2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Complaints

BENZ E500 2004 (54K MILES) SAFETY ISSUE1: NOV 2008(36K MILES), THE CAR USED TO LOSE POWER AND SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING WITH ALL THE LIGHTS BLINKING ON THE DASH BOARD. BUT I WAS ABLE TO BREAK ANSDSTOP . SOMETIMES IT STARTED BACK ON AND SOMETIMES IT DID NOT.DEALER REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND THE SENDER UNIT. HAD TO PAY THE BILL OF $600 PLUS TOWING. THEY DID NOT INSPECT OTHER SAFETY ISSUES LIKE THE SBC PUMP OR LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY. NEITHER DID THEY TELL ME IF SBC PUMP FAILURE OR ITS MALFUNCTION HAS ANY IMPACT ON OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. SAFETY ISSUE 2: JAN 6TH 2015.(REFER TO COMPLAINT #10676289)SBC PUMP FAILED DURING A LONG ROAD TRIP AND THINKING IT WAS JUST BRAKE PADS, COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. DEALER/MB REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRS. COST US $2200. WHEN THE DEALER REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE SBC PUMP BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY KNOW IT IS GOING TO FAIL, CUSTOMER IS IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION WITH SAFETY ASPECT, HUGE REPAIR COSTS INVOLVED AND POSSIBLE IMPACT ON OTHER PARTS AND SITUATIONS. THEY DESIGNED A WARRANTY ON THIS PROGRAMMABLE UNIT THAT IS PROGRAMMED TO LEND CERTAIN CYCLES OR SERVICE. MERCEDES BENZ HAS TURNED THIS MAJOR DEFECT INTO A MONEY MAKING OPPORTUNITY LATELY. THEY ARE INSTALLING REMAN UNITS WITH A HIGH REPAIR COST OF $2000-3000. SOMETIMES, MORE THAN THE WORTH OF THE CAR. REGULATORS SHOULD REVISIT THE CASE AND HAVE THEM PROVIDE LIFE TIME WARRANTY ON THIS MAJOR FLAW AND MAYBE MORE. WHEN THERE WERE TWO RECALLS JUST A YEAR AFTER IT WAS BOUGHT, HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH A 10 YEAR WARRANTY AND A HUGE REPAIR COST. SINCE THEY HAVE MORE LAWYERS THAN ANY COMMON MAN, ONLY REGULATORS CAN HELP THE CITIZENS AND PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS AND SAFETY. *TR

BENZ2004 E500.ORIGINAL OWNER/55K MILES.DRIVING BACK FROM A LONG ROAD TRIP, THE "SERVICE BRAKE" MESSAGE CAME ON.THINKING IT WAS JUST THE PADS, THOUGHT WE COULD REACH HOME.LATER, WE REALIZED WHAT A DANGEROUS THING WE HAD DONE, BY DRIVING A CAR WITH SBC PUMP FAILURE.WE COULD HAVE TAKEN OFF A BRIDGE OR THROWN INTO A SWAMP OR PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN DANGER.THIS PROBLEM CANNOT BE FIXED AT ANY AUTO SHOP, IT HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER, FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE STUCK AND ONLY DEALER CAN FIX IT.DEALER SAID MFR, WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS PAST 10 YEARS.AND WE HAVE TO PAY $2350. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS IN 2004/05 REGARDING SBC PUMP,BUT MERCEDES BENZ HAS CONVENIENTLY DESIGNED A 10 YEAR WARRANTY TO THEIR ADVANTAGE AND DEALERS ADVANTAGE.WHEN THEY KNOW ALL CARS EQUIPPED WITH IT, IS GUARANTEED TO FAIL IN 10 -15 YEARS AND IN SOME CASES, EVEN BEFORE THAT.IT WAS NOT COURT ORDERED OR GOVT. ORDERED, BUT SET UP BY THEM FOR THEM.ONCE THERE WAS A RECALL, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIFETIME WARRANTY ON THESE.IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.TRIED NEGOTIATING WITH MBUSA TO REIMBURSE, BUT THEY REFUSED. AND THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME IN WRITING ABOUT THE REFUSAL OR ANYTHING RELATED.AFTER PAYING TO FIX IT, THEY DON'T EVEN INSTALL A NEW UNIT, THEY INSTALL A RE MANUFACTURED UNIT.THEY THREATEN YOU WITH CORE CHARGES FOR THE OLD PART AND RECYCLE AGAIN FOR THE NEXT CUSTOMER.WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER SHIP, I HAD THIS FEELING LIKE I WAS SET UP AND MUGGED BY BENZ/DEALER, SINCE THEY WERE EXPECTING IT.SINCE THEY HAVE DISCONTINUED SBC PUMP,THEY KNOW IT HAS A PROBLEM, BUT THEY NEVER ADMIT IT.WHEN THEY CALL BACK THEY DON'T EVEN LEAVE MESSAGE WITH ANY SUBSTANCE. THEY EXPECT YOU CALL BACK AND THEY WILL DENY IT OVER THE PHONE OR DO SOME TAP DANCING. THEY WILL STONE WALL YOU, PLAY DUMP OR TALK TO YOU LIKE A 5TH GRADER.THEY ARE SO GUILTY THAT THEY TRY TO COVER EVERY TRACK AND WATCH WHAT THEY SAY, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY WRITE. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A 2 LANE HIGHWAY IN A SNOW STORM, THE SBC PUMP FAILED AND CAUSED THE ABS TO FAIL AS WELL AS THE BRAKES TO BARELY WORK. THE SUBSEQUENT SKID FORCED A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH A FULLY LADEN LOGGING TRUCK, AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT WERE IT NOT FOR GOOD LUCK. UNDER NHTSA RECALL 2004 050014, AND RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005070007 APR06 BY MERCEDES, THE SBC PUMP FAILURE IS A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. THE LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ HAS OFFERED TO SELL ME A NEW ONE FOR $1700 AS MERCEDES BENZ USA IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THIS FAILED PART UNDER THE RECALL AS THEY ONLY OFFER A 10 YEAR WINDOW. ISN'T A SAFETY RECALL A RECALL? BRAKES ARE A VITAL ASPECT OF SAFETY... *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME I SMELT SMOKE. I STOPPED THE CAR TO INVESTIGATE THE SMELL OF SMOKE THAT WAS OVERPOWERING THE NOW NORMAL SCENT OF GAS WHICH FILLED MY VEHICLE CABIN DUE TO A FUEL PUMP LEAK. WHEN I EXITED MY VEHICLE I OPENED UP THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER DOOR TO FIND SMOKE EMITTING FROM THAT AREA. I QUICKLY LEFT THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE SMOLDERING CAR AND WHEN I TURNED TO LOOK BACK, I SAW FLAMES UNDER MY CAR. I PROCEEDED TOWARDS THE OVERPASS WHILE MOVING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTING TO FIND CELLULAR PHONE SIGNAL, I SAW MY CAR NOW BEING ENGULFED IN FLAMES. RE: (ODI NUMBER) IS: 10628900. *TR

