The contact owns a 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled an abnormal gasoline odor inside of the vehicle. After a visual inspection of the rear seats, the contact observed gasoline pooling underneath the rear seats. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to TSB: 2008-020001. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 fuel system problems
63 complaints (90% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,000.
- owner complaints
- 63
- of this car's complaints
- 90%
- typical mileage
- 70,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Delivery: fuel pump3
- Storage: tank assembly1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 fuel system problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 fuel system
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Fuel Leakage From The Fuel Tank
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation on January 23, 2012 as PE12-001 based on 20 consumer reports in model year (MY) 2003-2006 E55 AMG vehicles.Based on new reports in other E-Class vehicles, ODI upgraded the investigation to Engineering Analysis (EA) 13-003 on March 15, 2013, and expanded the scope to all E-Class vehicles through MY 2008.The complainants alleged a strong odor of gasoline fuel both inside and outside of their vehicle, particularly after refilling the fuel tank.Many of the complainants noted that the odor subsided or went away after driving some distance thereby lowering the fuel level in the tank.Other owners reported they would only fill the tank to about three quarters full to avoid the odor altogether.Some complainants alleged fuel leaked from the fuel filter/sender, located on the top of the fuel tank on the driver's side, and collected on top of the tank.There were also allegations that the fuel leaks were associated with an Emissions Recall Campaign (No. 2008020001) conducted by Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) in 2008 on MY 2003-2006 E-Class and CLS-Class AMG models.The issue in the recall involved small cracks in the pressurized outlet fitting of the fuel filter/sender.AMG vehicles are high performance models that operate at higher fuel pressure and use a different fuel filter/sender and fuel pump than non-AMG models.Information on Recall No. 2008020001 is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website at www.EPA.gov.ODI's investigation found various leak sources that are unrelated to the outlet fitting cited in the EPA recall campaign.Through interviews with complainants, field inspections of complaint vehicles, and the collection and laboratory analysis of failed parts, three identifiable leak sources were found.The component parts and areas of the leaks involve the On-Board Diagnostic fuel tank pressure sensor (located on top of the fuel filter/sender), the outlet of the centrally mounted fuel tank fuel filling limiter valve, and the top of the fuel pump. These areas of leakage are located at the top of the fuel tank in unpressurized parts of the fuel system. When the tank is full, fuel can slowly weep/seep from micro-cracks in these components and may collect in cavities on top of the filter/sender, pump, or tank.Contrary to complainant's allegations that fuel entered the inside of their vehicle under the rear seat bench, neither ODI nor Mercedes found a plausible way for this to occur.The fuel tank is located outside of the passenger compartment, attached to the underside of the vehicle.The service access ports for the fuel filter/sender (driver's side) and fuel pump (passenger's side) are located under the rear seat bench, covered by a steel plate, sealed and bolted to the vehicle floor.When technicians service the fuel filter/sender, which has a regularly scheduled 60,000 mile service interval, and/or the fuel pump, the work is performed from inside the vehicle by working through the access ports.By letter dated September 4, 2014, Mercedes has notified the agency that it will extend the original warranty coverage to 15 years and unlimited mileage on Covered Fuel Tank Components in E-Class vehicles in MY 2003-2009 and CLS-Class vehicles in MY 2006-2011.The covered fuel tank components for the warranty extension include the fuel tank, fuel filter/sender, fuel pump, and all related gaskets/seals and retention rings.ODI is closing this investigation based on the manufacturer's extend warranty of the affected fuel system components and in consideration that the nature of the leaks does not appear to present an un
EA13003
Fuel System (Tank/Sender) Leakage
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 20 consumer reports.All of the vehicles were E55 AMG models and the complainants alleged fuel leaks or a strong odor of gasoline both inside and outside of their vehicle, particularly after refueling.Some complainants alleged that the leaks may be related to a 2008 Mercedes Benz emission recall (Campaign No. 2008020001) on the fuel filter module. This recall pertained to model years 2003-2006 E and CLS AMG models only.These AMG models use a different fuel pump and fuel filter module than the non-AMG E-class, however, they share other fuel system components, including the fuel tank.Since opening the investigation ODI has received an additional 350 reports relevant to this investigation.Of those reports, 116 reports are on the E55 AMG model.The remaining 234 reports are on other E-class models (i.e., E320, E350, E500, E550 and E63) which are now included in the scope of EA13-003.The investigation has been upgraded to Engineering Analysis, EA13-003, for further study.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the identification (ODI) numbers cited on the following page.
PE12001
What 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While the vehicle was on the highway on a long road trip, there was an increasingly large rattle when the vehicle was under load. Eventually the rattle stopped. Then when I tried to fill up the car with gas, it leaked everywhere causing a massive fire hazard. While this was put under extended warranty for 15 years by mercedes benz, a 2003 model is out of warranty by 3 years. This is completely unacceptable as it left me stranded in rural montana on a road trip (I'm from wa) and posed a massive fire hazard in the blazing heat of summer. I had to tow it back on a uhaul to prevent further damage to the car or a potential fire. Even the mechanics at a near-ish (200 miles away from the montana highway I broke down on) were hesitant to even move the car due to fire hazard. This issue should have been recalled for safety reasons or been given a much longer extended warranty. In addition to the shake, now the brakes will not let go when I try put the car in neutral. This would normally be a separate issue, but if it creates a spark next to the fuel issue, it could mean that the car is quite literally a bomb if driven. The whole interior smells like fuel as well. Mercedes seems to admit there is a problem by complying with a class action lawsuit against the fuel tank and adding the warranty but refuses to do a recall or longer extended warranty due to greed. This can cause dangerous situations like my own and even worse ones where the fuel may ignite in the future.
What should have been a classified as a total recall turned into an extended warranty, and as a result I have lost $1700. After a battle with the federal safety agency, back in 2015 mercedes settled to do a retroactive extended warranty on certain 2003-2011 vehicles due to how many problems and safety concerns there were with the fuel system. Unknown to me, not receiving any letters about the issue since purchase, my car was out of the warranty period by 3 months when I got a check engine light. I had the check engine light read by a reputable gas-station shop, and they found an evap leak. This was no normal hose leak/gas cap open evap leak. They ended up finding a massive leak at the top fuel pump! There was actually dark plastic/signs of high-heat inside the gas tank (on the pump). Fire hazard?!? I had the car towed to mercedes of wilmington for a second evaluation because it was a time bomb. I was quoted $2100 to fix the issue for a new fuel pump and fuel sender. I fought with mbusa to get it covered for two weeks, but my car, after 15 years, was out of the warranty period! They wouldnt even drop the cost down to $2000 even when I asked for some sort of good will if I got the work done. I needed my car so I had the car taken to the most reputable private benz shop in delaware - "euro tech". I purchased an fcpeuro fuel pump kit and had them install it for less than the dealer wanted. This should be a total recall and people on the biggest mb-fan website, mbworld.com, are still posting week after week with fuel pump horrors! This is well documented already by you guys. I am also sending this email to mbusa. If I don't hear back from mbusa I will be seeking legal advice. I have spent $100 at shop #1, $100 at the mb dealer to tell me 'no', $1050 in parts, and $450 in labor, for something that should be a recall.
Fuel tank assembly recall
I just purchased a used 2003 mercedes-benz e55 amg. Upon driving it home from the state where I purchased it, I smelled a strong fuel smell. This is strong inside the cabin and also outside the cabin, to the point that others around the car noted the fuel smell. I can smell it while driving and when the car is stationary. A google search indicated that there was an investigation into this years ago and mbusa offered an extended warranty of an additional 5 years beyond the initial 10 years in lieu of having a court require a full recall. After, further investigation on my part, I learned that it is not a matter of if but when this will happen to your w211 vehicle. I called my local mercedes-benz dealer and they told me that the extended warranty for the fuel system on my car ended last year. I do not know why the previous owner(s) did not take care of this problem. Maybe they did not know about the extended warranty. This should have been a full recall! This is a health and safety hazard. I have asthma and I am now afraid to drive this car due to the potential health risk involved. Mbusa should not have been able to wiggle out of fault on a very poorly designed fuel system by offering the extended warranty that only gave owners a few years to learn about it and also get the work done.the extended warranty was finally offered by mbusa in 2015, only giving the previous owner of my car a few years to learn about the warranty and get the work done. Not to mention that my car went through several owners during that time frame. Meaning that the owners did not own the car long enough to discover the issue and find out about the extended warranty. There is a good chance these owners never received a letter from mbusa about the extended warranty. As a matter of fact, my car was actually in italy when the extended warranty was issued. It was later brought back to the us.
Strong fuel smell after fill up. Fuel leaking on to top of tank and vapors entering cabin
Takata recall, also having problem with fuel cap and evacuation system.
Bad fuel pumps under rear seat causing fuel smell in my entire car.
Bought a pre-owned 2003 e55 from mercedes dealer 2005. Have had car serviced regularly and exclusively at dealer ever since. Have smelled gasoline smell in garage especially after filling-up car. Most recently, on 21-apr-15 check engine light lit. Took car to dealer. Dealer said gas tank leaking and they would fix it - courtesy of mercedes-benz - no cost to me. My concern is: if mercedes knew about this defect (see link to mercedes lawsuit (below)) for the past several years and I brought the car to them for servicing, regularly, for the last 10 years (and spent more than $10,000 in service over those years) why did the dealer not preemptively alert me earlier to this very dangerous liability and rectify it years ago? Http://www.scribd.com/doc/100877072/mercedes-lawsuit.
There is a strong smell of gasoline at the back of the vehicle aswell as in the cabin.
Questions about the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 fuel system
Does the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 have fuel system problems?
Owners have filed 63 complaints about the fuel system of the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55, 90% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 fuel system problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 fuel system?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 have the most fuel system problems?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2005 (130 complaints), 2004 (106 complaints) and 2003 (63 complaints).
Other 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 problems
Brakes 3Electrical 3Engine 3Transmission 2Airbags 1Seats 1
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