2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Engine Problems

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.

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.

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.

I SMELLED GAS INSIDE THE CABIN WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR ON 8/9/2014. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I SMELLED THIS IN THE CAR. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY POSTINGS POINTING TO THIS RECALL PETITION. HTTP://MBWORLD.ORG/FORUMS/W211-AMG/363759-URGENT-NOTICE-03-06-E55S-WERE-INVOLVED-FUEL-SENDER-RECALL-BOMBS-29.HTML I REMOVED THE REAR SEAT AND COVER. I WAS THEN ABLE TO VISUALLY CONFIRM THAT I HAVE SMALL POOLS OF FUEL AROUND THE BASE OF THE SENDER/SENSOR UNITS. THESE POOLS OF FUEL WERE PRESENT ON BOTH THE PASSENGER-SIDE AND DRIVER-SIDE UNITS. *TR

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

I LEFT MY HOME IN CINCINNATI, OH AT 8:25, WITH A 1/2 TANK OF GAS, DROVE ~ 3 MILES TO HWY126 AND MERGED TO 75S. I MOVED FROM THE RIGHT TO THE MIDDLE TO THE LEFT LANE. AFTER BEING AT 50 MPH ~ 2 MINUTES ON THE LEFT LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. THE DASHBOARD WAS ALL LIT UP WITH WARNING SIGNS, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKES AND OIL. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHT ON, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND THEN BACK ON. THE SAME WARNING SIGNS CAME ON AND THE CAR DID NOT START. I CALLED MERCEDES ASSISTANCE WHO ADVISED TO CALL 911 AND THAT A TOW TRUCK WILL ARRIVE IN 1 HOUR. I CALLED 911 AND SURPRISINGLY GOT A VOICE MESSAGE THAT ALL OPERATORS ARE BUSY! A MINUTE LATER AN OPERATOR CAME ON THE LINE, SHE ASKED WHERE I WAS AND I TOLD HER THAT I WAS ON THE LEFT (HIGH SPEED LANE). SHE ASKED ME IF I WAS IN A BLACK MERCEDES. SHE INDICATED THAT A DISPATCHER IS ON THE WAY. AT 8:51 I CALLED AAA TO GET A TOWTRUCK EARLIER. THEY SAID THEY WILL COME IN 45 MIN. A CAR ASSISTANCE VAN CAME AND EVENTUALLY THE POLICE CAR. THEY STOPPED BEHIND MY CAR, AND TRIED TO TURN THE CAR ON AND WERE UNABLE TO, THEY ASKED ME TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE GEAR WOULD NOT MOVE. THE POLICEMAN STOPPED THE TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, ASKED ME TO STEP OUT OF THE CAR WHILE HE MANAGED TO PUT THE GEAR ON NEUTRAL AND ASKED ME TO SIT BACK IN THE CAR AND STEER. THEY MANUALLY PUSHED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER AS THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING. AT 9:18 THE AAA TRUCK CAME AND TOWED THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND REPLACED IT FOR A CHARGE OF $463.46. I FOUND ON THE WEB THAT SEVERAL MERCEDES MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OCCUR BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL. THE SUDDEN COMPLETE FAILURE OF A CAR IN THE MIDST OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC CREATING A MAJOR HAZARD TO ME AND OTHER DRIVERS NEEDS THE ATTENTION OF THE NHTSA. *TR

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. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. POTENT FUEL SMELL PRESENT WHEN GAS TANK FILLED ABOVE 3/4. FUMES ARE NOXIOUS AND PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. BURNING PLASTIC-LIKE SCENT ALSO FREQUENT EVEN WHEN TANK NOT FILLED ABOVE 3/4. VEHICLE MAY VIBRATE OR HESITATE WHILE MOVING, MAY JERK UNEXPECTEDLY FORWARD WHEN STOPPED EVEN WITH BRAKES FULLY APPLIED. ANY LEAKING FUEL A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD DUE TO SPARKING OR FRICTION COMMON IN MOVING VEHICLES. *TR

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. *TR

2004 E320 4MATIC WAGON. ENGINE STALLED WHILE MERGING TO I-65 SB. VEHICLE WAS 7QT LOW ON OIL. VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL DIPSTICK TO CHECK OIL. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FLEXIBLE SERVICE SYSTEM THAT MONITORS OIL LEVEL, CONDUCTIVITY, TEMP, PRESSURE. OWNERS MANUAL SHOWS THAT IF ANY PARAMETERS ARE OUTSIDE NORMAL, OR IN THE CASE OF SENSOR/SYSTEM FAILURE, A RED WARNING WOULD APPEAR ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO INSTRUCT THE DRIVER TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. NO WARNING WAS DISPLAYED. DEALERSHIP STATES INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO COMMUNICATE WITH CENTRAL COMPUTER DUE TO A SOFTWARE ISSUE. ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. REQUESTED MERCEDES BENZ TO REPLACE ENGINE AND ASSIGN ENGINEERING TEAM TO ADDRESS ISSUE AND ISSUE A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT FAILURE FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. MERCEDES BENZ STATED THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD ALSO FAIL TO PROVIDE OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION (BRAKE SYSTEM, AIRBAGS, ENGINE COOLING PARAMETERS) AS WELL. AS AN ENGINEER, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN EVALUATED BY A FAILURE MODE EFFECTS ANALYSIS PRIOR TO DECIDING TO REMOVE THE MANUAL DIPSTICK. IF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH CENTRAL COMPUTER, IT SHOULD DISPLAY A WARNING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 MB E320 TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS PULLING UP TO A RED LIGHT AT THE TIME THAT TURNED GREEN BEFORE I STOPPED. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO GO, THERE WAS NO POWER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE LOCAL GARAGE SAID I WAS OUT OF GAS, PUT TEN DOLLARS WORTH OF GAS IN IT, CHARGED ME $60.00 AND SAID THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE. THE NEXT TIME MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR OUT, IT STALLED AGAIN IN NEARLY THE SAME PLACE. SHE WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE AS I WAS AND WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD IT TOWED BACK TO OUR HOUSE AND I LOOKED UP THE SYMPTOMS ON THE INTERNET. AFTER LETTING IT SIT FOR A FEW DAYS, I TURNED THE CAR ON AND LET IT IDLE. AFTER THE CAR REACHED ABOUT 75 - 80 DEGREES, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (CPS) THAT WENT BAD. I BOUGHT ONE, LEARNED HOW TO REPLACE IT AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE. THE SAFETY CONCERN HERE IS THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF!! THERE IS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER! THANKFULLY THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING A 2004 MB E-320 ON THE ROAD, SUDDENLY THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE ALL LIT UP AND THEN I LOST POWER TO THE CAR. I MADE MY WAY TO THE CURB ALONG INDUSTRIAL BLVD NEAR WEST SACRAMENTO. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MB SACRAMENTO DEALERSHIP. A QUICK SCAN FOUND A FAULT CODE. IT WAS THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. *TR

I OWN A MERCEDES-BENZ E500 BOUGHT NEW IN 2004. 3 DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND CAR STALLED AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. I COULD NOT START THE ENGINE BACK FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND ME, WHICH WOULD HAVE HIT ME FROM BEHIND. I LATER TOWED THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES SERVICE STATION. THEY REPORTED IT AS AN ELECTIRCAL FAILURE DUE TO FAILING OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY SENSOR AND THE CAR IS RUNNING OK NOW. I AM STILL WONDERING WHY DID THE CAR COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND DID NOT ALLOW ME TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE BACKUP SAFETY MECHANISM IN A FAILURE LIKE THIS TO AVOID A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I AM WORRIED WHETHER THERE IS A DESIGN FAULT IN THIS VEHICLE THAT DID NOT ALLOW THAT BACK UP MECHANISM TO KICK-IN. MY SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS THIS FAULT IS UNLIKELY TO RECUR. I FEEL THAT THE SENSORS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME AND THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY MECHANISM TO AVOID ABRRUPT STOPS LIKE THIS. IF I WAS ON A FREE WAY THIS WOULD HAVE CREATED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH SO MANY VEHICLES PILED UP ON TOP OF ME! MY CAR HAS DONE ONLY 40,000 MILES WITHIN THE LAST 4 YEARS. IT HAS NEW TIRES, A NEW BATTERY AND NEW BRAKES -ALL TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AT MY LAST SERVICE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO.

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK POSITION TO REVERSE OR DRIVE. *BF THE PLASTIC PIECE ATTACHED TO THE FENDER WAS LOOSE AND THE TIRE WAS RUBBING THE PLASTIC. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK WHICH HAD COME FROM THE PAN IN THE ENGINE. *SC WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE, HE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE IN THE VEHICLE.