Fuel Pump Problems of Mercedes Benz E55

Check engine light illuminated, code scan revealed code p0456. Inspection reveals fuel leakage at both the left fuel sender and the right fuel pump housings. Liquid fuel is externally evident along with the associated smell of raw fuel vapor. This is a very common problem with these vehicles and the manufacturer should be held responsible for repair of what is a potentially dangerous issue.

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Strong gas smell inside vehicle after fill up, or while sitting on an incline. Remove acess covers to fuel pump and fuel sending unit, puddled gas observed on top of tank.

See all problems of the 2006 Mercedes Benz E55 🔎.

Driver side fuel pump sender has leak on top where fuel pump meets the top plastic assembly. Leaks when fuel tank is full.

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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.

See all problems of the 2003 Mercedes Benz E55 🔎.

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.

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes Benz E55. The contact stated that he would smell gasoline inside the vehicle cabin after refueling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised him that the fuel tank and fuel pump were fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000. The current mileage was approximately 32,500. Updated 4/23/13 updated 05/23/2013.

Same situation identified in pe-12-001. Filled vehicle with fuel and left sitting in driveway. The next day, I noticed a strong fuel odor outside of vehicle and, upon opening the driver's door, was overwhelmed with fuel odor. After a quick online search, I found multiple references to fuel filter leak. I pulled out the back seat to investigate and found that the driver's side fuel filter assembly is fine, but passenger's side has approx 1/2 inch of liquid fuel standing in the filter assembly. Fuel has soaked through the cardboard/rubber cover and soaked the insulation above. It appears that the driver's side filter assembly was previously replaced (this was confirmed with service dept at dealership. They state that it was replaced in 2008 as part of TSB. ), but the passenger's side, which is now leaking, is of a different (and I presume older) design. I have read the response from hogan/lovells dated 4/19/12 and would like to note that the "tight seal" described on page 2 which is allegedly created when the "access ports" are "secured by six bolts and [a] gasket" is not sufficient to prevent fuel vapor from entering the passenger compartment, nor is it sufficient to prevent liquid fuel from soaking through the gasket, and into the insulation on the underside of the rear seat. Once the gasket and insulation above it are saturated with fuel, the interior of the car is unbearable and probably a severe fire risk. Nhtsa is welcome to come observe this in person on my vehicle.

Reference NHTSA action# pe12001 fuel smell strongest in left rear seat area. Removed seat, opened cover over fuel pump and found fuel sitting exposed. Removed the sitting fuel, and did research. Found many such complaints that match my situation. If I don't fill the fuel tank for an extended time, the fuel smell dissipates, but any time I fill the fuel tank, the noxious fuel smell returns within hours and is obvious as soon as opening the left rear door. Previous owner had similar problem and had fuel pump/sender replaced Apr. 2012 costing $1000.

2004 E55. Fuel sending unit is leaking visible gas under rear seat. Vivid gas smell in interior. 2004 E55. I understand there have been many many complaints about this specific problem yet it still to be recalled. I don't feel safe on long road trips or the car burning down. Reference NHTSA action number: pe12001.

Please reference existing NHTSA complaint #pe12001. My 2006 mercedes E55 has raw fuel puddling under the rear seat area behind the driver's seat. There appears to be a leak from the housing or tank itself in this area. The fuel leak is substantial and the vapors from this leak are overwhelming inside the car. I have taken numerous detailed photographs of this leak. I also have a video clip that appears to capture a hissing sound of pressurization inside the tank forcing fuel vapor into the interior of the car. I would be happy to share any of this information with you to help with your investigation. My understanding is that you have already received several dozen complaints about this exact problem from other mercedes E55 owners, and perhaps from other mercedes models that use the same gas tank / sender units. Due to the amount of fuel that is puddling up in the back of my car, I am afraid to drive it and the raw fuel smell is giving me a headache even when I keep the windows rolled all the way down. I would appreciate your help in applying pressure on mbusa to provide a valid and complete fix for this issue.

