Most common 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 problems
Share of the 142 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mercedes-Benz E500 complaints by model year
Best E500 years: 2006, 2003. Years to avoid: 2004, 2005. Compare all years →
2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 recalls (3)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 3, 2023. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V918-4126.pdf
Remedy: MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500:
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…
What 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 84 →
The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that upon making a stop, he noticed fuel leaking onto the driver's side rear wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall for the fuel tank. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
the car has smelled like gas from the minute i received it. the previous owner told me that mercedes had quoted 5 grand to fix it so i would only put half a tank in at a time. turns out there was a warranty on it but has since expired. why wasn't it fixed for free when the previous owner brought it? this is very dangerous and can cause an explosion. the warranty should have been fixed rather than quoted and seems very greedy to not disclose that information but instead giving a quote. i have lung and heart problems and this is a definite safety issue that needs to be corrected regardless of the age of the car also brought it to dealership scared and they told me too bad it's been too long. how is a gas leak an ok thing to dismiss?????? i have been trying to get this fixed for years and this is my 2nd attempt for a recall with no response at all
Brakes all 26 →
The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake malfunction warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the SBC hydraulic unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 04V296000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 199,700.
the car has smelled like gas from the minute i received it. the previous owner told me that mercedes had quoted 5 grand to fix it so i would only put half a tank in at a time. turns out there was a warranty on it but has since expired. why wasn't it fixed for free when the previous owner brought it? this is very dangerous and can cause an explosion. the warranty should have been fixed rather than quoted and seems very greedy to not disclose that information but instead giving a quote. i have lung and heart problems and this is a definite safety issue that needs to be corrected regardless of the age of the car also brought it to dealership scared and they told me too bad it's been too long. how is a gas leak an ok thing to dismiss?????? i have been trying to get this fixed for years and this is my 2nd attempt for a recall with no response at all
Suspension all 23 →
We had just stopped the vehicle in a parking space at a grccery. As we exited the vehicle and were walkng away from it we heard a loud pop as if a tire had a blown. We looked around but did not notice any low tire from loss of air. When we returned to the vehicle after grocery shopping my wife noticed the front passenger side was lower than the front driver side. When I started the vehicle I noticed the red warning light on the dash instrument panel "stop, car too low!" I turned the steering wheel to see if the wheel/tire would rub against the wheel well and it did not, so we drove home which was only one mile. I parked the vehicle in the garage. After reading a nmber of other similar complaints, it appears this malfunction should be a manufacturer recall for a deficient part or engineering design flaw for the malfunction.
Airmatic suspension dropped while driving on the highway. Red light warning flashed that vehicle was low. Tried to raise car but it would not raise. Car was very close to ground and would not raise..began looking up, if other same models as ours have this problem and they do. Read several consumers compliants/ concerns who also own a Mercedes Benz they seem to have this similar problem. It's very expensive to fix at a dearlership. Looks like this vehicle May have a problem/defect with their airmatic suspension and it is very dangerous driving on the highway unknowing that your vehicle is dropping to ground.this really needs to be investigated to see if there is a problem with their airmatic suspension before someone gets hurt or killed while driving.
2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 a good car?
Based on 142 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 E500 rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the E500 at the same age. It is one of the E500 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500?
The fuel & propulsion system — 84 complaints, 59% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the brakes (26) and suspension (23).
How many recalls does the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500, the most recent from November 19, 2024 (sun/moon roof assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mercedes-Benz E500?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004 and 2005. See the full Mercedes-Benz E500 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 92,000 miles; 15% 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.