2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55: wrong fuel gauge reading

Filed Dec 31, 2014 · Fuel system · 39,625 miles · TN

Reference the federal safety agency action# pe12001 there is a fuel leak at one or both of the fuel sending units and at one or both of the fuel pumps located in the gas tank of this car. When filling the gas tank to full, gas leaks and produces a very strong gasoline smell inside and around the exterior of the car. I have removed the rear seat to gain access to the units and I have observed standing gasoline on the top surface of the sending unit seals. There are electrical connections inside of these units and they appear to have been shorting due to the leak. This is potentially a very hazardous, life threatening condition.

Filed Nov 2, 2014 · Fuel system · 52,400 miles · AL

Filled my just purchased 2003 e55 amg with gasoline on 10/30/14 and drove straight home. After a few minutes my brother told me the garage had a strong gasoline smell. Drove to work the next morning and noticed the smell was extremely strong in the car and left windows down to ventilate. Drove home with windows down and still noticed smell that seemed to be coming from back seat of car. Entered car and "gasoline smell" into internet search to find there is a large scale issue, investigation, and lawsuit. When picking the car up from dealer I noticed the entire rear seat bottom was not attached. Thought it may have been due to an inspection. However, it turns out that the access panel for the fuel sending unit is directly under the seat. After learning this I removed the rear seat to find gasoline on the access panel. Removed the panel to find a puddle of gasoline on top of the tank around the sending unit. Immediately called the dealer and they said to park the car and a tow truck would deliver it to them. Then the dealer called and provided a number for me to call mercedes benz USA to arrange a tow truck. Mercedes arranged the tow truck and hauled the just purchased car back to dealer. Dealer is supposed to be checking it on monday 11/3/14 to let me know the status.

Filed Oct 4, 2014 · Fuel system · 82,000 miles · CA

I got home from the store smelt gas thought nothing of it at first. The next day I was driving my vehicle with the windows down got a big smell of fuel, that got me thinking. Later that day when I got home I started smelling around my vehicle. Opened trunk smelt gas. Then I smelt both rear wheel wells and smelled a strong fuel odor on the drive side rear wheel. Further investigation I got under the vehicle to check it out. I could see fuel running down the side of my fuel tank. So I removed my rear seat and the cap under the seat to see the fuel sending unit from above. When I removed that there was a stream of fuel shooting out of my sending unit. I did some research on this claim and I found out its a common occurrence. That there was a previous recall and that didn't do the fix. I have a picture of the sending unit shooting the spray of fuel but there is no area to upload it on here. I would like to know what is going with this. Thank you.

Filed Aug 12, 2014 · Fuel system · 98,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercedes benz e55. The contact noticed a leak underneath the vehicle and stated that there were puddles on several occasions. The dealer stated that the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Jan 1, 2014 · Fuel system · KS

I have owned the vehicle for over a year now, and ever since the first time I filled up my fuel tank, I noticed a strong fuel smell in the vehicle. So much that I could not be in the car and would have to drive with windows open and sunroof opened so the smell can go away. I took the car to mercedes-benz of wichita, ks and explained my issue and they simply said that the fuel sending unit might be releasing vapor into the cabin and that it would need to be replaced. I asked if it was a recall item and covered by them, they told me no and that it would be an out of pocket expense at over 1000$. I was not able to afford the repairs at the time so I simply did not fill the fuel tank to the top from that point on. On october of 2013 though, I park at a laundry mat facility and go inside. After a couple minutes an employee comes in asking who is the owner of a silver mercedes (my car) stating that it is leaking fuel. I run outside and notice a huge puddle under my rear left side of the car with a steady stream of fuel coming down. I became alarmed and began to find where the leak was coming from. I ended up removing the back lower seat and gained access to the fuel sending unit under the seat and noticed there was fuel everywhere and leaking from the top of the sending unit. I took pics and a video so I can show the dealer the next day. When I showed the service manager the pictures and video, they said "wow, that's bad. Looks like you 're going to need to replace it" once again I asked if that qualified to be replaced at no cost by the dealer since it is a manufacturer flaw and a serious safety concern with possible fire or explosion waiting to occur and they simply said no and would not try to help me with the issue. I have searched this issue on the internet to find numerous other drivers with same issue and the dealer would not help them as well. Something needs to be done.

Filed Sep 8, 2013 · Fuel system · KY

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 *bf updated 09/25/2013

Filed Nov 8, 2010 · Fuel system · 70,000 miles · MD

I came out to my car the morning after filling up the tank fully and smelled a strong odor of gasoline inside the car. I drove it to the dealer and it turns out the fuel filter/fuel sending units had cracked and were leaking fuel. There is a sending unit on either side of the fuel tank under the rear passenger seats, and the fuel was leaking out the tops of these sending units into the cabin of the vehicle. Because I caught it early, the gasoline had only pooled on the top of the fuel sending unit and not spilled into the seats and footwells. The dealer diagnosed the issue as cracked sending units and said both needed to be replaced. I did some research online and found that there had been a voluntary recall on my car in 2008 by mercedes-benz for this exact issue. The recall had been performed but clearly had not fixed the issue, as these parts failed again less than 2 years later. This complaint is the same as another complaint already filed on this vehicle model and year. The dealer replaced both sending units as a repair to the issue. *tr updated 05/02/11 *bf updated 12/29/11