Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2004 Mercedes Benz E350 with NHTSA between 2013 and 2021.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 15 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 3
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz E350. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2004 compares with every other Mercedes Benz E350
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2004 Mercedes Benz E350
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
981.8%
Median failure at 137,500 miles
Brakes
19.1%
Median failure at 125,000 miles
Electrical System
19.1%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
75,000 – 99,999 miles
222.2%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
444.4%
150,000+ miles
333.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 2013peak 2Jan 2021
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 180,123 milesKissimmee, FL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RECEIVED THE CAR FROM MY DAD AS A GIFT STONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM INSIDE ONLY RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR NEWBORN BABY NOW DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO... LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOR RECALLS AND SEEN A FEW.. BUT THEN I SEE ALOT OF PEOPLE SAYING NOTHING HAPPENS... JUST SAYING WITH SOMETHING THAT HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL ON AND IF SOMETHING WOULD TO GO WRONG WITH ANYONE'S FAMILY THAT IS A HELL OF A LAWSUIT....
NHTSA complaint #11389515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesWallingford, CT
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I INHERITED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY FATHER AND WHEN I FUEL UP THE SMELL OF GAS IS OVERPOWERING. I CHANGED HOSES AND GASKETS IN 2018 AND WAS OK UNTIL 3 MONTHS AGO. NOW IT ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE GAS TO THE POINT OF LIGHT-HEADED AND VOMITING. CALLED MERCEDES THERE WAS AN ACTIVE RECALL THAT EXPIRED IN 2019 BUT I HAD NEVER RECEIVED NOTICES AND SPOKE TO MY MOTHER THAT ALSO NEVER RECEIVED. MERCEDES ADMITTED THEY HAD INCORRECT ADDRESS SO THEY WERE SENDING TO A DECEASED PERSON TO WRONG ADDRESS. BUT SINCE IT IS EXPIRED, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO FOR A FAULTY FUEL TANK THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
NHTSA complaint #11366412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesEast Hartford, CT
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BAFFLE INSIDE FUEL TANK BROKE AFTER NORMAL USE, CREATING RATTLING NOISE, CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND REPLACEMENT OF TANK REQUIRES LENGTHY VEHICLE DISASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #11325016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 117,000 milesFlushing, NY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING WITH GAS.
NHTSA complaint #11324408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesConcord, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING DRY OR INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE CBC ELECTRONIC BRAKE WAS EXTENDED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MERCEDES-BENZ OF WALNUT CREEK LOCATED AT (1301 PARKSIDE DR, WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596), HOWEVER, THE DEALER DECLINED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #11319861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesPortsmouth, VA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2004 MERCEDES E320 HAS A STRONG GAS SMELL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT "1/3 THE FUEL TANK HAS A COVER ON TOP OF IT-SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE TANK AND THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE THE TANK IS LEAKING WHERE THE COVER MEETS THE 2/3 TANK WHEN YOU PULL THE BACK SEAT OUT YOU CAN SEE THE TANK TOP-FUEL IS SEEPING OUT STAINING THE SIDE OF THE TANK" I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A 15 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND I WAS ADVISED IT EXPIRED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 12 YEARS. I REACHED OUT THE MERCEDES HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ADVISE ITS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR CAN CATCH ON FIRE. SHOULDN'T THIS HAVE BEEN A RECALL? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE IT IS. MERCEDES STILL STATED NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE TANK WILL COST $2300 AND THEY ADVISE NO AFTERMARKET AVAILABLE. THIS IS UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER BY ALL MEANS. MERCEDES KNOWING KNEW THERE WAS A ISSUE AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE
NHTSA complaint #11319755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 268,000 milesPotomac, MD
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SMELL STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER FILLING GAS TANK OVER PAST SEVERAL MONTHS
NHTSA complaint #11311215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesHouston, TX
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS REFUELED, A STRONG GAS SMELL (ODOR) INSIDE THE CAR WHILE DRIVING APPEARED, CAUSING THE DRIVER (MY DAUGHTER) TO OPEN THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG. AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE .WHATS THIS ABOUT?
NHTSA complaint #10956448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2004 MERCEDES BENZ E 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REPAIRS. *SMD BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS WERE LEAKING OIL, THE REAR SEAT CUSHION AND INSULATION WERE SOAKED IN FUEL, AND THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10585900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 MERCEDES BENZ E 350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REPAIRS. *SMD BOTH FUEL SENDING UNITS WERE LEAKING OIL, THE REAR SEAT CUSHION AND INSULATION WERE SOAKED IN FUEL, AND THE SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10585900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesTolland, CT
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXHIBITED STRONG ODOR OF GAS WITHIN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LEFT GAS TANK PORT AND FUEL SENDER UNIT FOUND TO BE LEAKY THROUGH CRACKS IN PLASTIC. LEAK STOPPED VIA REPAIR. VEHICLE STILL EXHIBITS STRONG ODOR OF GAS OUTSIDE CAR ESPECIALLY AFTER A FILLUP (WITHOUT "TOPPING OFF"). ODOR HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED OR FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10531574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.