2005 Mercedes Benz E Class
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › E Class › 2005
These records cover every 2005 Mercedes Benz E Class. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 2005 Mercedes Benz E Class. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
Remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
Remedy
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.
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 and remedy
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.
Remedy
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.
Owner complaints
9 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
The car has a strong odor of gasoline both inside and outside of their vehicle, particularly after refueling. it appears that the gasket on the fuel tank leaks. *tr
- Fuel/propulsion system
During the past 2-3 years, my wife and I began to notice a gasoline vapors in our closed garage immediately after our 2005 E320 had been refueled. we also noticed that after a few days driving, the gasoline vapors, diminished. more recently, it also seemed that the gasoline odor has been stronger…
During the past 2-3 years, my wife and I began to notice a gasoline vapors in our closed garage immediately after our 2005 E320 had been refueled. we also noticed that after a few days driving, the gasoline vapors, diminished. more recently, it also seemed that the gasoline odor has been stronger after refueling. in addition, my wife, while driving this car, has recently begun to smell gasoline vapors from inside the car, and while driving. during a recent visit to my dealer for servicing, I asked them to look into the issue. they removed the rear seat, filled the fuel tank, and then discovered gasoline leaking and puddling around the fuel sending unit. to correct the problem, the dealer told me to either 1) replace the original fuel tank with a slightly redesigned tank, or 2) when refueling, fill the gas tank to a level less than completely full. they admitted that the existing design probably contributed to the leaking. the dealer stated also that a replacement fuel tank would cost us around $2,600 and the cost would not be covered under any vehicle warranty, including the emissions warranty. This car was purchased new in dec 2004 and now has 75000 mi. in another 2 weeks, it will be 8 years old. my greatest concern IS that the gas tank design and subsequent gasoline leakage could contribute to a vehicle fire and serious bodily injury if the vehicle were involved in a collision. this IS not to minimize the impact of having to breath gasoline vapors that are inside the vehicle and while driving it. we believe there IS a serious design defect, and that it should be remedied by mercedes-benz and at their cost as soon as possible. further, for us to not ?fill-up? The fuel tank at any time, does not correct the flawed design, thus IS not really an ownership option. *Tr
- Fuel/propulsion system
We first noticed a strong fuel smell when the vehicle was filled up, but shortly after we will the vehicle fuel started to drip onto the pavement near the drivers side rear wheel area. *tr
- Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel tank was leaking under the back seat when fill up tank. *tr
- Fuel/propulsion system
I filled my gas tank and the next day I smelled gas both near my drivers side wheel well and inside the car in the rear seat area. I filled the car as I always did until click and I am sure none spilled, as I am very fussy about my car. I cannot put the car in the garage as it fills the garage with…
I filled my gas tank and the next day I smelled gas both near my drivers side wheel well and inside the car in the rear seat area. I filled the car as I always did until click and I am sure none spilled, as I am very fussy about my car. I cannot put the car in the garage as it fills the garage with fumes. This has happened twice now upon fueling up. It never happened before. I have seen where others I know have the same type of problem with the same model mercedes. *tr
- Exterior lighting
Poor visibility at night secondary to light lens fogging deterioration of plastic lens material necessitating using high beams all the time. *tr
- Suspension › Front
On or about june 22, 2009, I was driving home on interstate 64 when the left front spring broke for no apparent reason. I did not hit a pot hole and the car was not involved in an accident. This caused the left front shock to immediately break. The front end of the car fell onto the tire while…
On or about june 22, 2009, I was driving home on interstate 64 when the left front spring broke for no apparent reason. I did not hit a pot hole and the car was not involved in an accident. This caused the left front shock to immediately break. The front end of the car fell onto the tire while driving 70 mph. I had to have the vehicle towed. The mercedes dealer could offer no explanation for this problem. I corresponded by e-mail with 2 mercedes representatives who told me they could do nothing for me because the car was out of warranty. The warranty was out at 50,000.00 miles and the car had approx. 56,000.00 miles at the time. I explained that I knew the car was out of warranty when I called, however, I consider this to be a premature failure that could have caused an accident resulting in serious injury or death. The mercedes reps told me I purchased the car as a used vehicle and they could do nothing and hoped that my confidence in mercedes would be restored as I continued drive the vehicle. the mercedes dealership told me the car would not be safe unless I replaced the spring and shock on both sides. The repair bill was just under $1,800.00. *Tr
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20 mph the engine stalled. the vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. upon inspection, the dealership was unable to duplicate the problem and no repairs were made. the manufacturer was alerted. the consumer stated the air bag and engine light illuminated. Updated 03/28/06. *Jb
- Unknown or other
I have a mercedes-benz e-class cdi that has a defect in the braking system. this IS not a safety issue, but rather the brakes make a high pitched squeaking noise when applied. I have been told that this IS a known problem in germany and that the noise cannot be fixed. This problem began within 1 month of the purchase of this vehicle. Purchase date 4-29-05
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty…
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10136029SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink
- 10037653Mercedes-benz: there are electrical production quality issues that cause the air bag warning light to illuminate.
