Fuel Pump problems of the 2003 Mercedes Benz E55

On September 1st 2013 I went to leave my house. Smelt a strong gas smell, thought possibly someone had spilt a gas tank. Start looking around for gas couldn't find any around my house so I get in my car when I do I get a strong scent of gas. I take my back seat out remove the cover on the fuel pump on my drivers side and their it was a huge puddle of gas in my back seat. At that point I called a tow truck afraid to drive the vehicle afraid it may catch on fire. I take it to the local mercedes dealer they have to replace my drivers side fuel sending unit, and come to find out my passenger side fuel sending unit has burned up also. Updated 09-18-13 updated 09/25/2013.

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 drove to my destination 2 miles. After sitting for 30 minutes I headed back home 55 north bound at 65mph. Concerned I drove in the far right lane in case the vehicle stalled again. It stalled 5 times traveling 25 miles. Once I arrived home the vehicle reeked of fuel. Called the mercedes dealership and ask if this was a part of the recall (campaign no. 2008020001) of the fuel filter module? was told no. I drove the car hoping it was just bad gas or something and it stalled at a stop light and it was 5+ minutes before it started again. I drove into the first ase shop 1/2 miles up the road. The shop checked the vehicle and determined that the fuel filter module was bad and must be replaced. The part was ordered from the mb dealership and installed. In addition a new fuel pump was installed as well. Upon removing the seat the tech discovered fuel under the seat and the matting soaked. He stated I was lucky the vehicle did not catch on fire. Mb indicates my module was replaced in 2008 per the recall. Five years and the vehicle is still not safe. Mb refuses to reimburse me for the cost of replacing the module.

Reference pe12001 gasoline started pouring inside the passenger compartment under the rear seat bench on the driver's side. Extreme gasoline fumes inside the vehicle. Check engine light turned on at the same time of incident. Issue is ongoing. Called Mercedes Benz of bloomfield hills and explained the issue. They told me that the recall 2008020001 was done on this car in 2008. But that the recurrent problem "fix" would be out of my pocket. I called mbusa and documented my complain but they would take no action. This is a well known and recurrent issue with the e class w211 Mercedes Benz from 2003 - on. Cars that have been "fixed" start dumping fuel into the cabin within the next 10,000 miles or so. All it would take is to drive over a lit up cigarette at low speed and the occupants can be in danger of bodily injuries or death. ## VIN passed ## 2003 Mercedes Benz E55 amg ##.

Fuel pump and assembly were leaking fuel into cabin area due to faulty design and plastic parts.

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.

In reference to NHTSA campaign id number: pe12001 vehicle was taken in for servicing under (emissions recall campaign # 2008-020001) and fuel sender unit was replaced. This corrected the problem for approximately two years at which point the smell of fuel inside the vehicle returned and there are noticeable leaks on both the fuel sender and fuel pump. The vehicle was taken in to have the dealer service the part under the recall as the replacement parts were faulty as they were no different then the parts they replaced. They also noted that the pump may be cracked.