2003 Mercedes Benz E320 Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 104,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “fuel tank” (28% of reports).
- 71fuel/propulsion system complaints
- 104,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,950typical repair cost reported by owners
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel tank: mentioned in 20 of 71 complaints (28%)
- Smell gasoline: mentioned in 9 of 71 complaints (13%)
- Sending unit: mentioned in 8 of 71 complaints (11%)
- Inside outside: mentioned in 7 of 71 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 at $3,950, and half of them between $2,850 and $4,300.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2018), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 60 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 71 complaints, 1 a fire.
Mercedes Benz E320 fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 E320 | 2 | 25% | 53,300 |
| 2008 E320 | 1 | 10% | 115,000 |
| 2007 E320 | 4 | 24% | 21,458 |
| 2006 E320 | 4 | 10% | 115,000 |
| 2005 E320 | 81 | 35% | 98,000 |
| 2004 E320 | 79 | 39% | 96,500 |
| 2003 E320 | 71 | 33% | 104,000 |
| 2000 E320 | 3 | 7% | 217,193 |
| 1999 E320 | 3 | 4% | 118,000 |
| 1998 E320 | 1 | 3% | 149,000 |
| 1996 E320 | 2 | 4% | 127,000 |
| 1995 E320 | 2 | 2% | 127,832 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I inherited my dad's 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 when he passed away last year. He kept the car in pristine condition. About a month ago while driving it, I noticed a strong smell of gasoline in the cabin of the vehicle. The odor is strong just after filling the tank, and then it disappears at appox. 3…
*1. The Fuel Tank and components and/or system failed or malfunctioned. *2. After filling the gas tank, the odor of strong pungent gasoline fumes fills the cabin of the and lingers for some time in the car and garage until the gasoline level goes down after being driven for a few miles. *3The car…
After fueling up, a smell of gas occurs. Slight gas puddle forms under the car after every fuel up. Drops gas gauge down and after that no more smell of fuel but still slight puddle of gas after leaving the car parked. Noticed it about a month ago and it seems to get worse. Doesn't seem safe…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Mercedes Benz E320s have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 71 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 (33% of the 214 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 104,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,950 (half paid between $2,850 and $4,300), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2003 Mercedes Benz E320?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel tank”, in 20 of 71 complaints, followed by “smell gasoline” (9).
Other 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 problems
See all 2003 Mercedes Benz E320 problems or fuel/propulsion system problems across all E320 years.