2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Fuel System

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that there was an abnormal fuel odor throughout the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact discovered a fuel leak coming from underneath the vehicle, above the fuel tank. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 202,800.

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an abnormal gasoline odor inside of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the rear seats, the contact observed gasoline pooling underneath the rear seats. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to TSB: 2008-020001. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The contact removed the rear seat where the fuel tank was located and discovered that fuel was leaking into the vehicle underneath the rear seat instead of going into the fuel tank. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE NOW. WHEN I FILL UP MY FUEL TANK THERE IS A DRASTIC SMELL OF GAS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR OUT ON THE STREET IN FEAR MY WATER HEATER WHEN IGNITING WOULD SET OFF A EXPLOSION. I AM SURE MB KNOWS OF THIS SITUATION SINCE I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS REMARKS AND INSTANCES ON JUST THIS SUBJECT. I WOULD HOPE THAT MB WILL ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND INDEED THEY SAID THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS A CRACK ON TOP ALLOWING THE FUEL TO LEAK WHEN FILLED UP TO THE FULL MARK. THANK YOU ADVANCE IN REPORTING THIS TO MERCEDES. *TR

MY VEHICLE STARTED PUTTERING AND FINALLY SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST MERCEDES BENZ SHOP LOCATED ON INDEPENDENCE DRIVE IN CHARLOTTE. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. I INFORMED THE SERVICE ADVISOR COLTON AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TODD ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE COMPONENTS OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. I WAS DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE CRACKED BEFORE THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY. TO MY UNDERSTANDING IF THE ITEM IS A PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS, IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO SATISFY THE WARRANTY AND I ENDED UP NOT AUTHORIZING THE REPAIRS. NOW BECAUSE MERCEDES WILL NOT REPAIR THE COVERED PART, I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE IT FIXED. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR MY TIME AND PARTS AND LABOR FOR NOT SATISFYING THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY.....UPDATED 10/15/15 *BF

STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER FILLING GAS TANK. WHILE IN FOR SERVICE ON VEHICLE OTHER THAN GAS ODOR MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP FOUND GAS ON SKID PAN UNDER CAR WHILE ON RACK. HE SAID TANK OR POSSIBLE O RING MAY BE AT FAULT. THIS WAS SEPTEMBER OF 2012. AT THAT TIME I DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE REPAIRS DUE TO FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS. THIS JANUARY OF 2015 I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDENDUM STATING " SPECIFICALLY, THE WARRANTY ON THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILTER/SENDER, FUEL PUMP, AND RELATED GASKETS ( COLLECTIVELY THE "COVERED FUEL TANK COMPONENTS") FOR GASOLINE-FUELED, NON PZEV CERTIFIED MODEL YEAR 2003-2009 E CLASS AND 2006-2011CLS- CLASS VEHICLES WILL BE EXTENDED FROM ORIGINAL 4 YEAR/ 50,000 MILES (WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST) TO 15 YEARS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE." TODAY I LEFT MY 2003 E320 FOR SERVICE TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING BUT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION ADDENDUM! AS STATED ABOVE THE "FUEL FILTER/SENDER" IS COVERED UNDER THE ADDENDUM BUT DEALER DOESN'T WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. I UNDERSTAND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST MERCEDES CONCERNING THIS MATTER. IS THERE ANYTHING YOUR AGENCY CAN DUE SO MERCEDES HONORS THEIR ADDENDUM AND NOT CHANGE THE COVERAGE ONCE THEY HAVE YOUR CAR TORN APART. I DID SHOW LETTER TO SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE I LEFT THE CAR. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. *TR

I FILLED MY CAR UP YESTERDAY AND I HAVE A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE MY CAR NOW. *TR

CRACK AROUND FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE. CONSTANT STRONG ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE IN AND AROUND THE CAR. FILLS THE GARAGE WITH GAS ODOR AND INTO HOUSE. WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE GAS CAN STILL BE SMELLED. UNSAFE WHETHER PARKED, OR BEING DRIVEN. *TR

