There are 50 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Classin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Fuel pump housing failed allowing gas to leak, further degrading parts of the fuel system, ultimately causing the locking ring to fail and gas to leak under rear passenger seat. Fumes filled the cabin while my family and I including two young children were inside. Fortunately, this issue was discovered rather quick, if not the fuel could have leaked onto the hot exhaust under the tank and ignited. I recently found this issue is well known in the Mercedes-Benz W211 chassis. You have multiple complaints on file. Mercedes had in fact issued an extended warranty of the fuel system however, it has since expired. The car provided no warning messages prior to failure. The car has yet to be inspected by the dealer, mechanic, or insurance.
The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle and arriving to the residence; the contact became aware that after parking the vehicle in the garage, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact saw fuel leaking from the fuel tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was part of an Extended Warranty program however, the Extended Warranty Program had expired. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
Gas tank leak from under heat Shield Recall claims in 2012 it was extended for 15 years
The 2005 E500 W211 gas tank cracks leaking fuel sending unit and fuel pump. The odor of gas permeates the cabin, recall campaign number 2008-020001, and it’s extension information of 15 years dated Jan. 2015 signed by Ralph S. Fisher GM customer assistance center. The dealer in Hawai’i refuse to honor the recall warranty. It’s traveling a bomb.
The passenger compartment smells like gasoline. This is due to an issue that was already investigated by nhtsa however the warranty that was extended is expired by two years. I just purchased this vehicle used and it is unsafe to drive. It did not smell like gas a few weeks ago when it was purchased. The odor is very strong in the passenger compartment.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EURO AUTO CENTER (5180 VENICE BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA 90019, (323) 938-9888) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR SEATS WERE SOAKED IN FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MERCEDES-BENZ E500 2005 ##
FILLED UP GAS TANK AND HAD FUEL ODOR INSIDE CAR AND FUEL LEAKING OUTSIDE THE CAR UNTIL FUEL LEVEL WAS AROUND 3/4 OF A TANK. I BELIEVE THAT MINE FALLS UNDER ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS LISTED FOR FUEL LEAKS FOR OTHER W211 MERCEDES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS WAS ONLY ALLOWED FOR ORIGINAL OWNERS AND NOT FOR ANYONE THAT PURCHASED USED.
SHARP GAS ODER WHEN ENTERING THE CAR CABIN AND DRIVING
MY VEHICLE FILLS WITH THE SMELL OF GASOLINE SO BADLY THAT IT MAKES ME PHYSICALLY ILL. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT WITH ALL THE WINDOWS OPEN TO TRY TO TOLERATE THE SMELL AND EVEN THEN, THE OVERWHELMING STENCH OF GASOLINE IS PALATABLE ENOUGH TO TASTE, CAUSE HEADACHES, AND NAUSEA. THIS STARTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WITH A SLIGHT SMELL AND HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE. IN THE MIDST OF THE "STAY AT HOME" ORDERS I LEFT IT AND DROVE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. IN THIS TIME I DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AND WAS APPALLED TO LEARN THAT MERCEDES IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THEY EXTENDED A WARRANTY PERIOD OF 15 YEARS TO OWNERS BUT DID NOT CONSIDER IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND SEND THE INFORMATION TO VEHICLE OWNERS SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THE SYSTEMS CHECKED. I CALLED MERCEDES TO LEARN THAT MY WARRANTY PERIOD ENDED IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I FEEL THAT MERCEDES HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A LIFETIME WARRANTY. THESE VEHICLES ARE ON THE ROAD FOR MANY YEARS AND CAUSING UNSAFE HEALTH SITUATIONS...I HAVE CHILDREN THAT RIDE IN MY CAR! THEY CANNOT TOLERATE THE FUMES. MY FINAL CONTACT WITH MERCEDES WAS TODAY..THEY ARE VERY SORRY BUT REFUSE TO CORRECT THE WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH MY FUEL SYSTEM. *TR
AFTER FILLING VEHICLE GAS TANK, EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL ODOR NOTICED IN CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. SMELL EXISTED BOTH AT STANDSTILL AND AT STREET SPEEDS (40MPH) WITH WINDOWS DOWN OR UP. *TR