I STARTING SMELLING A GASSY SMELL SEEPING INTO MY HOUSE AT NIGHT AND AFTER A FEW DAYS CONCLUDED IN HAD TO BE COMING FROM THE ATTACHED GARAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY AFTER ELIMINATING ALL OTHER VARIABLES I NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE CAR. I PARKED IT OUTSIDE FOR A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AND THE SMELL CEASED IN THE HOUSE AND GARAGE. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO POMPANO MERCEDES TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND WAS INFORMED MY SEALS WERE BAD/LEAKING AT THE FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS, SO WITHOUT A CHOICE I HAD THEM REPAIRED AT A COST OF $968.21 ON 9/13/2010. THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS, THEN THE GASSY SMELL RETURNED. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO POMPANO MERCEDES AGAIN AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD THE CAR HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF A GASSY SMELL. THEY CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME AT THIS TIME I HAD A DIFFERENT FUEL LEAK AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK AND INTERNAL FUEL PUMPS AND SEALS AT A COST OF $3000 THIS TIME. QUITE UNHAPPY WITH THIS DIAGNOSIS CONSIDERING I WAS JUST THERE 2 MONTHS PRIOR AND THOUGHT THEY HAD REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND OUT NOW IT WAS MORE ENCOMPASSING THAN THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT AT A FIX AND IT WAS GOING TO COST A BOATLOAD OF MONEY TO RE-REPAIR THE PROBLEM AS I WAS JUST OVER THE 50K WARRANTY TO BOOT. WITH THE NEWS OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SETTLEMENT AT THIS TIME I STRONGLY FEEL MY VEHICLE ISSUES ARE AS DESCRIBED IN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT AND I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE $968.21 I SPENT AT MERCEDES DISCRETION. *TR

THE INTERIOR AND TRUNK OF MY 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 CONTINUE TO FILL WITH GASOLINE VAPORS. *TR

AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK, I PARKED THE CAR IN MY ATTACHED GARAGE THE NEXT DAY THE GAS FUMES WERE SO STRONG INSIDE MY BASEMENT THAT I CALLED MY PLUMBER, THINKING I HAD A GAS LEAK FROM THE FURNACE. THEN I WENT INTO MY GARAGE, AND THE GAS SMELL WAS OVERWHELMING. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MERCEDES BENZ, THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND DETERMINED THE FUEL SENSOR WAS BAD, ALONG WITH CRACKED INNER TANK MODULE. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ASSOCIATED PARTS (CABLE HARNESS, AUXILIARY PUMP, BRACKET, SEAL RING, ETC. PARTS: $710.13 AND LABOR: $496.80 = 1206.93. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE REVIEWED AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I'VE HAD MANY AUTOMOBILES, AND NEVER DID I HAVE THIS HEADACHE. AND I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT EXPECT THIS FROM THIS CAR. MERCEDES BENZ NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THESE DEFAULTS!!! ADDITIONALLY, MY BATTERY DIED AT THE SAME TIME - ANOTHER PARTS: $284.05, LABOR: $207.00. *TR

2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500 SMELLS OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE AND AROUND THE VEHICLE AFTER REFUELING TO THE FULL TANK LEVEL. IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN AFTER FUELING IN ORDER TO VENTILATE THE GARAGE AND KEEP FUMES OUT OF THE HOUSE. THE ODOR GRADUALLY DECREASES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN 40-50 MILES AND THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK DROPS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE "YOU HAVE REDUCED CAPACITY" WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MERGE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SANK TO THE FLOOR FAILING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURN OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL (SBC) UNIT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,839.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS BUT FAILED TO INDICATE IF THERE WERE ANY REQUIRED REPAIRS IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE BRAKE SENSOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES MAY LOCK AT ANY TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE SBC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.