2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED ABNORMALLY TO THE FLOORBOARD. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE IN SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE TO WORK THE RED SIGN CAME ON ( BRAKE MALFUNCTION STOP VEHICLES ) I STOPPED THE CAR AND AFTER 5 MINUTE STARTED IT AND IT WAS OK HALF WAY TO WORK RED SIGN CAME ON (BAKES LONGER STOPPING DIST START ENGINE ) AND ITS WAS DOING THAT ALL DAY THE NEXT DAY THE WHEN I STARTED THE CAR RED SIGN CAME ON (BRAKE MALFUNCTION STOP VEHICLE ) AND NEXT SIGN WAS (ESP MALFUNCTION VISIT WORK SHOP )CALLED MERCEDES DEALER AND TOWED THE CAR I WAS TOLD THE CAR NEEDS( BRAKE PRESSURE PUMP MODULATOR AND AUX BATTERY ) I LOOKED UP ONLINE THERE WAS EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MODULATOR AND THEY IT WAS EXPIRE A MONTH AGO THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO 10%DISCOUNT I THINK IT IS NOT FAIR SINCE THE WAS SERVICED AT THE SAME DEALER FOR LAST TEN YEARS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE AND ITS BRAKE MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR SHIFTS TO SAFETY MOOD IS UN SAFE. *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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE REFUELING THE TANK. THE ODOR WAS PRESENT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE FUEL GASKET AND FUEL PUMP BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

I HAVE A FUEL LEAK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FUEL TANK. THE FUMES ARE SO STRONG THAT I CANNOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE DUE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT SETTLES ON TOP OF THE PUMP/ REGULATOR ACCESS OUTLET. THE STREAM IS EMITTING FROM THE AREA OF LEAKAGE SO QUICKLY THAT IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE TO PUDDLE AND DRIP TO THE GROUND. THE DANGER OF A METAL OBJECT BEING PICKED UP BY A TIRE AND CAUGHT UP ON A PIECE OF METAL UNDER MY VEHICLE, AT THAT LOCATION, WOULD CREATE A SPARK THAT WOULD SURELY CAUSE A BLAZING FIRE TO ERUPT. ALSO, THERE IS THE DANGER OF A PASSERBY TOSSING A CIGARETTE OUT OF HIS/ HER WINDOW, BEING CAUGHT UP BY THE WIND AND SUCKED UNDERNEATH MY CAR, CAUSING A FIRE. *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

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE DASH WARNING SYSTEM TURNED BRIGHT RED WITH THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE, BRAKE MALFUNCTION, STOP THE VEHICLE. SHE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAD COMPLETELY FAILED, SHE HAD NO BRAKES. SHE LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE AS SHE SLOWED DOWN SHE PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE SLOWLY APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP AND SHIFTED IT INTO PARK. SHE THEN SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND CYCLED THE IGNITION KEY. THERE WAS NO LONGER THE RED WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE DISPLAYED AND WHEN TESTING THE BRAKES EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING NORMAL AGAIN. SHE THEN SLOWLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. I THEN RESEARCHED THE SYMPTOMS ONLINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT COMPLAINT. I FOUND WHERE THE SBC (SENSOTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL) UNIT HAD A SAFETY RECALL (2005070007) ALONG WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. I THEN CONTACTED MBUSA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MB DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MB DEALER ON 7/14/14 TO BE CHECKED. THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISER ADVISE THAT THE SBC UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF 1851.00 TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE HAD PASSED THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION. MY VEHICLES IN SERVICE DATE IS 4/20/04, SO IT IS NOW PAST THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY BY 2 1/2 MONTHS. I THEN CONTACTED MBUSA FOR POST WARRANTY REVIEW ON 7/15/14. I WAS CONTACTED BY [XXX] FROM MBUSA ON 7/16/14 BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE ACTUAL CONTACT UNTIL 7/18.14. SHE INDICATED THAT SHE WOULD TO DISCUSS WITH THE LOCAL MB DEALER SERVICE MANAGER TO REVIEW THE NEEDED REPAIRS. [XXX] CALLED BACK ON MONDAY MORNING 7/21/14 TO ADVISE ME THAT AFTER TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ALONG WITH THE REGIONAL MANAGER NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WOULD BE EXTENDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