Complaint # pe12001 I noticed occasional fuel smell originally 2-3 months ago. Initially smells were mild, now smells are noxious and getting worse. At my last 10k miles oil change, discussed the problem and progression getting worse with my mercedes certified mechanic. The rear seat was removed, to find the upper part of fuel cell under passenger seat, with deterioration of upper part of fuel cell plastic. There was actually a gas "puddle" visible that had seeped through the top of fuel cell/sending unit. Very dangerous situation, risk of fire, and also causing headaches from noxious smell of gas !!! what can be more dangerous, gas leaking, and seeping into the interior cabin of an automobile ??? please intervene with this dangerous problem with a recall before deaths occur to a very dangerous problem. Obviously a manufacturer defect in substandard parts purchased to a fuel cell from manufacturer Mercedes Benz !! this same problem has affected many Mercedes Benz vehicles. Thanking you in advance [xxx].

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 ##.

Nhtsa action number: pe12001 bought the vehicle used 05/2012 with 95,000 miles. The vehicle has a strong odor of gasoline from rear seat area, strong odor of gasoline from under the vehicle, also if left overnight in closed garage (with fuel tank full), garage smells of gas. I have removed the metal fuel sender access cover under the rear seat and found a pool of gas, approx 20z around the electrical connector (have photos of this).

Reference NHTSA action # pe12001. After refueling car, interior would have an overwhelming smell of gasoline after leaving it parked. Investigation revealed fuel pooled up underneath rear passenger seat and required replacement of fuel pump.

I filled up my car with gas on Friday, may 4, 2012 and then went out. I parked my car on the road and came back to it a couple hours later. There was an overpowering gasoline smell in the area as I walked by and thought it was another car or gas was dumped on the road. A couple hours later I got into my car and drove home. The gas smell was still in the area when I left. I parked my car at home and checked it on Saturday morning. The gas smell was less so I parked the car on the road thinking it would be safe. In the evening, I walked past my car and the gas smell was strong again. I called my local mercedes dealer on Monday morning regarding the leak and let them know about the gas smell and that the gas gauge dropped a couple of bars even though I had only drive 13 miles. I towed the car in and the service advisor called back with the result: there was a tear in the seal that is a part of the fuel pump/sending unit. They called back later to tell me "diagnosed the right side fuel pump has a hole burnt through housing causing fuel to leak out near connector housing". This situation is very dismaying and scary as the car had the same fuel pumps replaced under a recall in 2008. The worst thing is there was a burn in the fuel pump housing which could have ended in a much worse situation with a full fuel tank. . . Updated 05/17/12 updated 06/06/12 updated 06/22/2012.

Started smelling gas after filling up and eventually found that the fuel sender/hose was leaking fuel. Fuel was also leaking and puddling up around the fuel pump and the fuel sender.

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

When you filled the tank up at any time, there would be a horrendous raw fuel smell until the fuel level dropped off of full. It was so bad I had to park the car outside instead of in the garage for fear of a fire starting and a subsequent explosion. I took it to the dealer and I had an extended warranty. The deductible was $200. They ended up having to replace the entire fuel tank, fuel pump and all related items to an updated model to get rid of the problem. I am still out the $200 deductible for my extended warranty.

Started smelling gas after filling up and eventually found that the fuel sender/hose was spraying fuel on the underside of the car/rear seat. After researching the problem I found that fuel leaks coming from and around the tank are very common and that there was a recall years ago to reinforce the sender/hose. Fuel was also leaking and puddling up around the fuel pump and the fuel sender. This is obviously a design/part flaw and needs to be addressed as it happens repeatedly to many people.

Reference NHTSA action number for multiple complaints on same issue pe12001 anytime the vehicle is filled over 3/4 of a tank of fuel, a very strong fuel odor is present inside of the car, outside of the car, and fuel puddles around the fuel sending unit under the rear seat. Sometimes the smell is so strong, that my family and I fear that the vehicle is no longer safe to drive due to the strong fumes of gas inside of the vehicle which I am sure is a serious fire hazard and accident waiting to happen. . Read more...

