25 of the
546 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz E500
are about the engine —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
Car smells like gas. Constantly a couple machanic. Did some repairs. But there’s a small leak as well from a smoke test. Gas leaks in more than one area. Oil leaks everywhere. Evap leak didn’t pass smog. Then went to a smog station and repair. Check engine light back on again. I saw Mercedes had an extended warranty to avoid recalling several safety complaints. I got the car from a guy who never looked into recalls or extended warranty for these complaints. Please help me to get refunded what I payed so far with repairs on gas leaks. Also to repair the whole gas system. It is dangerously ongoing. I never got notified by Mercedes nor did the previous owner.
NHTSA complaint #11675235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. Suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and I overshot the turn. Then the car had no power. I was 36 miles from my home. I limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. There was absolutely no warning of any kind of brake problem. The car was driving just fine before this happened. I believe it could have been a much worse situation had I been in any kind of traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11475607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11297903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10809765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE RESTARTED IN ORDER FOR THE GEAR SHIFTER TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBINE SENSOR, THE WHEEL, THE SPARK PLUGS, AND THE COIL PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10808274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
NHTSA complaint #10732671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUFFOCATING OIL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AUTOMOBILE. PREGNANT WIFE BECAME NAUSEOUS AND HAD TO OPEN ALL WINDOWS AND SUNROOF. PASSENGER FRONT SUSPENSION HAS LIQUID SPLATTERING ON UNDERNEATH OF ENGINE HOOD. SUSPENSION MAKES EXTREME LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHEN GOING UP HILL OR OVER A BUMP.
NHTSA complaint #10732039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AS THE VEHICLE WAS DECELERATING TO A STOP. TWICE IT OCCURRED AS THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT AND ONCE IT HAPPENED AS THE VEHICLE WAS ON AN OFF-RAMP, EXITING I-95. ON THE FIRST TWO OCCASIONS, AT THE STOPLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, ON THE OFF-RAMP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL IT WAS ALLOWED TO COOL FOR AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS ON THE OFF-RAMP. AFTER THE THIRD OCCASION, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE "CRANK POSITION SENSOR" WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN AT ANY TIME WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION IS A SAFETY HAZARD. OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED THAT IT CAN HAPPEN AND SHOULD BE URGED TO GET IT CHECKED.
NHTSA complaint #10731830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10723295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10679582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10676537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10639110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
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 complaint #10628177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10604788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO MOMENTARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKING POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE SBC HYDRAULIC PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,981. UPDATED 01/23/2014 *BF ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES WERE DRY ROTTED AND CRACKED, THE LEFT OUTER AXLE BOOT WAS TORN AND LEAKING, THE SERPENTINE ENGINE BELT WAS BADLY WORN, AND WAS SPLITTING DOWN THE MIDDLE. THE ENGINE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL, THE DRIVER'S SUN VISOR WAS DAMAGED AND WOULD NOT FOLD UP PROPERLY, THE TRANSMISSION PILOT BUSHING WAS LEAKING TRANSMISSION OIL INTO THE VEHICLE HARNESS. UPDATED 03/18/14 ..UPDATED 03/18/14 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10556396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CODE: 4A30 ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NOT IDENTIFIED OR INCORRECT CONTROL MODULE. CODE: 54F0 CAN COMMUNICATION WITH CONTROL UNIT TRANSMISSION CONTROL IS SPORADICALLY DISTURBED. SAFETY ISSUE: I RECENTLY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY, CAME TO A STOP, AND THEN ATTEMPT TO PROCEED NORMALLY WITH THE VEHICLE NOW STUCK IN 5TH (OR WHATEVER THE SENSOR CHOOSES) GEAR, AND NO POWER STEERING- THERE IS A REASONABLE USER PRESUMPTION THAT THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE NORMALLY AND BE ABLE TO SAFELY JOIN TRAFFIC....INSTEAD IT CRAWLS FORWARD AT A FEW MILES AN HOUR INTO POTENTIAL HARMS WAY WITH NO WAY TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY, THEREBY LEAVING THE DRIVER AND OUR CHILDREN IN DANGER. I SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND WOULD NOT WISH THIS TERROR EXPERIENCE ON OUR WORST ENEMY. MERCEDES MONTVALE NJ WILL NOT PARTICIPATE ON FIXING THE CAUSE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10553464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TOOK MY CAR 2005 E500 FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE BALL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN JULY 2011. THEN AFTER CHECKING EVERYTHING OUT, THE DEALER TOLD ME THE FUEL RING UNDER THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. COST USD 600. ALSO THERE WAS GASOLINE SEEPING OUT OF CAR ONTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN CAR WAS PARKED. I STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE SMELL IN MARCH 2012. I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2012 AND THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE FUEL SYSTEM. COST USD 2100. THERE WERE PUDDLES OF GASOLINE IN MY GARAGE AFTER THE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THERE MIGHT BE GASOLINE SMELL. AFTER THE SMELL LINGERED AFTER EVERY FILLUP I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WANTED TO CHARGE ME USD 3000 FOR THE FUEL LEAK BUT I TOLD THEM I JUST FIXED THE FUEL LEAK PROBLEM. THIS WAS IN SEPT 2012. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T CHARGE ME ANYTHING. I AGAIN TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON IN SEPT 2013 TO MERCEDES BENZ IN GRAPEVINE, TX. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK AND THE COST IS USD 2115. I TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION, CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM ON MERCEDES E500 VEHICLES AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR, MATT PINECREST, TOLD ME THE CASE WAS SETTLED AND MERCEDES WON. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FALSEHOOD. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW TAKEN AN EMOTIONAL TOLL ON ME SINCE I CAN'T DRIVE MY CAR PROPERLY WITHOUT WORRYING. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10550436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10504055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2003 MB E500 WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STUTTER AND SHAKE @ AROUND 1500 RPM, THIS OCCURRED CONTINUALLY. MADE IT HOME AND GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE DUE TO A LEAK IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM THAT SOMEHOW GETS INTO THE TRANSMISSION,CAUSING IT TO BECOME CONTAMINATED WHICH PRODUCES THIS FIERCE/POTENTIAL DANGEROUS STUTTER/JERKING. TO MY SURPRISE, MERCEDES BENZ IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS HAZARD AND HAS NOT HAD A RECALL/BULLETIN TO FIX THIS COMMON PROBLEM, LEAVING THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR COST ON THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE COST IS EXPENSIVE ENOUGH AND TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS COSTLY REPAIR IS UNFAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10468407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.