YOU CAN NOT PUT GAS INTO THE VEHICLE IT IS LIKE THERE IS NO VENT HOLES OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT TOOK ME 1HOUR AND 20 MINUTES TO PUT GAS IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE PUMP KEPT CUTTING OFF LIKE THERE WAS AIR IN THE TANK. MAYBE ITS A FLAP OR FILTER PROBLEM, WHATEVER IT IS IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TRYING TO PUT GAS IN THIS CAR. *TR

THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL FOLLOWING A TANK FILL THAT FILLS THE GARAGE WITH GASOLINE FUMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 5 YEARS. I ENTERED 1/1/2009 ON THE FORM DATA AS AN APPROXIMATE BEGIN DATE. THE FUEL SMELL CAN BE DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE AT TIMES, BUT IS EXTREMELY STRONG IMMEDIATELY AFTER FILL-UP. AN INTERNET SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL MERCEDES E CLASS MODELS FROM 2003-2009. I HAVE ASKED CONTINUALLY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AT THE MERCEDES DEALER, NOW MERCEDES OF NATICK, FORMERLY FOREIGN MOTORS WEST IN NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS. SERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE DENIED THAT THERE WAS/IS ANY PATTERN OR PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM SEEMED TO AFFECT MY CAR ONLY. ONLY RECENTLY HAVE THEY INDICATED THAT AT TIMES THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND BOTH SENDING UNITS AT AN OUT OF POCKET COST OF $850 -$2000. ALL THIS FOR A PROBLEM THAT CURRENT RESEARCH INDICATES THAT MERCEDES HAS KNOWN ABOUT FOR MORE THAN 7 YEARS. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED IN TEXAS IN 2012 FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS OFFERED NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THIS REPAIR, BUT DID INDICATE THAT AFTER I PAID FOR THE REPAIR, THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ FOR ASSISTANCE. WHILE NICE, THIS STILL PUTS THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON ME WITH ONLY A HOPE THAT ASSISTANCE WOULD COME LATER. SO FAR I HAVE DECLINED THE REPAIR. WHILE SOME VEHICLES WERE INCLUDED UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL IN 2008, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. IN FACT, I HAVE NEVER BEEN CONTACTED BY MERCEDES BENZ FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONLY 2 WEEKS AGO, LATE JUNE 2014, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO FACTORY REPAIR CAMPAIGN OR RECALL AT THIS TIME. THIS MORNING I REMOVED THE BENCH PORTION OF THE REAR SEAT, FOLDED BACK THE INSULATING PAD AND REMOVED THE METAL ACCESS PLATE FOR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL SENDING/FUEL PUMP UNIT. GAS WAS VISIBLE. *TR

ON MY WAY BACK FROM VIRGINIA, AFTER PARKING MY 2004 E500 BENZ CAR AT THE WELCOME CENTER IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, FOR A BREAK, A BIG POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLAT TIRE, BUT I SAW THE FRONT OF THE CAR LOW (ALMOST TOUCH THE GROUND) THE ONLY THING IS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT AS MUCH LOW AS THE DRIVER SIDE. THEN WHEN I STARTED THE CAR ENGINE, FROM THE CAR CONTROL PANEL, I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGE: "STOP, THE CAR IS TOO LOW TO DRIVE" AS A RESULT, I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME FOR NEARLY $500.00. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS AIR SUSPENSION ISSUE; AND EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENED, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THE TWO PREVIOUS TIME THE ISSUE HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY; AND I DID NOT TO PAY ANY OUT OF POCKET MONEY TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED. NOW THAT THE CAR NO LONGER UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO COST ME A LOT OF MONEY TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED BY THE DEALER. BASED ON MANY REPORTS I HAVE READ FROM PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, I, AS THEY DO, STRONGLY BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD HAVE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. AS IT IS COMMONLY AGREED, THE CAR IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS CONSTANT HEADACHE THAT COMES WHEN IT WANTS TO WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY FOR ME, DURING THE TIME OF THIS RECENT INCIDENT, MY CAR WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. OTHERWISE, I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF CONTROL AND THUS CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP TO GET THIS ISSUE ADDRESS BY MERCEDES BENZ COMPANY BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURT OR DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR