2004 Mercedes Benz E Class Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E Class years
- About as many complaints as other years 7th of 13 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mercedes Benz E Class. That ranks 7th out of 13 E Class model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (3 complaints, 20%), typically at around 80,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 15owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 Mercedes Benz E Class problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 20% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 3 | 20% | 1,700 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 13% | 28,823 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 13% | 4,450 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 13% | 107,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 13% | 3,450 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 7% | 14,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 7% | 14,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 7% | 14,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 7% | 3,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 7% | 120 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Mercedes Benz E Class recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system
Problem: Mercedes-benz is recalling my 2006-2008 m-class, r-class, my 2005-2009 slk-class, my 2005-2008 c-class, my 2003-2004 and 2006-2008 clk-class, my 2003-2008 e-class, my 2004 and 2008 cl-class, my 2008 cls-class, my 2004 and 2007-2008 s-class, my 2003 g-class, and my 2003-2004, 2006 and 2009 sl-class vehicles. A software calibration number (scn) coding received on the affected vehicles during a recent workshop visit was incorrect. Depending on the model year and model affected, the results of an incorrect scn coding can affect a number of vehicle safety and emission functions including the following types of functions: (1) the fuel gauge readings may be incorrect; (2) a stuck fuel-level sensor may not be displayed in the instrument cluster; (3) the obd system may cause the check engine light to illuminate incorrectly; and, (4) the speedometer may be out of tolerance.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the electrical fuel pump may not receive a crash signal that is required for the fuel pump to disconnect and prevent future fuel delivery as designed.
Fix: Dealers will recode the scn free of charge. The recall began on august 30, 2008. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: On certain vehicles, the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system may prematurely shift to the hydraulic back-up function mode, due to deterioration of the wiring harness connection, or due to premature failure of the hydraulic pump.
Risk: In the hydraulic back-up mode, the driver has braking power sufficient to stop the vehicle, although greater brake pedal pressure is required and the brake pedal travel will be noticeably longer.
Fix: Dealers will install a bracket and replacement ground wire to the sbc pump unit on all vehicles free of charge. Additionally dealers will inspect and replace the sbc pump unit in sl vehicles produced during a limited production period. The recall began on august 8, 2005. Owners may contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: On certain vehicles, the electronic monitoring system of the sensotronic brake control (sbc) is designed to monitor the pressure gradient within the high pressure line of the brake system. If an unacceptable pressure gradient is detected, the system will switch, as it is designed to do, into the hydraulic function mode.
Risk: If vehicles are not routinely serviced and have extremely high mileage combined with a high number of brake actuations, or a high brake actuation frequency, the pump motor of the sbc may run out of permissible tolerances, thereby triggering the hydraulic function mode.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the sbc hydraulic unit, replacing it if necessary. The recall began on october 21m 2004. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
Seat belts
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, some seat belt buckles may have a burr on a metal component of the locking mechanism. The presence of the burr could prevent the seat belt from locking under certain circumstances.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belts. Owner notification began on december 22, 2003. Owners should contact mercedes-benz at 1-800-367-6372.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
There's strong gasoline odor from my vehicle whenever i refuel, particular after it's garaged. The smell seems to go away once i used up 1/3 or 1/2 tank. Recently the smell seems to be stronger. I can smell it even when it's not garaged. *tr
My e 320 has gas smell in my garage after refueling since june/2012. The smell is getting even stronger for last a few months. *tr
Had to replace the fuel pump now i have to replace the fuel tank. Can not fill my fuel tank if so the fuel smell fills my home because i park in the garage. Took it to my mechanic and was told to watch for flames it could cause serious problems. Please help with this issue. *tr
I came out to my garage one morning to find a my car wreaking of fuel. I decided to drive the car around for a few to see if it the pungent odor would go dissipate altogether. During this time, i took it to my mechanic to let him do a quick once-over before he left for the day. He stated that there…
After refueling and filling the fuel tank, a strong odor of gasoline emits from the outside of the car and inside the car. After checking online, previous complaints of fuel level sending unit seal failure causing pooling of gasoline around the sending unit next to electrical connectors and…
Other Mercedes Benz E Class years
← 2003 E Class · 2005 E Class →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 E Class | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 E Class | 10 | 1 |
| 2005 E Class | 9 | 3 |
| 2004 | 15 | 4 |
| 2003 E Class | 45 | 4 |
| 2002 E Class | 8 | 0 |
| 2001 E Class | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 E Class | 34 | 0 |
| 1999 E Class | 13 | 1 |
| 1998 E Class | 24 | 0 |
| 1997 E Class | 38 | 1 |
| 1996 E Class | 16 | 1 |
| 1995 E Class | 21 | 1 |
See all Mercedes Benz E Class problems by year, every Mercedes Benz model, or the Mercedes Benz VIN decoder.
Similar Mercedes Benz models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mercedes Benz E Class?
Owners most often report fuel/propulsion system, power train, air bags problems. The top one, fuel/propulsion system, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Mercedes Benz E Class?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 Mercedes Benz E Class a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E Class model years, the 2004 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.