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.

I have a 2004 mercedes amg E55. I purchased the car second hand from my neighbor at +/-33,000 miles. One week of ownership, I got a check engine light. I had access to a obd2 scanner and got the code for evap error. I stored the car overnight in my garage and woke up the following morning where the whole house reeked of fuel. I had recently filled up the night before. Being familiar with this mercedes vehicle I went over the fuel system from gas spout to gas tank. The smell was coming from inside the car under the rear drivers side passenger seat. Upon further inspection and removal of the seat,access panel. I could see gasoline puddling up on top of the fuel sender. I got some paper towels and dried it. That morning I bought a new gasket seal from the dealer to try and isolate the problem. That did not help. . . Next gas fill up the car continue to smell like fuel inside the cabin. I took it to a independent mechanic who performed the smoke test to see where the leak is coming from and sure enough it was from the top of the gas tank where it met the fuel sender. Upon taking the car to the dealer, I've been told I have to replace the entire gas tank, fuel pump, fuel sender and fittings to fix this problem. The dealer wants me to pay out of pocket the entire cost which is about $3,000. There still is a emissions warranty on the car which is good up to 8 years or 80,000 miles which they will not honor as they feel this issue doesn't qualify. They have just laughed at the situation and tried to downplay it. A lot of customers have been forced to pay out of pocket to cover this repair as they transport their kids in this car and that is very important. To prevent any further leaking, I only fill my car with gas halfway and have reset the check engine light with my scanner. Thank you.

My w211 began to smell of fuel while parked in my garage. Several weeks later, I awoke to a very strong gas smell in my garage. When I moved the car out, a puddle of gas was beneath my car and it literally poured fuel out as I backed it down the driveway. I took the car in for repair at the dealer and they replaced two seals and declared it good. The next day, I filled the car again and it smelled just as bad as before. The dealer replaced the seals and the pump modules and it took over a month to get the smell out of the car. Approximately six weeks later, I'm not noticing a faint smell of gas yesterday and a stronger smell today. I discussed with Mercedes Benz USA and they said that the car was repaired under a 'technical service bulletin' in 2008, but it's becoming clear that the problem is not going away. The fuel pump modules are in sealed compartments underneath the passenger seat, which communicates with the interior. Additionally, fuel can pool in this area - with the electrical connections for the fuel pumps.

The contact owns a 2005 Mercedes Benz E55. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor inside of the vehicle while parked. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on several occasions where the fuel pump was replaced but the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the fuel sending unit was leaking. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

After filling up the car with gas, it smells of gas fumes from the left rear wheel well. Happens every time I attempt to fill the tank. I've been filling gas tank to only 3/4 tank to reduce the gas fumes emanating from the car after gas fillups. Maybe poor seal with fuel pump and gas tank itself. Car was looked at in a previous recall campaign, but problem persists, and based on online reports, is a very common issue.

(NHTSA action# pe12001) fuel leaking onto the ground from fuel filter assembly due to cracking flange assembly.

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.

Reference NHTSA action number pe12001. 1st incident (2007), heavy fuel smell inside my car, noticed a lot of gas inside car underneath rear seats, and a lot of gas leaking underneath driver side rear tire and how fuel was leaking on exhaust by rear tire. Fletcher jones mercedes dealership las vegas fixed it under warranty via replaced fuel pump. 2nd incident (2009), exact same thing, dealer replaced fuel pump and this time also installed entire new fuel tank. 3rd incident (March 2012), same thing as 1st incident. This time I took it to an independent shop and they showed me the defective leaking fuel pump. I paid out of pocket to have it fixed this 3rd time. My 2005 E55 amg is a station wagon, with 2 rear seat child seats, right over the leaking fuel pump and leaked fuel. It is scary to know that if the fuel ever leaked on the exhaust while I am driving with my wife and twin 6 years son and daughter that there could be a fire. . . God forbid if my wife was driving my car and kids if it ever happened. That is why she is not allowed to drive my car. I can assure you that there are many other e class owners that had and/or am having the exact same problem.