Nine problems related to other fuel system pump have been reported for the 2003 Mercedes Benz E55. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Bad fuel pumps under rear seat causing fuel smell in my entire car.
Smelled strong fuel smell in garage and car. Removed the rear seat to access fuel pump fuel sender units. Upon removal of access door lid I seen a large puddle of fuel on top of the fuel pump sending unit where it was seeping out between a seem on top of the unit. This same part was replaced under a recall in 2008. The same problem with fuel leaks is wide spread and well documented in mbworld. Org I can supply pictures if needed.
The contact owns a 2003 mercedes E55. The contact stated he noticed a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the contact was advised that the fuel pump was fractured and would have to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Fuel pump assembly was leaking raw fuel under car causing explosion hazard that could lead to fatality.
1st incident was while driving along on the expressway and noticed a slight scent of raw fuel,, as I arrived home and parked in the garage, exiting the vehicle the smell of fuel was more evident, when I look under the vehicle, I see a puddle of gas steadily leaking from the fuel tank area, I cleaned up the mess and immediately had it inspected, inspection determined that primary fuel pump sending unit was leaking causing fuel to accumulate in the fuel tank area directly underneath the left rear passenger seat and overflowing out through the chassis wherever it could find a way out, repair required complete fuel pump with sending unit, as it is a one piece design, after all said and done, repair estimate $1,800. 2nd incident, 8/?/2012 same as described in 1st incident with the exception of fuel leak occurred while refueling at the gas station,, no puddle, but faint smell,, drove home, parked in the garage, smelled fuel more, looking under car, observed growing puddle of fuel. Had vehicle inspected, fuel leaking from around fuel pump housing, determination was fuel pump housing seal replacement, which again required fuel pump assembly removal and re-install for replacement of new seal, out of warranty, past 1year warranty by a few months, $1200 repair, mostly labor, part cost $20. . . . Seemed to correct fuel leak for now. . . . . Fuel smell has not gone away. . . .
Gas is leaking from the gas tank after the vehicle is filled up. If you fill up and let it sit overnight in the garage you wake up to raw fuel leaking out under the car under the rear seat driver side. We have had 6 fuel pumps, sending units and level sensors replaced in the gas tank the last 3 years. Then the gas tank itself was changed along with new sensors and pumps. It started leaking a year later. Same situation if you fill the car up it starts to leak. When will this situation be fixed. Mbusa has failed to offer any assistance to owners that have paid upwards of 90,000 dollars for these vehicles. Why? so that mbusa can show the NHTSA people "look we have no warranty claims on file" just read the complaints of 2003-2006 E55 owners. Now the newer e63 gas tanks are starting to leak as the vehicles reach 4 years of age. Just like our E55 started to leak at 4yrs and 50k miles. How much red tape does NHTSA have to go thru? you have hundreds of leaking E55s all over the country and you do nothing?.
Vehicle lost power on interstate. Later re-started and taken to tafel motors in louisville, ky. Both fuel pumps/ sender modules were found to be defective and leaking and replaced at a cost of $1627. 47 on 8-3-10 at 112646 miles. In August of 2011, both pumps and modules began to leak fuel. Strong odor of fuel in cabin, and fuel leaking onto ground. They were replaced at Mercedes Benz of indianapolis under warranty of the service done at tafel motors the year before. Again, on October 5 of 2012, one of the units began to leak gasoline, strong odor of fuel in cabin, and leaking onto ground. It was replaced at my expense of $921. 48. I took pictures of the fuel puddling on top of the gas tank. I also retained the removed part, in case NHTSA would like to inspect it. This part (211-470-51-94 was originally replaced under mercedes recal on 3/20/2008 at 62975 miles. It has now been replaced 3 more times.
Every time I fill the tank, I get a strong fuel smell. Recall was performed insert in fuel fitting, not the problem. Service center found "cover plates leaking on both sides, replaced fuel pumps, installed updated contact plate and seal. Checked for leaks and none found. " filled tank and strong fuel smell returned immediately. Found out by experience never to park the vehicle in the garage with a full tank or the house will be filled with fuel smell. Poor design fuel system in the e class mercedes, someday one will cause an explosion, do not park in attached/basement garage!.
The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes Benz E55. The contact stated that he noticed a strong gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where the contact was advised that the fuel pump was fractured and needed to be replaced along with the right rear sending unit. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 61,147 and the current mileage was unknown.