2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Complaint Log

SENDING UNIT LEAKS GASOLINE INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE LETTING IN INTENSE FUEL VAPORS AS WELL AS ACTUAL LIQUID FUEL INTO THE CABIN. FURTHERMORE THE FAULTY SENDING UNIT CAUSES A FUEL LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE LEAVING PUDDLES OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHILE PARKED AND CONTINUING TO LEAK WHILE DRIVING. BOTH OF THESE POSE AN EXTREME DANGER OF FIRE HAZARD, AS WELL AS A HEALTH RISK FROM CONSTANTLY INHALING GASOLINE FUMES. *TR

EVERY TIME I FILL MY VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL, THERE IS AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AND INSIDE THE CABIN. THE SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A HEADACHE IN SHORT ORDER. WHEN REMOVING THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, YOU CAN OBSERVE STANDING FUEL ON THE FUEL SENDER ASSEMBLY. I'M UNSURE IF THIS PROPAGATES FROM THE SPOT OF THE BUILD UP, OR IS FROM ANOTHER PLACE AND THIS IS WHERE IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP. A LARGE CONCERN FOR ME, BESIDES THE EXPOSURE TO GASOLINE FUMES, IS THE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL BUILD UP TO ELECTRICAL WIRING, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD CONSTITUTE A FIRE HAZARD. I PREVIOUSLY HAD A VOLUNTARY RECALL DONE ON MY CAR IN 2008 THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT ACTUALLY FIXED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE CAR HAS A VERY STRONG GASOLINE ODOR WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL. THE GASOLINE ODOR PERMEATES THE CABIN AND, WHEN PARKED IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE, CAUSES A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF GAS FUMES THAT OVERWHELMS A THREE CAR GARAGE AS WELL AS THE 1000 SQUARE FEET LOCATED ABOVE THE GARAGE (EVEN WITH ALL ADJOINING DOORS CLOSED). SHOULD THE GASOLINE CONCENTRATION REACH THE PROPER LEVEL, IT MAY CREATE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD. ONCE THE TANK IS 1/8 EMPTY, THE FUEL ODOR GOES AWAY AND DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL THE GAS TANK IS ONCE AGAIN FULL. HAD AUTO CHECKED BY THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER AND THEY STATED PROBLEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED BUT I NEEDED TO REPLACE ENTIRE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY TO RESOLVE ISSUE. TOOK CAR TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND SIGNS OF GASOLINE LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK AND RUNNING DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE TANK. BASED ON RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON THE WEB, IT APPEARS THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH E CLASS MERCEDES YEARS 2003 TO 2006. THE POSTINGS FOUND ON SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ OWNER SITES INDICATES THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DETECTED SINCE THE CARS WERE NEW. A PERSONAL FRIEND, WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL, HAS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PREVALENCE OF THE ISSUE INDICATES A DESIGN/ ENGINEERING FAILURE THAT RESULTS IN GASOLINE LEAKING FROM 'SOMEWHERE' IN THE FUEL SYSTEM IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL TANK. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ORDERING A RECALL TO ADDRESS AN OBVIOUS UNDERDESIGN FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT. *TR

EACH TIME I FILL THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, ESPECIALLY UNTIL THE TANK IS FULL, I HAVE A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS ON A FULL TANK, AND THE LESS FUEL I HAVE THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GO AWAY. MOST LIKELY A LEAK OF FUEL INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. REF: NHTSA ACTION# PE12001. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT ADVISED TO CHECK THE FILLER CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL FILLER CAP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO NOTICE THE STRONG FUEL SMELL IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A 100 MPH. COLLISION AND AM NOT SURE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE.THIS RESULTED IN THE DRIVERS FACE SMASHING INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE AND BREAKING HIS NOSE. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE? *TR