The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated that fuel was leaking from the fuel tank. There was an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The contact refueled the vehicle and there was an abnormal odor of fuel outside of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who stated there was no warranty coverage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
FUEL PUMP UNDER WARRANTY AND MERCEDES DEALER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE FOR REPAIR
STRONG GAS ODOR AROUND AND INSIDE THE CAR
2005 MERCEDES E500 WAGON HAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS COMPLETELY FILLED. THIS ODOR PERSISTS FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL HAS GONE DOWN. THIS HAS PERSISTED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE, MB HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO REPAIR IT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MB OF PLANO FOR REPAIR. ONCE THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE TECHNICIAN FOLLOWED THE PROCEDURE WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO REMOVE THE MUFFLER SYSTEM TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT A MUFFLER BRACKET WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS BRACKET IS ONLY AVAILABLE AS A PART OF THE COMPLETE MUFFLER AND WOULD COST ~$600 TO REPLACE AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE MUFFLER WAS OPERATING PROPERLY AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ANY OTHER REASON. THE DEALERSHIP APPEALED THE WARRANTY AND THAT WAS DENIED. I APPEALED TO THE MERCEDES EXECUTIVE REFERRAL TEAM AND THEY ALSO DENIED THE CLAIM DUE TO THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. IF I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND $600 TO REPLACE A PERFECTLY GOOD MUFFLER, THEN I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN THAT HAS A LIVE GASOLINE LEAK INSIDE THE CABIN BECAUSE MERCEDES BENZ WILL NOT REPLACE THE MUFFLER BRACKET. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH RALPH AT MERCEDES BENZ EXECUTIVE REFERRAL AS WELL AS THE MERCEDES BENZ OF PLANO SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
THEIR A STRONG SMELL OF GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CAR
GASOLINE SMELL INTERIOR OF THE CAR. GETS WORSE WITH FULL GAS TANK. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE MERCEDES DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT FIXED.
WHEN I FILL THE TANK WITS GAS(NOT TOPPED OFF) WHEN I DRIVE IT HOM PARK IT IN GARAGE IT SMELL OF A STRONG GAS ORDER. AFRESH DRIVIBG A LITTLE ( TO USE GAS) IT GOES AWAY, HAPPENS EACH TIME I FILL.
WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS, GAS LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL SENDER/FILTER IS LOCATED. THE FUEL WICKED UP THE FOAM WRAPPED AROUND THE SIGNAL/ POWER WIRES, CAME BETWEEN THE ACCESS PANEL SCREWED TO THE FLOOR AND THE FLOOR. THIS IS THE FLOOR DIRECTLY UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THE FUEL SOAKED INTO THE INSULATION BELOW THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT AND THE FOAM SEAT. THIS CONTINUES TO OCCUR AT ALL TIMES UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL REACHES APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A TANK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, DIESEL FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED HEADACHES FOR THE OCCUPANTS. MERCEDES-BENZ IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
IN 2015 WE STARTED TO NOTICE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FOLLOWING FILLING THE TANK WITH GAS. THE SMELL OF GASOLINE IS SO STRONG THAT WE HAD TO OPEN OUR GARAGE DOORS TO VENT THE FUMES. NO GASOLINE WAS SPILLED DURING REFUELING. THERE IS NO VISIBLE GAS LEAK ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM WE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL MERCEDES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MERCEDES HAS NO RECALL FOR THIS FUEL FUME DEFECT AND ANY REPAIR IS NOT WITHIN THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD. NHTSA ACTION #EA13003 SUMMARY TEST & ANALYSIS BY MERCEDES-BENZ SHOWS NO RISKS OF FIRE OR PASSENGER SAFETY. THIS IS BS AS FUEL FUMES WITHIN AN ENCLOSED AREA, SUCH AS A GARAGE WHERE A NATURAL GAS HOT WATER TANK EXISTS, COULD CAUSE A FIRE. NHTSA NEEDS TO REQUIRE MERCEDES-BENZ TO RECALL THE VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THIS DEFECT.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
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