- 10030964Mercedes: the limited warranty on the sbc hydraulic unit for models 211, model 219 and models 230 was extended from the original 4 years/50,000 miles to 10 years with no mileage limitation. The sbc hydraulic unit extended limited warranty applies to all conditions that justify the replacement of the sbc hydraulic unit under the standard warranty terms and conditions.
- 10025826Mercedes benz: model 211.026, 056, 065, 070, 072, 076, 077, 082, 083, 087, 090, 256, 265, 276, 277, 282, 283, 287 equipped with option code 615 (bi-xenon). Headlamp range adjustment nonfunctional with dtc codes 9010, 9011, 9012, 9013 or 9024 (up to vin b111276); parking light led nonfunctional (up to vin b100720).
- 10025825Mercedes-benz: model 211.026, 065, 070, 076, 082, 083, 265, 276, 282, 283 (e-class). Vin a564853 and x161341; equipped with bi-xenon and curve illumination. Curve illumination nonfunctional.
- 10025554Mercedes benz service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Check fuel filter module assembly and repair or replace if necessary. Models 211 and 219 AMG. Model years 2003-2006. Csc was received.
- 10020183Dirt can collect in the rear sleeves on the front axle carrier. Clean sleeves on front axle carrier and install new bolts and washers.
- 10020181The tirefit hose connector may not screw onto the tire valve with an air tight seal. In case of a flat tire, the customer may not be able to inflate the spare tire using tirefit.
- 10019822Inspect transmission pilot bushing at electrochydraulic unit and replace if necessary. The transmission pilot bushing may have been installed on the control units with non-tempered sealing rings which may cause a small leak to occur. Updated 04-11-07.
- 10019128Steering wheel twitch during brake application. Various models including mercedes benz 2006 model 230.
- 10017495Parking brake fails to release / difficult to open.
- 10016691Esp visit workshop displayed in instrument cluster.
- 10016646Implausible or illogical messages can appear in the instrument cluster.
- 10016632The alternator regulator may fail to prevent voltage values ranging beyond the specified tolerance limits.
- 10015071Trunk lid opens or closes too quickly while operating with remote trunk lid control button.
- 10014573Activation of the sensotronic brake control (sbc) system with das software 02/05. Mercedes-benz models 199, 211, 219, 230 my 2003-2006.
- 10014548Rough downshifting when accelerating. Various models including 2005 mercedes-benz 219 and 220.
- 10012827Seat belt reminder telltale light illuminated and chime sounding when passenger's seat not occupied. Update.
- 10012823Inspect high pressure fuel pump and replace fuel system components; inspect high pressure fuel pump and replace fuel pump.
- 10011739Voluntary recall campaign sensotronic brake control system.
- 10010822Consumer shutoff displayed in instrument cluster while driving.
- 10010512Flash central gateway (cgw).
Every Mercedes Benz E Class model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.