Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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
The cars brakes just quit without any warning which I was driving, as described below. This vehicle is equipped with sensotronic brake control that has a service threshold. When this threshold is reached the brake system defaults to non power assisted hydraulic mode to the front wheels only. This occurs without any prior warning and results in increased stopping distance. I have sent a copy of the Mercedes service bulletin s142.46-p-0012a which addresses this issue. Mercedes stopped installing this system in 2006. At the very least, Mercedes should issue a mandatory recall to interrogate these vehicles with star das to determine how close to the service threshold the sbc unit is and replace them at the dealer's expense. This is a major safety issue that needs to be addressed.
While I was driving down the road, the brakes completely failed. There was a sudden 100% pressure loss in the brake pedal. I was less than 20 ft from getting on the highway. Had this happened to me while I was on the highway, I would have met with a tragic accident. This car only has 92,392 miles. It is a 1-owner with all maintenance and services done only by Mercedes dealer and authorized repair facilities. The vehicle is 100% upto date on all repairs and maintenance and there is absolutely no reason for such failure. Upon further investigation, it was found there are other Mercedes Benz users experiencing the same issue. Not only will I ever buy a Mercedes Benz again, but I will never ride in a Mercedes Benz product for the sake of my safety!!!
Benz E500/55K miles. I have had two major safety issues with the car. One being fuel tank related and the second sbc pump failure while driving. On the first, too little too late, so many years after the incident and purchase of the car, Mercedes Benz has sent a letter covering the repair and parts for 15 years. I think that in itself is an offense and a crime. On the second issue, sbc pump Mercedes Benz refused to give me in detail the effect of failing sbc pump on other parts of the car or the effect of failed sbc pump. More importantly, service managers are telling customers that they are expecting all models equipped with sbc pump to come to the shop. Now that the 10 years is up in most cars and out of warranty.that is a scam when the dealer knows all these customers will come to the shop (because it cannot be fixed in any auto shop) thereby taking advantage of a safety issue. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercedes Benz E500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the brake pedal was engaged and failed to respond as the brake system warning light illuminated. The contact was able to avoid an accident. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sbc unit needed to replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, the contact stated that while driving at a various speeds, a fuel odor emitted inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired two separate times however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the reserve tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the brake warning indicator illuminated. The brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when the pedal was depressed and failed to respond. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the engine was turned off. After restarting, the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the sensotronic brake control would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,103. ...updated 04/26/16 the consumer stated the manufacturer denied assistance due to the vehicle being out of warranty.
While traveling along a 2 lane highway in a snow storm, the sbc pump failed and caused the ABS to fail as well as the brakes to barely work. The subsequent skid forced a very close call with a fully laden logging truck, and could have easily been a fatal accident were it not for good luck. Under NHTSA recall 2004 050014, and recall campaign 2005070007 apr06 by Mercedes, the sbc pump failure is a known safety issue. The local Mercedes Benz has offered to sell me a new one for $1700 as Mercedes Benz USA is not willing to replace this failed part under the recall as they only offer a 10 year window. Isn't a safety recall a recall? Brakes are a vital aspect of safety...
Turning into a shopping center when all of a sudden my brakes totally went out. I had just a tiny bit of breaks and couldn't stop to make the turn into the shopping center safely. I had to go into the shopping center parking lot and see what happens. What had happened was my spc brakes went out on my Mercedes and I had to get it towed to my mechanic to get it repaired. This was scary as heck sense if I was on the freeway I'm going freeway speeds I probably would have crashed , but since I was slow enough and was able to maneuver I didn't crash. They're definitely should be a recall for this spc braking system.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mercedes Benz E500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. Additionally, the brake warning light illuminated and the brakes failed to respond. The emergency brake was engaged in order to stop the vehicle. The contact then shut off the vehicle and was able to restart after multiple attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Brake complaints in other E500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500?
NHTSA has 26 complaints about the brakes of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500, 18% of the model year's 142 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.