THE INTERIOR CABIN OF MY 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 HAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. ESPECIALLY AFTER REFUELING...GASOLINE IS POOLING UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER SEAT... I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO GET THE GASOLINE SMELL OUT OF THE CABIN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS PROBLEM TO MY MERCEDES BENZ DEALER AND THEY SAID THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING AND SENDING UNIT WAS FAULTY ...I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $3000.00 TO GET UNIT REPLACED. *TR

SMELLED STRONG FUEL SMELL IN GARAGE AND CAR. REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO ACCESS FUEL PUMP FUEL SENDER UNITS. UPON REMOVAL OF ACCESS DOOR LID I SEEN A LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WHERE IT WAS SEEPING OUT BETWEEN A SEEM ON TOP OF THE UNIT. THIS SAME PART WAS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL IN 2008. THE SAME PROBLEM WITH FUEL LEAKS IS WIDE SPREAD AND WELL DOCUMENTED IN MBWORLD.ORG I CAN SUPPLY PICTURES IF NEEDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH THE FUEL PUMP AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

MY WHOLE GARAGE SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE WHENEVER WE FILL UP THE GAS TANK. THE SMELL WILL REMAIN UNTIL WE DRIVE THE CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, CONSUMING PERHAPS 1/4 OF THE TANK. THIS HAS BEEN ON-GOING ONLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. *JS

AS A LOYAL MERCEDES BENZ CUSTOMER FOR YEARS IT PAINS ME TO WRITE THIS LETTER. I AM SHOCKED TO SEE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST MBNA AND HAVE PERSONALLY HAD TWO FUEL CELL ISSUES IN TWO SEPARATE AMG CARS 6 YEARS APART. IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE COST BEFORE AND THIS TIME. IT SICKENS ME THAT MBNA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTS UTILIZED IN THESE AMG VEHICLES YET THE DESIGN WAS CHANGED. CUSTOMERS ARE NOT TOLD THAT THIS IS A FLAW THAT HAPPENS ON MANY OF THE AMG INSTEAD THEY ARE TREATED AS IF EACH ARE UNIQUE CASES. SHAME ON MBNA FOR TREATING SUCH LOYAL CUSTOMERS WITH SUCH DISREGARD AND NOT ADMITTING TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A LIMITATION THAT CONSUMERS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR THEIR SAFETY. IT PERSONALLY PLACED MY FAMILY IN HARMS WAY THIS PAST WEEKEND DURING A TRIP TO NAPLES FL. I THINK EACH EXECUTIVE OF MBNA SHOULD BE FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR FAMILY WITH THIS ISSUES SO THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL. FOR A COMPANY SO FOCUSED ON SAFETY...THEY ARE DROPPING THE BALL FOR THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS AND HIDING THE TRUTH. RESPECTFULLY I DEMAND THAT MBNA BE HELD DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND ADMIT THE ISSUE TO ALL AMG OWNERS 2003-2009. *JS

I SMELL GAS INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHEN I FILL UP MY GAS TANK AND IT SMELLS REALLY STRONG IN THE CAR , I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A LEAK I HAD PAY FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSIS IT AND THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS LEAKING A LITTLE INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TANK AND FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT . *TR

FUEL LEAKS AND FUEL FUMES IN CABIN. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 E320 SEDAN, I CAN SMELL VERY STRONG GAS FUMES ALL IN THE CAR CABIN EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH GAS - NOT TOPPING OFF, AND NO FUEL LEAKING. THIS IS SO PREVALENT I HAVE TO LEAVE MY CAR PARKED OUTSIDE INSTEAD OF IN MY GARAGE. THIS CAN LAST FOR AROUND THREE DAYS. I HAVE INVESTIGATED POSSIBLE CAUSES AND NONE SEEM TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS CAN BE QUITE COSTLY. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED MANY MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THE SAME REASON. PLEASE HELP. *TR

AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK, FUMES FILLED THE CABIN. I LIFTED THE REAR SEAT AND EXPOSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE GAS TANK SENDING UNIT & THERE WAS A GAS PUDDLE SURROUNDING THE RING. THIS LEAK, ACCORDING TO POSTS, SEEM TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER REFUELING, A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WAS PRESENT OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000. *TR

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001 AFTER FILLING VEHICLE GAS TANK, VEHICLE HAS A VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. FUEL IS LEAKING AROUND SENDING UNIT AT GAS TANK, AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. DUE TO THE LEAK, VEHICLE CANNOT BE KEPT IN THE GARAGE UNTIL FUEL LEVEL REACHES 3/4 TANK. ALSO, THE SMELL IS SO BAD INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILL UP, IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *TR

MY CAR IS HAVING A FUEL SMELL AND A ROUGH IDLE. MESSAGE POPS UP TO CHECK FUEL CAP, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. *TR

I STARTED NOTICING THAT EVERY TIME I FILL MY GAS TANK, THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I PURCHASED A NEW GAS COVER BUT DIDN'T HELP. SINCE A YEAR AGO IT HAS GOTTEN WORST EVERY TIME. THE GUY AT MERCEDES SAID ITS NOT IMPORTANT BUT THEY WOULD CHARGE ,E 165 DOLLARS TO TAKE A LOOK. I DIDN'T PAY BUT I AM WORRIED IT MIGHT CREATE A FIRE AND WITH 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND CARPOOLING TO SCHOOL ITS A BIG HEADACHE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ARE AWARE ABOUT OR CAN HELP ME WITH. THANK YOU *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN CABIN OF VEHICLE AND OUTSIDE ON DRIVERS SIDE AFTER FILLING UP THE NIGHT PRIOR. THE CAR WAS NOT "TOPPED OFF". ONLINE SEARCH FOR CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM FOUND THIS IS COMMON AMONG W211 MERCEDES VEHICLES. THIS CAR IS NEW TO ME, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I FUELED THE CAR. *TR

I OWN A 2003 MERCEDES E500. 100, 000 MILES AND I CAN SMELL HEAVY GAS FUMES FROM BOTH INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF MY CAR.THE CARS REARLEFT DRIVERSIDE HAS EXTREME GAS VAPOR FUMES COMING FROM FUELTANK AREA BEHIND RIGHT REAR WHEEL. SINCE I'VE NOTICED THE HEAVY FUEL ODORS, THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED BECAUSE ITS UNSAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS. INHALING THE FUEL SMELL IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH. I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF FILING A COMPLAINT OR CLAIM IS POSSIBLE AND I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS OR CAN THE MERCEDES DEALER HELP WITH OPTIONS TO FIX MY CAR? ANY POSITIVE ANSWERS WILL BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU *TR

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2012. WE HAD TO HAVE THE CANISTER REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE ($1000), AND AFTER THAT REPAIR, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE BROUGHT IT INTO MERCEDES WHEN THEY REPLACED THE SBC BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO A RECALL AND WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE WASN'T AFFECTING ANYTHING, SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO REPAIR IT. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE FOR A SMOG CHECK SO WE COULD RENEW OUR REGISTRATION IN JULY OF 2013 AND IT FAILED DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE BEING OPEN. WE CANNOT GET THE ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF, SO WE CANNOT PASS A SMOG CHECK. WE ALSO CANNOT FILL IT UP ALL THE WAY BECAUSE STRONG FUMES FILL UP THE GARAGE AND GAS LEAKS OUT. WE WERE LOOKING UP AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY ON GOOGLE ON 11/10/2013 AND COME ACROSS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH MERCEDES BENZ ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED ABOUT THE PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLE SO WE WILL FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. FUEL SMELL INSIDE CAR. *TR