2004 Mercedes Benz E500: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

TAPPING NOISE INSIDE THE CAR : THE FUEL CANISTER TOUCHES THE CHASIS AND MAKE LOUD TAPPING NOISE INSIDE THE CAR, REPORTED THIS TO MBUSA AND REPERESETATIVE PUT INSULATION AROUND FUEL CANISTER AND WHICH IS NOT SAFE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102689 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

MY CAR PICKED UP A NAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT BLEW A ROUND HOLE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER IN THE TIRE RIM. THESE ARE ALUMINUM ALLOY LOW PROFILE RIMS THAT CAME WITH MY E500 2004 MERCEDES BENZ AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER I HAD A NEW SET OF TIRES PUT ON THE CAR AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT TWO MORE RIMS WERE BENT. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER (OVER 1.5 MILLION MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE) AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A RIM GO BAD. SUDDENLY I HAVE THREE RIMS GO BAD. I DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR CURBS OR ANY THING OTHER THAN NORMAL BUMPY ROA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142387 at NHTSA ↗

DROVE CAR FINE ALL DAY ON SATURDAY. SUNDAY AM, PUT SON AND WIFE IN CAR, STARTED OUT DRIVE WAY AND CAR GAVE NOTICE THAT CAR WAS TOO LOW. WALKED AROUND EXTERIOR OF CAR AND FOUND THAT RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION MECHANISM HAD LET AIR OUT ITSELF AND TIRE WAS WELL INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. DTB (DAIMLER TECHNICAL BULLETIN) P-B-32.22/15A FEB07 VEHICLE LEVEL DECREASES AT FRONT AXLE. IN EXTREME CASES THE AIRMATIC COMPRESSOR WILL NOT ACTIVATE TO RAISE THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. THE COMPRESSOR IS NOT ACTUATED DUE T…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205342 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2019-12-20 (December 20, 2019)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf

Consequence: A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.

Reported: 2022-12-23 (December 23, 2022)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel may become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall expands NHTSA recall number 19V-918. MBUSA's numbers for this recall are 2023010004, 2023010005, and 2023010006.

Reported: 2024-11-19 (November 19, 2024)

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Consequence: A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.