Fuel System complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 | 50% | 47,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 20% | 115,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 24% | 21,000 miles |
| 2006 | 9 | 22% | 76,000 miles |
| 2005 | 122 | 53% | 82,000 miles |
| 2004 | 117 | 58% | 90,000 miles |
| 2003 | 88 | 41% | 105,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2001 | 2 | 5% | 86,000 miles |
| 2000 | 4 | 9% | 217,000 miles |
| 1999 | 6 | 7% | 118,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 3% | 149,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1996 | 4 | 9% | 102,000 miles |
| 1995 | 8 | 8% | 91,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
2 highway stallings: 1) dec.1. 2009 traveling on I-95 south at 70mph, check engine light on, car suddenly stalled, managed to pull to shoulder. Car towed to Benz dealer 90 miles away. They changed a new fuel pump in charleston, sc. Continued driving on 2) dec.3,2009, after 400+ miles on I-95 south at 70mph, check engine light on, car suddenly stalled again, managed to pull to shoulder. Car towed to Benz dealer in melbourne, florida. They changed another fuel pump and filter. Now I am driving with my finger crossed.
I was changing lanes and went to accelerate when the vehicle completely lost power. The cause of the loss of power is a plastic(yes plastic) rod that opens the intake to initiate turbo boost. The fact that his rod is made of plastic that can break so easily when you step on the gas pedal is dangerous. Mercedes Benz is supposed to make a quality car that is very costly and it is shameful that it is made so shoddy creating a false sense of safety and quality. I am lucky to be alive and now have to fix this junk.
Fuel tank leak at the top of the tank. MB has well documented gasoline leaks for MB model 211 years 2003-2008. Notices were sent to owners of gas powered auto's but none were sent to DIESEL auto owners. The exact same procedure and parts are needed to repair DIESEL tanks as gasoline tanks. Either this is a oversight by MB or the problem was ignored. My DIESEL tank is leaking exactly as other documented gasoline MB vehicles model 211.
Noticed strong smell of diesel fuel by left rear tire, in several days a leak was under left tire, had fuel tank sending unit gasket replaced, no visible leaks but fumes are still present 1 year after repair. When repair was made all related parts were cleaned of residential fuel. Want to know if MB has dealt with splits or cracks in fuel tanks.
Persistent smell of diesel in cabin after filling tank. Leak isolated to right side (passenger side) fuel sender cap under rear seats. Same as gasoline versions, this really happens in the cdi or diesel versions as well. The warranty extension/recall should apply to these cars as well!
Fuel is leaking out of my E320 cdi, there is also an intense fuel smell, it appears to be the same exact issue that the NHTSA previously ordered Mercedes to replace the fuel tanks on all 2003-2009 e-class Mercedes, but Mercedes says it only applies to gasoline engines.
The passenger compartment smells like gasoline. This is due to an issue that was already investigated by nhtsa however the warranty that was extended is expired by two years. I just purchased this vehicle used and it is unsafe to drive. It did not smell like gas a few weeks ago when it was purchased. The odor is very strong in the passenger compartment.
Battery light came on so it was charged then reconnected, everything good, turn key to on position everything good, turn key to start and bang! Loud bang and white smoke everywhere, engine continued to smoke for several minutes after explosion, hole in front of engine
NHTSA 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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes-Benz E320 years have fuel system problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (122), 2004 (117), 2003 (88), 2006 (9) and 1995 (8) model years. Fuel System complaints make up 53% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Mercedes-Benz E320 fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for any Mercedes-Benz E320 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mercedes-Benz E320 fuel system problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 92,000 miles; 11% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the storage › tank assembly (6 mentions), followed by the delivery › fuel pump (4).
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.