Mercedes Benz E500 Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 157 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Mercedes Benz E500 across 7 model years. The 2004 model year has the most (56). The words owners use most often: “fuel tank” (27% of reports).
- 157fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $2,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 33%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Fuel tank: mentioned in 43 of 157 complaints (27%)
- Strong odor: mentioned in 19 of 157 complaints (12%)
- Inside outside: mentioned in 16 of 157 complaints (10%)
- Smell gasoline: mentioned in 13 of 157 complaints (8%)
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 Mercedes Benz E500 at $2,100, and half of them between $1,250 and $2,850.
Based on 17 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 132 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 157 complaints, 1 an injury.
Mercedes Benz E500 fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the Mercedes Benz E500. 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.
Approximately in March 2026, I started noticing a very strong gasoline odor coming from my 2004 Mercedes-Benz E 500 4-matic with original miles approximately 56,300. The fuel odor always got stronger whenever I would fill up the gas tank. The history on my car is such that it has always been garage…
I am submitting this complaint regarding a suspected safety-related defect involving the fuel system of my Mercedes-Benz vehicle. I have experienced a persistent gasoline odor originating from the vehicle. The presence of fuel odor is not a normal operating condition and reasonably indicates a…
Car smells like gas. Constantly a couple machanic. Did some repairs. But thereâs a small leak as well from a smoke test. Gas leaks in more than one area. Oil leaks everywhere. Evap leak didnât pass smog. Then went to a smog station and repair. Check engine light back on again. I saw Mercedes…
2005 e500 mercedes benz,after full tank of gas I filled. I noticed very strong gas inside my car and outside. It can catch on fired. cause cancer and lung issues.
I have a smell of fuel on the rear driver-side wheel. Seems like there is a fuel leak from either the fuel filter module or it is a tank leak. I took off the rear cushion and we can see and smell fuel visibly on the left side under the seat queshon and over the fuel filter module. Seems like there…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mercedes Benz E500s have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 157 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the Mercedes Benz E500. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mercedes Benz E500 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the Mercedes Benz E500?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,100 (half paid between $1,250 and $2,850), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Mercedes Benz E500?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel tank”, in 43 of 157 complaints, followed by “strong odor” (19).
See all Mercedes Benz E500 problems.