2004 Mercedes Benz E500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
142 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 126 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 142 complaints (39.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 49 | 34.5% |
| Braking behavior | 28 | 19.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 56 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 |
| Suspension | 20 |
| Service Brakes | 19 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 56; Fuel System, Gasoline: 26; Suspension: 20; Service Brakes: 19; Electrical System: 7; Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Power Train: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 43 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 43; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 21 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 27 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2004: 5; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 21; 2013: 27; 2014: 27; 2015: 19; 2016: 7; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2024: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 49 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10262767 · 2009-03-23 (March 23, 2009)
WE HAD NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN OUR GARAGE EACH MORNING JUST AFTER WE HAD FILLED THE CAR WITH GAS. WE TOOK THE MB TO MYERSTAR MERCEDES, THEY FOUND CRACK IN THE UPPER MIDDLE FRONT OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THIS DEFECT SHOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED IN A VEHICLE THAT'S ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD WITH 45,000 MILES. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN OUR GARAGE. *TR COPY OF MOVIE.WMV UPDATED 05/02/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/11 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10364069 · 2010-11-04 (November 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE WARNING LIGHT "BRAKE FAILURE AND ESP FAILURE" WERE DISPLAYED AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, WHEN HE WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BY DOWNSHIFTING AND ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS PERFORMING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10364069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105378 · 2004-12-28 (December 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MILES PER HOUR DOWN HILL, THE OWNER HEARD A WARNING LIGHT STATING THAT THE BRAKES HAD FAILED. THE OWNER HAD TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE OWNER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117540 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
2004 500E ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE PURPOSE OF AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM IS THAT WHEN ALL BRAKES ARE LOCKED, IT WILL THEN PULSATE THE BRAKES SO THAT THE DRIVER DOES NOT HAVE TO. THE CONSUMER STATED ON HIS VEHICLE THE BRAKES SYSTEM COULD LOCK WITHOUT PULSING. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE BRAKES DID NOT LOCK AND THE BAS DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091345 · 2004-09-20 (September 20, 2004)
ELECTRONIC INTERFERENCE FROM AIRCRAFT CAUSED LIGHTS TO COME ON WHEN PARKED AT AIRPORT AND DRAINED BATTERY. CAR PARKED MORNING OF 9/4/04. SINGLE INCIDENT OF CAR ALARM REPORTED EVENING OF 9/6/04. RETURNED TO CAR 9/11/04 AND FOUND LIGHTS IN OFF POSITION AND BATTERY DRAINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232543 · 2008-06-27 (June 27, 2008)
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.…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059243 · 2004-02-18 (February 18, 2004)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DRIVER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVER AND IT WOULD ONLY GO BACKWARDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THE NEED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063036 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 300 MILES. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN CONSUMER WAS CROSSING LANES TO AN ON COMING TRAFFIC. AS THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, THE GEAR SHIFTED FROM FIRST GEAR TO NEUTRAL ON ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679582 · 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 91,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10758694 · 2015-08-23 (August 23, 2015)
WE HAD JUST STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPACE AT A GRCCERY. AS WE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WERE WALKNG AWAY FROM IT WE HEARD A LOUD POP AS IF A TIRE HAD A BLOWN. WE LOOKED AROUND BUT DID NOT NOTICE ANY LOW TIRE FROM LOSS OF AIR. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE AFTER GROCERY SHOPPING MY WIFE NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOWER THAN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE RED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL "STOP, CAR TOO LOW!" I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE IF THE WHEEL/TIRE WOULD RUB AGAINST THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10758694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559593 · 2014-01-13 (January 13, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E-500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT T HE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER REFUELING ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559593 at NHTSA ↗