AS I WAS MERGING ON TO THE HIGHWAY FROM ANOTHER HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40MPH, I HAD TO SPEED UP BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC THAT WAS COMING TOWARDS ME AND ALSO TO BLEND IN WITH THE REST OF THE CARS SPEEDS. I WENT TO ACCELERATE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. LET OFF THE GAS, AND THEN PUNCHED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY, BUT STILL NO SIGN OF ACCELERATION. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND ABOUT 3 SECONDS LATER, THE CAR BEGAN SLOWLY TO SPEED UP...ONE MPH AT A TIME. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO MAKE IT SO 65MPH. AFTER REACHING THAT SPEED, I TRIED SOME TROUBLESHOOTING. I LET OFF GAS PEDAL COMPLETELY AND STEPPED BACK ON IT. THAT DIDN'T HELP. I ALSO TRIED USING MY SHIFTRONIC, AND THAT DIDN'T HELP. I TOOK THE NEXT OFF RAMP AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WENT INTO PARK AND RIGHT BACK INTO "D". I STILL HAD THE ACCELERATING PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY IT WENT AWAY WAS TO SHUT OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON. IT CURRENTLY WORKS WELL WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. I DID NOT RECEIVE A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD NOR DID I RECEIVE AN ERROR CODE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE ODOR WAS MUCH STRONGER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE INJECTION SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

WHILE TRAVELING ON I94 THRU NORTH DAKOTA MY SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A MESSAGE ON THE DASH BOARD TOLD ME TO VISIT A REPAIR SHOP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN WHILE SLOWING TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY FOR A FUEL STOP. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR ABOUT 5 OR TEN MINUTES. THIS PATTERN OF NORMAL ENGINE STARTS AND THEN INTERMITTENT SRS WARNINGS CONTINUES. I HAVE READ IN THE MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS FORUM THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN NHTSA INVESTIGATION : PE10017 THAT APPEARS TO REFLECT THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. PLEASE HELP.

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE ON THE CAR STOPS IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. I COULD NOT MOVE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WAS AN ADDITIONAL LANE FOR HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLES WHICH WAS ALSO BARRICADED. I IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON MY FLASHERS AND COMMENCED TO CHANGE LANES TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. WHERE THIS ALSO OCCURRED WAS WHERE AN ON-RAMP CONNECTS WHICH ADDED ON ANOTHER OBSTACLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE AND LUCKY THAT NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS IN THE DALLAS AREA DURING RUSH HOUR IT IS VERY HARD TO JUST CHANGE TO ONE LANE WITH A RUNNING CAR LET ALONE CHANGING LANES 3 TIMES PLUS DEALING WITH MERGING TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP WITH A CAR THAT IS NOT RUNNING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE THE DEFECT. IT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY FLAW BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER TO COMPLETELY STOP AN ENGINE WHEN A DEFECT OCCURS ON A SENSOR. IN THIS CONDITION THE VEHICLE SHOULD ONLY TURN ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING THE CAR OFF TO PLACE THE OPERATOR INTO A POTENTIAL DEADLY SITUATION.

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALMOST CRASHED. I HAVE NUMEROUS FAULT CODES IN COMPUTER, ABS CODE, SBC CODE, RESIVIOR CODE, ETC, ETC ON A 58,000 MILR CAR! THEY ARE TELLING ME ONLY ONE PART HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THAT IS THE SBC. EVERYTHING ELSE I MUST PAY FOR. THE SBC EFFECTS ALL OF THESE OTHER PARTS AND THAT IS CRAP! LIKE WHICH CAME FIRST? THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG. WHY HAVE YOU NOT EFFECTED A COMPLETE RECALL OF THIS MAKE & MODEL AS EVERYONE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. YOU AND MERCEDES ARE GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED AS THE BRAKES GO TO MANUAL AND IT'S HARD PANIC STOPPNG A 3400LB CAR!!!!!

