NHTSA Complaint #10622247 — 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55

THE FUEL SENDING UNITS UNDER THE BACK SEAT WERE LEAKING FUEL DIRECTLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FLOOR MATS WERE SOAKED WITH GASOLINE AND THE FOAM INSULATION UNDER THE REAR SEAT, AND THE FOAM IN THE REAR SEAT SOAKED UP GASOLINE FROM THE LEAKING FUEL SENDING UNITS. THE SENDING UNITS WERE REPLACED BY THE MERCEDES DEALER AT A HIGH COST (A LITTLE OVER FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS). OVER A YEAR LATER, WITH LOTS OF BAKING SODA, ODOR KILLERS, AND LEAVING THE SEAT OUT OF THE CAR WITH A FAN ON IT FOR TWO WEEKS, THE ODOR IS STILL STRONG IN THE CAR. PROBABLY THE ONLY REAL FIX WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE REAR SEAT, THE CARPETING ON THE FLOOR, THE MATS, AND THE INSULATION UNDER THE REAR SEAT. THE COST TO DO SO WOULD BE HIGH. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND OWN UP TO THEIR PROBLEM. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ANY SPARK NEAR THE FLOOR OR BOTTOM OF THE REAR SEAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE. LUCKILY, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. *TR