There are 15 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The sunroof has a recall due to the fact that it has a bad seal, which could fly off due to this issue. I know the seal is bad because the whole roof leaked a few years ago and fried all the electronic; e.g. lights, sunroof controls, trunk light controls, side door controls. I went to the dealership and they said they would not fix it because they could not open the sunroof to see the manufacturer date on it.
October 26, 2022 my 2004 Mercedes model E320 W211 VIN # [XXX] dash pop out warning " Brake Wearing visit workshop" October 27, 2022 I had the brake pads and wear sensors both replaced and test drive verified car running normal for 30 minutes then dash pop out RED warning "Brake malfunction stop vehicle" plus transmission shifter stick to parking port can not be shift to other position, so can not drive and car being forced to stop on the road, I managed to press the lock off so can shift out of parking but there has no brake function when driving, I called MB USA and being advised that my car qualified to 25 years extended warranty for SBC hydraulic pump repair, 2005070007 2005110001 but when I tow my car to Mercedes dealer they said it only repair the Recall: 2020040011 - Sliding Roof Bonding - Phase 2, but the SBC Hydraulic pump may be at additional service charges, Please help investigate why Mercedes USA said it is under 25 years extended warranty while dealer said it might not qualify? car can not drive because of the SBC hydraulic pump problem and defected the driving safety? Best Regards/[XXX] email: [XXX] tel: [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. Including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable.
The TRUNK will not open. It is supposed to open by pressing the button on the key fob or taking the thin key out of the key fob and manually open the truck with the keyed lock. Neither method works. There is absolutely no way to open the trunk otherwise (i.e. inside button or lever). When the key fob button and the thin key do not work there is absolutely no way to open the truck. There is no way to access the lock from the trunk lid rear and there is no way to access the trunk from behind the back seat cushions. It is a very bad situation and dangerous.
I HAVE GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CHECK THE PUMP SENDER , AND I FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE CONNECTOR FOR THE PUMPS. SEE PICTURE. THIS ISSUE COULD CREATE ELECTRICAL SPARK AND YOUR CAR COULD BE ON FIRE! BIG ISSUE CHECK YOUR VEHICLE. THE DESIGN OF THE CONNECTOR ARE UNDER HEAT CAPACITY. AND THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF LEAK OF FULL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR DEALER SUPPLIED PART FAILED ON REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN SUDDEN STALLING IN MOVING TRAFFIC FOLLOWING MAKING LEFT TURN
REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS ON MY CAR. THE INSULATION ON THE 2 WIRES TO THE BULB CRUMBLED ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN I TOUCHED THE WIRES. WIRING IS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE WIRES COULD TOUCH CAUSING THE FUSE TO BLOW AND CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY IN THE FAST LANE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN LEAVING US STRANDED IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS WAS A VERY PRECARIOUS POSITION. FORTUNATELY, POLICE ASSISTANCE ARRIVED AND CALLED A TOWING SERVICE AND GOT US OUT OF HARM'S WAY. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS RESULTS IN THE COMPUTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION CREATING AN OBVIOUSLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I REPORTED THIS TO MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY'RE REACTION WAS THAT THIS OCCURS INFREQUENTLY, BUT THEY WERE AWARE THAT IT DOES HAPPEN. SO I AM NOTIFYING YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. *TR
THE SUNROOF LEAKS CAUSING ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. I RARELY USE THE SUNROOF. MAYBE I HAVE USED THE SUNROOF 5X. THE SUNROOF SHOULD NOT LEAK AFTER RARE USE. THE ELECTRICAL SHOULD NOT BE DAMAGED. APPARENTLY, THE DRAINS IN THE SUNROOF GET CLOGGED AND THE WATER DRAINS INTO TRUNK. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I NOTICE THE SAME ISSUE WITH MANY OTHERS ON LINE. THANK YOU. *TR
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED ON MY 2004 MERCEDES E320 WAGON WHICH ONLY HAD 85K MILES. IF IT HAD FAILED AND JUST WOULD NOT WORK, THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SUCH AN ISSUE, HOWEVER, WHEN IT FAILED IT LEFT THE ENGINE ON REQUIRING ME TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN. STEPS TO REPRODUCE: 1) PUT ELECTRONIC KEY IN CAR 2) TURN KEY TO FULLY ON AND START CAR 3) TURN KEY TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION ENTIRELY NOTE CAR IS STILL ON AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF EVEN AFTER AN HOUR. *TR
MY CAR BATTERY KEPT DYEING AND ALL OF THE SPEAKERS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOT WORKING. IN FACT WHEN THE CAR WAS OFF THOSE SPEAKERS WOULD MAKE STATIC NOISES. I HAD AN ELECTRONIC AUTO STORE LOOK AT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN THEY POSED THE QUESTION TO THEIR ONLINE SITE, THE ANSWER CAME BACK AS THE "AUDIO GATEWAY" BEING DEFECTIVE. THEY WERE OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALER, TOLD THEM OF THE BATTERY DYEING PROBLEM AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THE SAME, "AUDIO GATEWAY". I PAID THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT REPLACED THE PART. THE TOTAL COST WAS APPROX. $1,258.00, WHICH INCLUDED LABOR. *TR
ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE FROM AIRCRAFT CAUSED LIGHTS TO COME ON WHEN PARKED AT AIRPORT AND DRAINED BATTERY. CAR PARKED MORNING OF 9/4/04. SINGLE INCIDENT OF CAR ALARM REPORTED EVENING OF 9/6/04. RETURNED TO CAR 9/11/04 AND FOUND LIGHTS IN OFF POSITION AND BATTERY DRAINED. *AK
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE DISTRONIC RADAR-CONTROLLED CRUISE CONTROL. IN EXTREME WET CONDITIONS THE CAR IN FRONT IS INTERMITTENTLY NOT SEEN BY THE SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO ACCELERATE INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS FAULT PERSISTS FOR SOME DAYS AFTER THE WET CONDITIONS SUBSIDE. THE CAR'S FAULT DETECTION SYSTEM SOMETIMES DETECTS THIS AS A FAULT, BUT RESETS ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY LEADING TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITION RECURRING RANDOMLY. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026