHTSA ID

11605016

Incident

May 4, 2024

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VEHICLE AFTER BEING DRIVEN. SMELL PROMINENT AT LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL.

NHTSA ID

11384892

Incident

Dec 12, 2020

Mileage

119,300 mi

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER AND THIS IS AN E500 . I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO GET HURT SO I AM REPORTING. I DO HAVE ALL RECEIPTS.

NHTSA ID

11299243

Incident

Jan 31, 2007

I HAVE HAD THE SAME THING LATELY WITH MY CAR AS RECALL DATED 12/20/2019. MY SUNROOF HAS BEEN LEAKING A LITTLE ALL THE LINER IN MY CAR IS STARTING TO FALL DOWN. IT STARTED WITH THE SUNROOF AND THE MECHANICAL PART OF THE ROOF IS DETERIORATING. I HAD TO TAKE OFF THE PANEL FOR THE SUNROOF BECAUSE IT WAS MOLDING AND NOT CLOSING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11299237

Incident

Jan 31, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

ALSO I HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN TO ME IN THE RECALL DATED 3/15/2013. AFTER TAKING A LONG TRIP UP TO SAN FRANCISCO WHEN I GOT HOME MY OIL TANK WAS LEAKING -THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM MY BACKSEAT. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THEY REPLACED MY FUEL TANK BUT BEFORE THEY DID THAT THEY SENT ME ON THE ROAD WITHOUT FIXING AND NO RENTAL CAR. I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS OUT FROM THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. THE DEALER TOLD ME TO ROLL MY WINDOWS DOWN WHEN DRIVING WHAT? I DROVE MY CAR LIKE THAT FOR APPROX 1 WEEK BEFORE THE FUEL TANK CAME IN. THEY DID PAY FOR IT. I WAS CONCERNED IF I WHERE TO SMOKE IN THE CAR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?

NHTSA ID

11299234

Incident

Dec 31, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

THIS HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED 2X ALREADY-I WAS STATIONARY AT A LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THERE WHERE MANY CARS BEHIND ME AND MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. I TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN IT FINALLY RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD . I WAS TERRIFIED. THE SECOND TIME THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY MOVING AND THEN JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES AND SINCE NOTHING CAME UP ON MY DASH THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I AM TERRIFIED THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT A GOOD OUTCOME NEXT TIME. I FEEL MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE TRIED TALKING TO MBUSA AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY DID NOTHING. I WROTE A LETTER THEY DID NOTHING. I TOLD HOEHN MERCEDES I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD ME THE CAR NOTHING. 1ST TIME CAR WAS STATIONARY ON CITY STREET, 2ND TIME IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. GOING STRAIGHT. 2ND MECHANIC SAID HE HAD HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE, RANDOM INCIDENT STARTER? I AM THE ORIGIONAL OWNER-PAID $60,000 FOR THIS CAR I CANNOT EVEN GET $5,000 FOR IT.

NHTSA ID

11299230

Incident

Jan 31, 2019

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE STRUCK AN OBJECT AND CAUSED FOUR AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE TIRE WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED MERCEDES-BENZ OF COCONUT CREEK AT 954-406-1167 (LOCATED AT 4250 N. STATE ROAD 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN OBJECT, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT ABOUT THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS AND STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT SENT PICTURES OF THE TIRE, AIR BAGS, AND VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT CHANGE THE MANUFACTURER'S DECISION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED COMPLAINT NUMBER 11268700 CONCERNING TO THOUSAND AND SIX MERCEDES E 500 AFTER THE AIRBAG EXPLODED INSIDE THE CAR THIS LITTER FROM MERCEDES USA RESPONDING TO MY COMPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THEY SAYING THE CAR IMPACTED SOMETHING BEFORE THE AIRBAG EXPLODED. *JB *DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11268700

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY LOOSE AND FAILED TO TURN. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE LOCAL DEALER (A BETTER WAY WHOLESALE, 423 WEBER AVE NAUGATUCK, CT) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA ID

11149965

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

117,000 mi

SMELL GAS

NHTSA ID

11006706

Incident

Jul 17, 2017

CAR AIR BAGS NOT ADJUSTING CAR.

NHTSA ID

10956706

Incident

Aug 30, 2016

Mileage

20 mi

AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, WHILED STOPPED, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EVIDENT. THE SMALL SEEMS TO ORIGINATE NEAR THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. SOMETIME IT'S DETECTABLE INSIDE THE CAR, BUT MOSTLY IT'S READILY APPARENT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 10-30 MILES, THE SMELL GOES AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10937034

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT WANTED TO USE THE EMAIL THAT HE SENT TO THE HOTLINE FOR HIS COMPLAINT. "THE DOCUMENTED ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN MY CAR TURNED 8 OR 9 YEARS OLD (2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500 IN MINT CONDITION WITH 82,000 MILES) WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHTS INTERMITTEDLY COMES ON. NOW, IT IS ON NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THAT OF A WEIGHT SENSOR, AND SAID WHENEVER THE LIGHT IS ON, ALL AIRBAGS ARE TURNED OFF AND WILL NOT DEPLOY. NOW IT IS NEARING 10 YEARS OLD AND AM STILL TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR IT UNDER THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY ($850 TO $1000) AS YOUR AGENCY HAS DEFINED, "'MANUFACTURERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REMEDY VEHICLES FOR FREE THAT ARE MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD ON THE DATE THE DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE IS DETERMINED. UNDER THE LAW, THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE IS CALCULATED FROM THE DATE OF SALE TO THE FIRST PURCHASER'" THE ONLY RECALL THAT I AM AWARE FOR THIS CAR IS FOR THE AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND NOT FOR THE WEIGHT SENSOR THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED. IT IS NOT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CAR MUST HAVE TO FACE A RECALL TO OBLIGE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG COMPONENT." THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10909699

Incident

Sep 20, 2016

Mileage

82,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE CLUSTER FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE CLUSTER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10896312

Incident

Aug 16, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE RECALL AS A REGISTERED OWNER AND THE RECALL EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

10836703

Incident

Feb 17, 2016

Mileage

143,619 mi

ON JANUARY 29, 2016, I WAS GOING TOWARDS THE EXIT OF MY DEVELOPMENT BUT BEFORE I GOT TO A MAIN ROAD (I WAS TRAVELING SLOWLY ABOUT 20 MPH AND DRIVING STRAIGHT) I WAS USING BRAKES AND RED MESSAGE POPPED UP ON THE DASH BOARD STATING REDUCED BRAKE POWER AND TO DEPRESS BAKE PEDAL WHICH I DID BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING SO I LET THE CAR MOVE INTO THE CURB WHERE THERE WAS SNOW. I TURNED CAR OFF AND TURNED BACK ON AND THE WARNING MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYED AND CAR FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. I CALLED MB DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND I DID RESEARCH BEFORE CALLING AND LEARNED THE SUBCOMMITTEE PUMP IS THE PROBLEM AND THERE IS A TEN YEAR UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY ON THE MATTER. EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 2006, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2015 BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ACTUALLY MANUFACTURED IN 2005 (I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2008). SINCE IT WAS ALMOST 1 MONTH OUT OF WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD BE 3000-4000 TO REPLACE SAC SYSTEM. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED MOST DEFINITELY AS I WAS IN A PANIC WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED. I WAS JUST FORTUNATE THAT IT DID NOT OCCUR IN TRAFFIC. PLEASE MAKE MB CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AS IT OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND PEOPLE COULD BE INJURED IF NOT WORSE.

NHTSA ID

10823149

Incident

Jan 29, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR OFF THE FRWY AND WAS TURNING ON THE RAMP WHEN MY BRAKES STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ID

10819468

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

Mileage

127,209 mi

THE SUSPENSION , NAMELY THE AIRMATIC STRUTS FAIL ON THE E500 . MERCEDES HAS KNOW ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. I HAD AN S500 THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECK INTO, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL BOTTOM OUT , TIRES ON THE FRAME. THE AROMATIC STRUTS FAIL AND MAKE CAR UN DRIVABLE. VERY COSTLY REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10808356

Incident

Nov 11, 2015

2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500 - I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. OUTSIDE OF THE CAR YOU COULD SMELL GAS COMING FROM THE REAR END UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. INSIDE OF THE CAR IT WAS COMING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT AREA. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATE OFFICE WHICH THEN DIRECTED MY CALL TO CUSTOMER CARE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REFER ME TO A AUTHORIZED MB DEALER, AND THEIR WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AT THE PRESENT TIME. THE DEALER THEY REFERRED ME TO WAS WALTER'S MERCEDES BENZ IN RIVERSIDE CA. I TOOK IT IN AND, I RECEIVED A CALL THE NEXT MORNING STATING IT WAS MY FUEL FILTER & SENSOR. THEY ALSO FOUND A SMALL OIL LEAK. FYI I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY OIL LEAKAGE FROM MY CAR. THEN WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS AND IT WOULD COST ME $790 FOR THE FUEL FILTER REPLACEMENT AND $1300 FOR THE OIL SEAL REPLACEMENT. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN #2008-020001. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THE 8,000 VEHICLES EFFECTED BY THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH ITS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I PROCEEDED TO LOOK ONLINE WHERE I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS MENTION A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE FUEL TANK. I CALLED MB CUSTOMER CARE AND ASKED THEM FOR A COPY OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY EMAILED ONE. IN THIS LETTER IT STATES AS ONE OF THE PARTS COVERED IS THE FUEL FILTER/SENDER. I MENTIONED THAT TO WALTER'S MERCEDES BENZ AND THEY SAID THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER MY REPAIR. IT'S VERY EVIDENT THAT MERCEDES BENZ AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT HONORING THESE SO CALLED VOLUNTARY AND EXTENDED WARRANTIES. I REFUSED TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AND NOW MY CAR SITS IN MY GARAGE. AFTER BRINGING IT BACK FROM THE DEALER THERE IS NOW OIL LEAKAGE! I NEVER HAD ANY OIL LEAKING UNTIL I TOOK IT TO WALTER'S MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701717

Incident

Mar 16, 2015

Mileage

125,186 mi

REAR SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AIRBAGS LEAKING ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10690766

Incident

Feb 12, 2015

Mileage

82,000 mi

WE HAVE FELT A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE, AFTER REFUELING AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. IT IS AN ONGOING ODOR NOW, EVEN AFTER A FEW DAYS. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE A SERIOUS ISSUE WHEN THERE IS FUEL INVOLVED. *JS

NHTSA ID

10669090

Incident

Dec 28, 2014

Mileage

33,000 mi

THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. TRIED CALLING MERCEDES AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WE HAVE IS NOT ONE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ACCORDING TO THE VIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664378

Incident

Dec 8, 2014

Mileage

91,810 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10661796

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi