2006 Mercedes-Benz E500 Fuel system Problems

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

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

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

SMELL GAS

NHTSA ID

11006706

Incident

Jul 17, 2017

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

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

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

I SMELLED A STRONG SCENT OF GAS AFTER PARKING MY CAR YESTERDAY, MORE PROMINENT IN THE TRUNK. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO MERCEDES TODAY AND WAS TOLD I HAD A CRACK IN MY FUEL FILTER. I HAVE HEARD COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM AND WONDER IF IT IS A RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10648498

Incident

Oct 16, 2014

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THE FUEL TANK COULD ONLY BE FILLED HALF WAY TO AVOID THE FUEL FROM LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10640624

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

ON 7/23/14, I NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF MY CAR AFTER REFUELING. I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED W211 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500 FROM MERCEDES-BENZ GREENWAY. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS ODOR ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING MAY BE RELATED TO A PROBLEM BEING SEEN IN NUMEROUS MERCEDES BENZ E-MODEL VEHICLES. AS ADVISED BY THE OTHER OWNERS HAVING THIS ISSUE, I DETACHED THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FROM THE CAR AND REMOVED THE BOLTS FROM THE CIRCULAR ACCESS PANEL THAT COVERS A PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE DEPRESSION ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHERE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL WIRES ATTACH TO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT, I FOUND A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF RAW GASOLINE POOLED. THIS PRESENTED A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION AND I WAS NO LONGER WILLING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE POOLING OF RAW GASOLINE ALSO REPRESENTS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE DUE TO THE EVAPORATION AND CREATION OF TOXIC FUMES. I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE RAW GASOLINE SITTING ON THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SUGARLAND DEMANDED $1,022.57 TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING AND REPLACING BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS/PUMPS IN MY VEHICLE. MERCEDES-BENZ OF SUGARLAND DID NOT RETURN MY OLD PARTS AFTER I REQUESTED THEM. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE TO RECALL IT AND REPLACE IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE NHTSA'S CURRENT INVESTIGATION ACTION NUMBERS FOR THIS ISSUE ARE PE-12001 AND EA-13003. READ MORE: HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/E-CLASS-W211/437486-URGENT-NHTSA-OPENS-INVESTIGATION-INTO-FUEL-LEAKS-W211-E-CLASS-7.HTML. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621793

Incident

Jul 23, 2014

Mileage

161,000 mi

I FILLED THE VEHICLE UP A ON 5/10/14 AND THE NEXT DAY MY WIFE WAS TELLING ME THERE WAS A STRONG GAS ODOR IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. ON MAY 12. 2014 I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THE GAS ODOR WAS EXTREMELY STRONG. I LOOKED ONLINE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN ISSUE FOR ALL MERCEDES E-CLASS (2006 - 2009). I REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND FOUND THE LEAKAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594174

Incident

May 12, 2014

Mileage

76,320 mi

I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE MY GARAGE FOR THE PAST WEEK. LAST WEEKEND I WAS WAITING FOR SOMEONE INSIDE MY CAR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND I FELT THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I NOTICED THAT THE SMELL DECREASED SOMEWHAT WHEN MY GAS LEVEL WENT DOWN ALMOST TO EMPTY. WHEN I REFUEL THE CAR THE SMELL GOT VERY STRONG AGAIN. I AM CALLING THE DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584331

Incident

Apr 7, 2014

Mileage

75,000 mi

THERE WAS STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER FILLING UP THE CAR WITH GAS. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WOULD SMELL OF GAS UNTIL THE GAS TANK REACHED BELOW APPROXIMATELY 70% LEVELS. AFTER PARKING IN THE GARAGE, IT SMELLED AS THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR IF THE WE DIDN'T FILL UP THE GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557585

Incident

Jul 5, 2010

Mileage

67,000 mi

I AM GREATLY CONCERNED. I SMELL GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF MY MERCEDES E500 2006 MODEL. AFTER FUELING UP MY CAR , I SMELL GAS INSIDE THE CABIN TOWARDS REAR SEAT AREA AND OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVERS REAR OF THE CAR. THIS CANNOT BE SAFE AND NOT HEALTHY BREATHING IN FUMES OF GAS . I HAVE CHILDREN THAT SIT IN THE BACK SEAT. THEY ARE BREATHING IN FUMES . MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AFTER THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I QUESTION IF THIS WAS THE CAUSE, EXPOSURE TO GAS INSIDE THE CAR. THE CAR IS @ THE MERCEDES DEALER BEING LOOKED AT AS WE SPEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547612

Incident

May 2, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

SMELL OF GASOLINE FROM CAR WHEN IN GARAGE AND PARKING LOTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546906

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

132,000 mi

AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK LAST SEPTEMBER I NOTICED A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES BEFORE BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TO MY MECHANIC. HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509880

Incident

Sep 20, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 E500 SEDAN. JUST BEFORE THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, WE NOTICE A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE CAR. WE HAD A MERCEDES DEALER, CHECK IT OUT AND THE SERVICEMAN SAID HE FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH A SEAL ON THE FUEL PUMP PANEL BELOW THE LEFT REAR SEAT. SAID HE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THIS WAS THE AREA OF THE PROBLEM BUT HE DIDN'T STOP THE LEAK. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AND THE DEALER FOUND A BAYONET FITTING TO A OVERFLOW CANNISTER DISCONNECTED. THE LEAK PROBLEM STILL PERSIST AND I HAVE RESORTED TO NOT FILLING THE CAR UP WITH GAS. I HAVE HAD TO RIP OUT THE SOUND PROOFING BLANKET UNDER THE REAR SEAT BECAUSE OF FUEL ODORS. ( IT GOT SOAKED. ) THE SEAT FOAM GOT WET IN THE AREA JUST ABOVE THE FUEL ACCESS PANEL. IS THERE A SEAL (O-RING OR OTHERWISE IN THE FUEL TANK O CAP IN THAT ACCESS AREA) SHOULD I TAKE THE CAP OFF AND LOOK FOR A BURR ON THE TANK? WHAT TORQUE VALUE OR HOW TIGHT SHOULD THIS CAP BE SCREWED ON THE TANK? *TR

NHTSA ID

10508075

Incident

Mar 8, 2013

Mileage

92,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER REFUELING, HE WOULD SMELL A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP THAT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10504358

Incident

Jan 25, 2013

Mileage

60,000 mi

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AT STATION. SMELL WENT AWAY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495100

Incident

Jan 24, 2013

Mileage

130,250 mi

GAS SMELL INSIDE OF THE CAR, VERY CONCERNED. NHTSA ACTION# PE12001. *TR

NHTSA ID

10486195

Incident

Nov 14, 2012

Mileage

72,000 mi

I NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN MY 2006 E500. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG INSIDE THE CABIN AND MY VEHICLE ALWAYS STAYS IN THE GARAGE. WHEN I WALK INTO THE GARAGE I ALSO SMELL A VERY STRONG GAS ODOR. I HAD SIMILAR SMELL 2 YEARS AGO AND GOT IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THE FUEL TANK OPENING UNDER THE REAR SEAT WAS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED AND LEAKED THE GAS. THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT AND ALSO REPLACED ANY INSULATION THAT WAS THERE THE TO ENSURE SMELL COMPLETELY GOES AWAY. FOR A WHILE I WAS NOT GETTING THE SMELL BUT IT SUDDENLY STARTED COMING AND IT IS VERY STRONG. I ALSO HEAR THAT IT IS AFFECT LOTS OF VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473223

Incident

Aug 28, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

FUEL TANK CRACKED. UNEXPLAINED, AND CONFIRMED BY DEALER. FUMES LEAK FROM EXTERIOR (CAN DETECTED WHEN TANK IS NEAR CAPACITY). CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. MB SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE TANK. PE12001 (RELATED CASE IT WOULD SEEM) -- E CLASS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469587

Incident

Aug 7, 2012

I RECENTLY NOTICED IN MY 2006 E500 4MATIC THAT AFTER I PUT A FULL TANK OF GAS IN THE CAR, THERE IS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BACK SEAT. MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND ONCE I ENTER THE GARAGE IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK, ITS VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A GAS LEAK OF SOME SORT. I HAVE A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD SON THAT SITS BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SEAT. THIS GAS LEAK SMELL HAS HAPPENED TO OVER SEVERAL HUNDRED ECLASS VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10455065

Incident

Mar 26, 2012

Mileage

50,100 mi