2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55 Problems

What owners report

Nearly all sampled complaints for this model year concern a gasoline smell and leaks around the fuel tank and fuel sending units under the rear seat, usually appearing after refueling and fading once the tank drops below about three-quarters full. Reports span roughly 35,000 to 200,000 miles, so the pattern shows up at low mileage as well as on higher-mileage cars, and many owners describe repeated repairs. Remaining complaints are scattered across air suspension, brakes, and transmission, with too few reports to see a pattern.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the sending units under rear seat

   • 87 complaints (78%)
   • median 94,761 mi at 9.4 yrs old (76 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $2,250 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2011–2021

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside and outside the car shortly after filling up, sometimes with visible fuel pooling on top of the fuel pump and sending unit assemblies found after lifting the rear seat cushion. Several report that fuel soaked the seat foam and insulation, and that the odor lingered after the hardware was replaced. According to the complaints, dealers variously replaced sending units, hoses, or the entire tank at costs owners often quote in the hundreds to low thousands of dollars, and some were told the smell was normal for the model or that nothing could be done. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 150,000 miles, most often just after a fill-up and clearing as the tank level drops.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Before buying, fill the tank past three-quarters and check for a gas smell in the cabin and around the rear wheel arches, then lift the rear seat cushion and look for staining or pooled fuel near the sending unit access covers. Ask for records of any fuel tank, sending unit, or fuel filter module work already performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2004 mercedes benz e55. I am reporting a very strong gas odor in the cabin, as well as the exterior of the vehicle especially after fueling the vehicle. The appropriate recall was done on my car in 2008 and the same parts are failing. The smell of gas in the cabin is overwhelming!!! Something needs to be done about this ongoing issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10652925, filed 2014-11, 126,000 miles

   “Reference NHTSA action number: pe12001 after filling the gas tank, a smell of gas was noticed in the garage. Upon backing out of the garage onto my sloped driveway, gas was observed to be leaking from under the car onto my driveway and street. After about 50 miles of driving, the smell of gas no longer was present and no leak was noticed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10467120, filed 2012-07, 103,200 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank leaks and check-engine light after refueling

   • 34 complaints (31%)
   • median 96,981 mi at 9.4 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2020

   Some owners describe fuel dripping or pouring from the top or underside of the tank after a fill-up, sometimes leaving a puddle under the car, and trace it to cracks or a leaking seal on the tank rather than the sending units. Others report a check-engine light for an evaporative emissions leak that appears when the tank is full and clears once the level drops, with owners having replaced the gas cap and charcoal canister without resolving it. Complaints describe tank replacement as the repair, with some noting it requires substantial rear-end disassembly. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 135,000 miles, typically after filling the tank beyond half to three-quarters.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look underneath the rear of the car for fuel staining or a damp tank surface, and scan for stored evaporative-emission fault codes. Ask whether the fuel tank and the fuel filter module service campaign were ever addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Gas smell in car so went to shop for inspection. Found gas tank would not hold vacuum and that it was leaking with gas pooling around tank below rear seat. I understand there may be a class action suit regarding this issue and would like to find out how to recover the over $4000 in expenses to repair my gas tank. A gas tank should not leak and need replacing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10678258, filed 2015-01, 36,323 miles

   “After filling the gas tack - I started smelling fuel in the garage. I didn't see a gas leak on the floor but the smell of fuel was very strong. This happened multiple times over the course of the next month. It would go away after 2-3 gallons of fuel were burnt off. I believe there is a defect in the gas tank assembly as I found many other e55 owners with similar issues.”

   NHTSA complaint #10651735, filed 2014-10, 55,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Air suspension dropping or failing

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the rear of the car suddenly dropping onto the tires, sometimes while driving, and a dash message warning about the air suspension with the system no longer rising at startup. Complaints also describe intermittent lowering at varying speeds. In the reports given, the affected components were diagnosed but the repairs were often not carried out at the time of filing. Reported from about 80,000 miles upward, including one case past 190,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car and watch it rise to normal height, then let it sit overnight and check whether either corner sags. Ask whether the air struts or compressor have been replaced and whether any suspension fault codes are stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Started smelling fuel had 1/2 tank and thought something was wrong so I stopped to fill tank. Smell was so strong after tank was full I couldn't breathe and didn't leave station for over an hour. I thought car might explode. I finally found issue cause on a forum bad fuel senders. I cant believe mercedes told me its not covered under emission warranty. Im thinking of suing them because I know that the emissions warranty is not expired.”

   NHTSA complaint #10587171, filed 2014-05, 94,522 miles

   “When you filled the tank up at any time, there would be a horrendous raw fuel smell until the fuel level dropped off of full. It was so bad I had to park the car outside instead of in the garage for fear of a fire starting and a subsequent explosion. I took it to the dealer and I had an extended warranty. The deductible was $200. They ended up having to replace the entire fuel tank, fuel pump and all related items to an updated model to get rid of the problem. I am still out the $200 deductible for my extended warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10450013, filed 2012-03, 67,000 miles

Buying note. The fuel smell and leak reports dominate this model year, so a pre-purchase inspection should include a fill-up test and a look under the rear seat before any money changes hands. Also budget for air suspension and brake work on a car of this age, and get receipts for any prior fuel-system repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.