1ST INCIDENT WAS WHILE DRIVING ALONG ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND NOTICED A SLIGHT SCENT OF RAW FUEL,, AS I ARRIVED HOME AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE, EXITING THE VEHICLE THE SMELL OF FUEL WAS MORE EVIDENT, WHEN I LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE, I SEE A PUDDLE OF GAS STEADILY LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK AREA, I CLEANED UP THE MESS AND IMMEDIATELY HAD IT INSPECTED, INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT PRIMARY FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT WAS LEAKING CAUSING FUEL TO ACCUMULATE IN THE FUEL TANK AREA DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND OVERFLOWING OUT THROUGH THE CHASSIS WHEREVER IT COULD FIND A WAY OUT, REPAIR REQUIRED COMPLETE FUEL PUMP WITH SENDING UNIT, AS IT IS A ONE PIECE DESIGN, AFTER ALL SAID AND DONE, REPAIR ESTIMATE $1,800. 2ND INCIDENT, 8/?/2012 SAME AS DESCRIBED IN 1ST INCIDENT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FUEL LEAK OCCURRED WHILE REFUELING AT THE GAS STATION,, NO PUDDLE, BUT FAINT SMELL,, DROVE HOME, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, SMELLED FUEL MORE, LOOKING UNDER CAR, OBSERVED GROWING PUDDLE OF FUEL. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED, FUEL LEAKING FROM AROUND FUEL PUMP HOUSING, DETERMINATION WAS FUEL PUMP HOUSING SEAL REPLACEMENT, WHICH AGAIN REQUIRED FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REMOVAL AND RE-INSTALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF NEW SEAL, OUT OF WARRANTY, PAST 1YEAR WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS, $1200 REPAIR, MOSTLY LABOR, PART COST $20....SEEMED TO CORRECT FUEL LEAK FOR NOW.....FUEL SMELL HAS NOT GONE AWAY.... *TR

FUEL TANK AND PUMP ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO MASSIVE FUEL LEAK. *TR

FUEL LEAK AT FUEL TRANSMITTER PASSENGER SIDE UNDER REAR SEAT. *TR

REFERENCE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12001. FUEL SENDING UNIT LEAKING FUEL RESULTING IN FUEL POOL ON TOP OF FUEL TANK AND UNDER REAR SEAT DRIVERS SIDE. STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE WITH BUILT UP OF FUEL VAPORS CAUSING EYE NOSE AND THROAT IRRITATION-ESPECIALLY STRONG SMELL AND VAPOR BUILT UP WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL OR NEAR FULL. FULL SPLASHING ON TOP OF TANK AND NEARBY AREA DRIPPING TO FLOOR-FIRE AND EXPLOSIVE HAZARD, CONDITION HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. *JS

GAS IS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK AFTER THE VEHICLE IS FILLED UP. IF YOU FILL UP AND LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT IN THE GARAGE YOU WAKE UP TO RAW FUEL LEAKING OUT UNDER THE CAR UNDER THE REAR SEAT DRIVER SIDE. WE HAVE HAD 6 FUEL PUMPS, SENDING UNITS AND LEVEL SENSORS REPLACED IN THE GAS TANK THE LAST 3 YEARS. THEN THE GAS TANK ITSELF WAS CHANGED ALONG WITH NEW SENSORS AND PUMPS. IT STARTED LEAKING A YEAR LATER. SAME SITUATION IF YOU FILL THE CAR UP IT STARTS TO LEAK. WHEN WILL THIS SITUATION BE FIXED. MBUSA HAS FAILED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TO OWNERS THAT HAVE PAID UPWARDS OF 90,000 DOLLARS FOR THESE VEHICLES. WHY? SO THAT MBUSA CAN SHOW THE NHTSA PEOPLE "LOOK WE HAVE NO WARRANTY CLAIMS ON FILE" JUST READ THE COMPLAINTS OF 2003-2006 E55 OWNERS. NOW THE NEWER E63 GAS TANKS ARE STARTING TO LEAK AS THE VEHICLES REACH 4 YEARS OF AGE. JUST LIKE OUR E55 STARTED TO LEAK AT 4YRS AND 50K MILES. HOW MUCH RED TAPE DOES NHTSA HAVE TO GO THRU? YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF LEAKING E55S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND YOU DO NOTHING? *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

STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL...I AM NOT TOPPING OFF THE TANK WHEN I REFUEL...DEALERSHIP STATES I NEED ENTIRE GAS TANK REPLACED AT A COST OF 3000.00..I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED IN MARCH 2011 WITH APPROX 107,000 MILES. *TR

THERE IS A STRONG DISTINCT GASOLINE ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE AND STRONGEST AFTER REFUELING. *TR

STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE EVERY TIME I FILL UP AND UNTIL I DRIVE ABOUT 50 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A GERMAN AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT IT IS A CRACKED GAS TANK AND THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES E-CLASS MODELS FROM 2003-2005. THE SMELL APPEARS TO BE EMANATING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE IN EUROPE AND ASIA BUT THAT MERCEDES NEVER ISSUED A RECALL IN THE US FOR THIS ISSUE DESPITE BEING EXTREMELY PERVASIVE. I DRIVE MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR AND I AM INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE REPAIR PRICE I WAS QUOTED WAS ABOUT $2400. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A MERCEDES PROBLEM, NOT A CONSUMER PROBLEM. NOBODY SHOULD EXPECT THEIR GAS TANK TO CRACK AT ANY POINT! *TR

BOTH FRONT AND REAR AIR SHOCKS WENT WITHIN 2000 MILES OF EACH OTHER 64000 AND 66000 MILES. THESE SHOCKS ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ARE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THEY WERE NOT ENGINEERED PROPERLY OR THEY SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER. MERCEDES WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK, HE WOULD SMELLED FUEL OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

MY 2003 MERCEDES E55 AMG SEDAN HAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED BACK IN 2008. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED AND I FEAR AN EXPLOSION FROM MY GARAGE FILLING UP WITH FUMES AND 2 SOURCES OF FIRE, MY FURNACE AND MY WATER HEATER. *TR

IN JUNE OF 2010 I PURCHASED A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CAR AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT HEAVY AND AT TIMES WOULD SHIFT DOWN SUDDENLY OR ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND DRAMATICALLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESS LIGHTLY FROM A STOP. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE NOW IN THE WINTER MONTHS. I KNOW THE CAR IS A POTENTIAL DANGER BUT HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUT TO DRIVE IT. PLEASE HELP! *TR

CONSTANT FUEL SMELL FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. WORSE AFTER FILLUP. GOES AWAY AFTER 1/2 TANK AND A FEW DAYS OF DRIVING. FILLS THE GARAGE WITH FUEL ODOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING, RADIATOR FLUID LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION WHICH CAUSES VIBRATIONS FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE LEAK ALSO CREATED A JERKING PROBLEM WHILE ACCELERATING IN THE LOW GEARS. THE ISSUE WITH THE FAULTY RADIATOR IS GOING TO TAKE OVER $10,000 TO REPAIR.

I AM A SINGLE 1 OWNER OF A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55 AMG AND IT IS LEAKING FUEL INTO THE BACK SEAT ABOVE THE TANK. THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2008 WERE PERFORMED AND IT IS NOW LEAKING AGAIN, AND HAS WRECKED THE INSULATION ABOVE THE TANK. MB REFUSED TO HELP. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 MERCEDES E320 WHICH I BOUGHT FROM COGGIN MOTORMALL IN FT. PIERCE. I HAVE PUT ONLY 5000 MILES ON CAR AND IT HAS BEEN IN SHOP 2 TIMES. FIRST THE FRONT THRUSTS AND RODS WERE BAD AND NOW THE CAR IS STALLING ON ME, ONCE WITH MY SON IN CAR. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN KILLED IN THESE 2 FAILURES. IT HAS STALLED ON ME 4 TIMES AND NOW I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND NOW THE BALL JOINTS ARE BAD. I HEAR THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE STRUTS AND JOINTS 200901002 ?? THE CAR ONCE CAME ON AND SAID REAR BRAKE FAILURE AS WELL. HOW DOES A CAR DEALERSHIP SELL A VEHICLE TO A CUSTOMER WITH KNOWING THAT IT COULD KILL A FAMILY? THEY SAID THEY INSPECTED IT.. THIS IS GOING TO KILL ME AND MY SON.. SOLVE THAT, I WONT DRIVE THIS CAR.. MERCEDES REALLY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE DANGEROUS THINGS.. IT IS GOING TO COST ANOTHER 1000 DOLLARS TO FIX AND I CANT AFFORD IT. *TR

I CAME OUT TO MY CAR THE MORNING AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK FULLY AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALER AND IT TURNS OUT THE FUEL FILTER/FUEL SENDING UNITS HAD CRACKED AND WERE LEAKING FUEL. THERE IS A SENDING UNIT ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS, AND THE FUEL WAS LEAKING OUT THE TOPS OF THESE SENDING UNITS INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE I CAUGHT IT EARLY, THE GASOLINE HAD ONLY POOLED ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AND NOT SPILLED INTO THE SEATS AND FOOTWELLS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS CRACKED SENDING UNITS AND SAID BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON MY CAR IN 2008 BY MERCEDES-BENZ FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED BUT CLEARLY HAD NOT FIXED THE ISSUE, AS THESE PARTS FAILED AGAIN LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS ANOTHER COMPLAINT ALREADY FILED ON THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH SENDING UNITS AS A REPAIR TO THE ISSUE. *TR UPDATED 05/02/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/11 *CN

2003 E320 MERCEDES BRAKE FAILURE!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 07 WITH 65,000 MILES A GOOD DEAL. FINE CAR! HOWEVER...TODAY WHILE DRIVING TO WORK A RED BRAKE FAILURE WARNING...FLASHES ACROSS THE SCREEN AND MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP!!! I AM ROLLING ACROSS A SMALL COUNTRY RD BRIDGE AND THANKFULLY AM AT THE BOTTOM OF A STEEP HILL. THE BRAKE PEDAL JUST FLOPPED..NOTHING.. I MANAGED TO GET IT INTO PARK AND GET OUT WITH THE CAR STILL RUNNING!!! I'VE HAD IT TOWED TWO HOURS AWAY...WHILE WAITING ON MY HUSBAND TO GET HOME TO GO THE DEALERSHIP WITH ME, I LOCATED ABOUT 3 RECALLS ON THIS MODEL.. QUESTION... WHAT RESPONSIBILITY DOES THIS USED IMPORT CAR DEALER HAVE TO ME AS A CUSTOMER? THEY ARE CONSULTING THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF IT IS INDEED AN ISSUE WITH A BRAKE/HYDRAULICS RECALL..I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN..I OWE SOME MONEY ON IT. WHAT COULD I INSIST THEY DO??? *TR

ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE IN CENTER LANE IN TRAFFIC WHILE MANEUVERING TO MAKE LEFT TURN. THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE TWICE BEFORE BY MERCEDES DEALER. *TR

STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EVIDENT AFTER FILL UP. THIS COINCIDED WITH ACCURACY ISSUES OF THE FUEL GAUGE, WHERE VEHICLE NOW RUNS OUT OF GAS WHEN GAUGE INDICATES 1/4 TANK. THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS HAPPENS NOW REPEATEDLY WITH EVERY FILL UP, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME FORM OF LEAKAGE AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. *TR

AIRMATIC SUSPENSION LEAK CAUSED CALL TO PULL TO ONE SIDE. COULD HAVE PULLED ME LEFT OF CENTER, LUCKILY, ON A SIDE STREET AT FAILURE POINT. NO WARNING AT ALL. CAR DEPICTED "STOP, VEHICLE TOO LOW" AS WARNING IN DASH AFTER THE FAILURE. CAR REQUIRED TOWING. VEHICLE HAS 61000 MILES ON IT. FRIENDS AT WORK HAVE SIMILAR CAR AND MOST HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-65 FROM LAFAYETTE TO INDIANAPOLIS IN MY 2003 E-500 MERCEDES- BENZ. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY'S POSTED 70 MPH SPEED THE CAR SUDDENLY PULLED FROM THE FAST, LEFT LINE THAT I WAS TRAVELING INTO THE RIGHT LINE CASING THE OTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ON THE RIGHT LINE TO TURN INTO AN EMERGENCY SHOULDER AND CONSEQUENTLY IN TO THE DITCH IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE MANEUVER. THE REASON FOR MY VEHICLE'S SUDDEN CHANGE IN STEERING AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTIC WAS AN UNEXPECTED, INSTANTANEOUS FAILURE OF AN AIR STRUT ON THE FRONT/RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MY ON BOARD COMPUTER NEVER INDICATED ANY MALFUNCTIONS UNTIL THE MOMENT OF AN ACTUAL INCIDENT. MY CAR IS WELL, DEALER MAINTAINED 2003 MERCEDES E-500 WITH ONLY 36,000 ORIGINAL MILES. THE M-B DEALER NEVER INDICATED A NEED TO REPLACE AIR SHOCKS FOR ANY REASONS. AFTER THE NEAR COLLISION EXPERIENCE I HAVE RESEARCHED AN INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT THE PREMATURE AIR SHOCKS FAILURE IS A VERY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AMONG THE OWNERS OF MB VEHICLES WITH AIR SUSPENSION. I'M AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF E-500 AND AFTER THIS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE I HAVE LOST A CONFIDENCE IN SAFETY OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE BECAUSE THE OTHER SHOCKS/STRUTS COULD SUDDENLY FAIL THE SAME WAY THE FIRST ONE DID. ARE THE AIR STRUTS ARE HAVING A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT? THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND LOCAL DEALER IS ASKING OVER $ 1800 TO REPLACE A STRUT. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL WHERE A NEW SLEEVE WAS INSTALLED ON THE FUEL CLAMP. THE RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 09/15/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN 2008. HOWEVER, THE DEALER ONLY CHANGED ONE FUEL SENDER PUMP AND NOT BOTH. THE SECOND FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FUEL AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE IT FREE OF CHARGE. UPDATED 10/12/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E55. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR FROM THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE FUEL TANK SEALS. LATER WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE FURTHER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FUEL ATOP THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FUEL ASSEMBLY IN 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

VEHICLE LOST POWER ON INTERSTATE. LATER RE-STARTED AND TAKEN TO TAFEL MOTORS IN LOUISVILLE, KY. BOTH FUEL PUMPS/ SENDER MODULES WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND LEAKING AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $1627.47 ON 8-3-10 AT 112646 MILES. IN AUGUST OF 2011, BOTH PUMPS AND MODULES BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL. STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN CABIN, AND FUEL LEAKING ONTO GROUND. THEY WERE REPLACED AT MERCEDES BENZ OF INDIANAPOLIS UNDER WARRANTY OF THE SERVICE DONE AT TAFEL MOTORS THE YEAR BEFORE. AGAIN, ON OCTOBER 5 OF 2012, ONE OF THE UNITS BEGAN TO LEAK GASOLINE, STRONG ODOR OF FUEL IN CABIN, AND LEAKING ONTO GROUND. IT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE OF $921.48. I TOOK PICTURES OF THE FUEL PUDDLING ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. I ALSO RETAINED THE REMOVED PART, IN CASE NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT IT. THIS PART (211-470-51-94 WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED UNDER MERCEDES RECAL ON 3/20/2008 AT 62975 MILES. IT HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED 3 MORE TIMES. *TR

GAS SMELL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. GAS LEAK FROM FUEL TANK. *TR

THE CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROX. 35 MPH, THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME IT STALLED, THE 3 OTHER TIMES CAR WAS NOT GOING AS FAST. ONE AT A STOP SIGN, THE OTHER 2 AT ABOUT 20 MPH. WHEN CAR COOLED OFF WAS ABLE TO START IT. THE 4TH TIME COULD NOT RESTART, TOWED TO MECHANIC FOUND TO BE CPS (CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. RESEARCHED ONLINE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM! A DANGEROUS PROBLEM! *TR

CAR E-320 MERCEDES BENZ 2003 WITH 53404 MILES WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS CAR, THE VEHICLE PANEL INDICATED A TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND SHE HAD NO BREAKING RESPONSE FROM THE CAR AT ALL. SHE WAS TRAVELING AT AROUND 40 MPH BUT SAYS SHE HAD NO ONE IN FRONT OF HER SO SHE LET THE CAR COAST TO A STOP, SHE HAD NO BREAKING POWER AT ALL. AT THIS TIME SHE CALLED ME AND I HAD HER TAKE PHOTOS OF THE CAR PANEL LIGHTS AND THEN I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ. WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES, BASED ON INFORMATION THAT I FOUND FILED WITH NHTSA. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HER ON THIS SAME VEHICLE BACK IN JANUARY OF 2009. AT THE TIME OF THAT INCIDENT SHE WAS AT A PARKING LOT AND DRIVING VERY SLOWLY. WE CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN. MB SAID THAT THE CAR REQUIRED AN SBC CONTROL UNIT UPGRADE (SOFTWARE) AND THE JOB WAS DONE AT NO COST TO US. SO HERE WE ARE, 16 MONTHS AND ABOUT 9,000 MILES LATER WITH THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN, BOTH TIMES THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AND WE ARE HAPPY THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. ALTHOUGH MB HAS ALREADY MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR US AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED AT MB'S COST, THIS TIME THEY INDICATED TO ME THEY WILL BE REPLACING SOME PART (?) AND NOT JUST DOING AN ELECTRONIC UPDATE. OF COURSE MY WIFE IS NOW VERY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR, EVEN IF THEY DO THE REPAIRS AND I DO NOT BLAME HER. WE WILL SEE. IN DOING INTERNET RESEARCH I FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINS THAT ARE VERY SIMILAR, WHERE THERE IS A TOTAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE OF THE BREAK SYSTEM (NO STOPPING POWER AT ALL, NO DUAL-SYSTEM BACK-UP). IN OTHER COMPLAINTS IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RE-STARTED THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY WIFE'S CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT SHOULD BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED AND RESEARCH SO AS TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. *TR

FUEL LEAKS FROM TANK WHEN IT IS FILLED TO THE TOP. CAR HAS BEEN TO DEALER AND HAD FUEL TANK SEALS REPLACED TWICE. FUEL PUMPS, GAUGE AND HOSE SYSTEM WAS ALSO REPLACED FOR $1,500. STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IF THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE AFTER FILLING TANK. I KEPT THE PUMP ASSEMBLY AS A SOUVENIR AND SEE THAT MANY PARTS ARE BRITTLE AND PRONE TO CRACKING. MATERIALS IN FUEL PUMPING SYSTEM APPEAR TO BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR DRIVING IN HOT FLORIDA CLIMATE. CAR HAS BEEN KEPT IN GARAGE SINCE NEW (EXCEPT AFTER FILLING GAS TANK). *TR

I OWN A MERCEDES BENZ E-500, 2003, WITH ONLY 31,700 MILES ON IT. ON FRIDAY, JULY 16, I HAD IT SERVICED AT MY LOCAL MB DEALER IN LARCHMONT, NY. ON SUNDAY, JULY 18, AS I STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING "STOP. CAR TOO LOW". I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WILL LOOK AT IT BUT, I BELIEVE IT IS A FAILURE OF THE FRONT RIGHT (PASSENGER SIDE) AIRMATIC SUSPENSION, THE CAR IS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF WARRANTY BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT, AFTER ONLY 31,700 MILES, THAT SUCH A PART CAN FAIL. I'M RATHER HESITANT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THEY ARE ASSURING ME THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MB HAS HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS TYPE OF PART AND I WISH FOR THE NHTSA TO TAKE SOME SORT OF ACTION TO FORCE MB TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR

PROBLEM #1). THE INTERIOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES HAVE A CHROME TAPE OF SOME TYPE THAT COVERS THE HANDLES. THIS TAPE OVERTIME COMES OFF ON THE INSIDE AND IT IS EXTREMELY SHARP LIKE A RAZOR. I CUT MY FINGER TWICE ON THE DRIVER-SIDE AND A PASSENGER GOT CUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE A YEAR LATER. I CONTACTED MERCEDES ABOUT THIS AND THEY WOULDN'T DO OR OFFER ANYTHING. PROBLEM #2). THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS OVERTIME GET VERY VERY STIFF AND WILL NOT GO BACK ALL THE WAY UP. MY WIFE CAN NOT EVEN MOVE THEM AT ALL. I ALSO VERBALLY REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS TO PENSKE MERCEDES IN WEST COVINA, CA TO MY SERVICE WRITER AND HE STATED "YES WE ARE AWARE AS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL ON THOSE ITEMS". HE WANTED TO CHARGE ME $275 FOR EACH SUN VISOR TO BE REPLACED AND THAT DID NOT INCLUDE LABOR TO INSTALL THEM. PROBLEM #3). LOWER BALL JOINTS GO OUT QUITE FREQUENTLY AND IS ALSO A "KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM". *TR

I HAVE AN 03 MERCEDES E500. AT ABOUT 65000 ML I HAD GLYCOL IN MY TRANSMISSION DUE TO RADIATOR FAILURE. I TOOK IT TO MERCEDES SARASOTA AND THEY SAID IT WILL COST $5000 AND THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS READING THE MERCEDES WORLD FORUM AND I SEE THAT LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THE AND COST ME $3000 AT AAMCO. I HOPE MERCEDES WILL ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ABS PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

BRAKE PUMP FAILURE ON 2003 MERCEDES E500, NO ACCIDENT, LOWER BRAKING POWER, LONG DISTANCE FOR BRAKING, WARNING MESSAGE ON DASH. HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER INFORMED THAT SINCE VEHICLE HAS A SALVAGE TITLE, THE RECALL CAMPAIGN WILL NOT BE PERFORMED WITHOUT COST. CAMPAIGN 2005 070007. *TR

THE GASOLINE TANK ON MY 2003 E 320 MERCEDES HAD A LEAK ON THE TOP PORTION OF THE TANK. THIS ALLOWED FUMES TO LEAK INTO MY GARAGE AND WOULD HAVE PRESENTED A HUGE FIRE RISK HAD I NOT DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM AND BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. A GAS TANK SHOULD NOT FAIL UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E320. THE VEHICLE HAD FULLWAY FULDA TIRES, TIRE SIZE 245/35Z/R2095. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TIRES EXHIBITED CRACKS WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS OF PURCHASE. THE CONTACT SAID THAT HE WAS INFORMED BY THE TIRE AUTO SHOP THAT THERE IS A NO TREAD WARRANTY BECAUSE THE TIRES WORN QUICKLY.

EVERY TIME I FILL THE TANK, I GET A STRONG FUEL SMELL. RECALL WAS PERFORMED INSERT IN FUEL FITTING, NOT THE PROBLEM. SERVICE CENTER FOUND "COVER PLATES LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES, REPLACED FUEL PUMPS, INSTALLED UPDATED CONTACT PLATE AND SEAL. CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND NONE FOUND." FILLED TANK AND STRONG FUEL SMELL RETURNED IMMEDIATELY. FOUND OUT BY EXPERIENCE NEVER TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE WITH A FULL TANK OR THE HOUSE WILL BE FILLED WITH FUEL SMELL. POOR DESIGN FUEL SYSTEM IN THE E CLASS MERCEDES, SOMEDAY ONE WILL CAUSE AN EXPLOSION, DO NOT PARK IN ATTACHED/BASEMENT GARAGE! *TR

MY 2003 MERCEDES E320 ENGINE STALLED MOMENTARILY AS I SPED UP TO ENTER I-95 NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA. I EASED UP ON THE GAS AND IT RESTARTED WITH NO APPARENT IMMEDIATE AFTER EFFECTS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC CLOSE BEHIND ME, OR THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COLLISION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD BEFORE OR AFTER THE STALLING. I CONTINUED SOUTH ON I-95 WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL I EXITED AT ASHLAND, VA. AT THE INTERCHANGE WITH US1, WHEN I STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE STALLED OUT AND WOULD NOT RESTART, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. A POLICEMAN ARRIVED AND CALLED FOR A TOW. AGAIN THERE WERE NO APPARENT TROUBLE LIGHTS. THE CAR WAS CARRIED TO THE RICHMOND VA DEALER, WHICH REPLACED THE AIR MASS SENSOR. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MERCEDES CUSTOMER CARE IN NJ. I EMPHASIZED THE SERIOUSNESS OF HAVING THE ENGINE STALL OUT, BUT THEY WERE NOT PLANNING TO PERFORM ANY NEW FIX. THEY SAID IT WAS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED", MAKING REFERENCE TO A "LIMP HOME" FEATURE THAT STALLS THE ENGINE AND WARNS THE DRIVER TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I LOOKED IN THE CAR'S MANUAL, AND THE TERM "LIMP HOME" APPEARS ONLY ONCE CONCERNING THE ENGINE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO DESCRIPTION OF HOW THIS WORKS OR WHAT THE DRIVER IS SUPPOSED TO DO. IN MY CAR, THE ENGINE DID NOT "LIMP", BUT RAN AT FULL POWER AFTER THE STALL AND RESTART. IN MY OPINION, A SENSOR FAILURE SHOULD NOT DISABLE THE ENGINE, AND ANY SERIOUS PROBLEM SHOULD BE WARNED THROUGH A BLINKING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MERCEDES NEEDS TO REMEDY THESE PROBLEMS THROUGH A RECALL. AT THE VERY LEAST, OWNERS OF THESE CARS SHOULD BE WARNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM, AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT IF IT OCCURS. *TR