| Issue ID | 1006971 |
| Internal NHTSA # | 10537833 |
| Manufacurer | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. |
| Brand | MERCEDES BENZ |
| Model | E350 |
| Model Year | 2006 |
| File date | 30/07/12 |
| Component | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM |
| Product type code | VEHICLE |
| Description of the problem | I purchased my mercedes e350 in november of 2008. I began noticing a strong fuel odor every time i would fill the tank, which would dissipate after a few days. Since the odor would go away within a few days, i didn't realize that it was a safety concern. I took the car into the mercedes dealership for oil changes and such and they would always mention a long list of items requiring preventative maintenance, but never mentioned anything about the fuel tank (although the gas smell was obvious at times). In june of 2012, my husband began driving the mercedes to work. He smelled the odor immediately upon filling causing him massive headaches. Also, he noticed gas leaking under the car on the driver's side near the rear tire whenever he filled up the tank. A mechanic investigated the problem, and discovered a puddle of gasoline upon removing the rear seat. I could not believe the amount of gasoline that had pooled inside the cabin of the car. It was decided that the sending units needed to be replaced. Mercedes replaced the sending units, and knowingly sent us on our way without correcting the problem. Replacing the sending units did not resolve the issue. Heavy leakage continued, and the odor of gas became overwhelming as the temperatures remained in the 100's. When the car was returned to mercedes, they informed us of a leak in the gas tank and quoted us $2600+ for repairs. The mercedes service technician stated that our problem was not uncommon, especially with the arizona heat. I had been driving the car unknowingly for approximately four years with the fuel tank issue becoming increasingly worse and consequently, my husband and i have been unable to conceive a child. |
| Vehicle Mileage at Failure | |
| Number of Occurences | |
| Source of the issue | NHTSA WEB SITE |
| City and State | PHOENIX, AZ |
| VIN pattern | WDBUF56J86AXXXXXX |
| Was vehicle invloved in a crash? | N |
| Was vehicle involved in a fire? | N |
| Was incedent reported to police? | N |
| Was medical attention required? | |
| Was part original equipment? | |
| No. of injured persons | 0 |
| No. of fatalities | 0 |
| Date of purchase | 07/08/26 |
| Was original owner? | N |
| Anti-lock brakes | N |
| Cruise control | N |
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| Was defective tire repaired? | |
| Date of manufacture | |
| Type of child seat code | |
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| Dealer's name | |
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