2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 problems and owner complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES E55. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR FROM THE VEHICLE INTERIOR. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE FUEL TANK SEALS. LATER WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE VEHICLE. HE FURTHER INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND FOUND A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE FUEL ATOP THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FUEL ASSEMBLY IN 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER RE…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349997 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE IN CENTER LANE IN TRAFFIC WHILE MANEUVERING TO MAKE LEFT TURN. THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE TWICE BEFORE BY MERCEDES DEALER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 43,085 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363904 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E55. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE ABS PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10335474 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IN TRAFFIC AND IN THE LEFTMOST LANE. A WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE CAR'S DASHBOARD THAT ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD DIMINISHED BRAKING CAPABILITY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO DETERMINE HOW DIMINISHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS AS I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND IN TRAFFIC. UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT BRAKE OR SLOW DOWN, I HAD NO BRAKES. AT THAT TIME A SECOND AND DIFFERENT WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASHBOARD WITH A STOP SIGN IKON; THE WARNING STATED: STOP CAR IMMEDIATE…

Owner-reported narrative. 58,161 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579343 at NHTSA ↗

EVERY TIME I FILL MY VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL, THERE IS AN OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, AND INSIDE THE CABIN. THE SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE A HEADACHE IN SHORT ORDER. WHEN REMOVING THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, YOU CAN OBSERVE STANDING FUEL ON THE FUEL SENDER ASSEMBLY. I'M UNSURE IF THIS PROPAGATES FROM THE SPOT OF THE BUILD UP, OR IS FROM ANOTHER PLACE AND THIS IS WHERE IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP. A LARGE CONCERN FOR ME, BESIDES THE EXPOSURE TO GASOLINE FUMES, IS THE PROXIMITY TO THE FUEL BUILD UP TO ELECTRICAL WIR…

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455105 at NHTSA ↗

REFERENCE THE NHTSA ACTION# PE12001 THERE IS A FUEL LEAK AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUEL SENDING UNITS AND AT ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUEL PUMPS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK OF THIS CAR. WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK TO FULL, GAS LEAKS AND PRODUCES A VERY STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE AND AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. I HAVE REMOVED THE REAR SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE UNITS AND I HAVE OBSERVED STANDING GASOLINE ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE SENDING UNIT SEALS. THERE ARE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS INSIDE OF THESE UNITS AND THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SHORTING DUE TO T…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669345 at NHTSA ↗

TOOK MY CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECKED FOR A KNOWN ISSUE IN WHICH THE RADIATOR WOULD MIX THE ENGINE COOLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER CONFIRMED I HAD THE FAULTY RADIATOR AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD GLYCOL IN IT. I WAS TOLD THEY CAN NOT COVER THE REPAIRS NOR REPLACE THE PARTS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALL COSTS EVEN THOUGH IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. SO I DECIDED TO FLUSH THE FLUID OUT AND INSTALL A SEPARATE COOLER TO AVOID FLUID FROM GOING THROUGH RADIATOR IN HOPES I COULD SAVE THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING DAMAGED BY THE CONTAMINATE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10558099 at NHTSA ↗

I COULD SMELL FUEL LEAKS OR A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE, AND AFTER REFUELING. WENT TO MB DEALERSHIP FOR TUNE UP, OIL, AND AIR FILTER CHANGE. TWO DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED ON ME DRIVING DOWN 55 SOUTHBOUND INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. I WAS IN DENSE TRAFFIC SO I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND TRIED TO COAST THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD. SCARY SINCE TRAFFIC WAS SO DENSE BUT I MANAGED. I TRIED TO START THE CAR A FEW TIMES AND IT WOULDN'T START. AFTER 5 MINUTES IT STARTED AND I DRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 123,465 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547412 at NHTSA ↗

SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPAGE WHILE DRIVING WITH LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND POWER STEERING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363893 at NHTSA ↗