Most common 2005 Mercedes-Benz E problems
Share of the 5 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E complaints by model year
Best E years: 2007, 2005. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E:
Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the…
What 2005 Mercedes-Benz E owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
I recently bought a used 2005 Mercedes e320 with 126.3K miles. At time of transaction, car had half a tank of fuel only. Couple days later, when I went to refuel, I filled up tank all the way to top, I drove home and as soon as I exited car, I could smell a very strong odor of gasoline inside car and inside left rear wheel well. I inspected the car and after lifting rear seat cushion, I opened the covers to gas tank to find there was a fuel leak at the fuel sending unit, driver's side, about 1-2 ounces of fuel. Today I purchased an updated new fuel sending unit from mb dealer and will need to get it installed. When tank is three quarter full or less, you don't smell the odor and no sign of leak is present. This appears to be a common problem among Mercedes e-class. I've learned this thru my most recent online search. I'm so disappointed in Mercedes Benz for this poor manufacturing.
Filled fuel tank , came home ,parked in garage and noticed a strong fuel smell. Fuel was leaking on floor and I have to leave it outside now.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E a good car?
Based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 E rates average: 22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the E at the same age. It is one of the best E years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E?
The fuel & propulsion system — 3 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (1) and brakes (1).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007 and 2005. See the full Mercedes-Benz E years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Mercedes-Benz E problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.