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EnginePart report

2005 Mercedes-Benz E500 Engine Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
6%of 140 total for the year
Median mileage
122,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the engine of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500, 6% of the 140 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 122,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was traveling at about 60mph and started to slow to turn off the highway. Suddenly a red brake warning light came on and it took tremendous pressure to slow the car down and I overshot the turn. Then the car had no power. I was 36 miles from my home. I limped at 5-20 mph to a friends house and had the car towed to my home. There was absolutely no warning of any kind of brake problem. The car was driving just fine before this happened. I believe it could have been a much worse situation had I been in any kind of traffic.”

NHTSA complaint #11475607, filed 2022-07, 156,000 miles

“I took my car 2005 E500 for regular maintenance at the dealer and was told the ball bearings needed to be replaced in july 2011. Then after checking everything out, the dealer told me the fuel ring under the seat needs to be replaced. Cost usd 600. Also there was gasoline seeping out of car onto the driveway when car was parked. I started smelling gasoline smell in march 2012. I took the car again to the dealership in july 2012 and this time they replaced the fuel system. Cost usd 2100. There were puddles of gasoline in my garage after the service. I was told there might be gasoline smell. …”

NHTSA complaint #10550436, filed 2013-10, 51,000 miles

“Suffocating oil smell inside and outside automobile. Pregnant wife became nauseous and had to open all windows and sunroof. Passenger front suspension has liquid splattering on underneath of engine hood. Suspension makes extreme loud knocking sound when going up hill or over a bump.”

NHTSA complaint #10732039, filed 2015-07, 122,000 miles

“On three separate occasions, the engine suddenly shut off as the vehicle was decelerating to a stop. Twice it occurred as the vehicle was coming to a stop at a stoplight and once it happened as the vehicle was on an off-ramp, exiting I-95. On the first two occasions, at the stoplights, the vehicle restarted immediately. On the third occasion, on the off-ramp, the vehicle would not restart until it was allowed to cool for at least five minutes. This was particularly dangerous on the off-ramp. …”

NHTSA complaint #10731830, filed 2015-07, 134,750 miles

“Code: 4a30 engine control module not identified or incorrect control module. Code: 54f0 can communication with control unit transmission control is sporadically disturbed. …”

NHTSA complaint #10553464, filed 2013-11, 76,845 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200612%
200586%
200475%
200311%

Other parts of the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500

Fuel system
76 complaintsBrakes
38 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2005 Mercedes-Benz E500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology