NHTSA Complaint #10648291 — 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E320

AT SOME POINT AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MY CAR. IT WAS SO STRONG THAT IT PERMEATED THE ROOMS OF MY HOME CLOSEST TO THE GARAGE WHERE I PARK MY CAR. I LATER REALIZED THE STRONG SMELL OCCURRED AFTER FILLING UP MY TANK, AND DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER THE TANK REACHED ABOUT HALF FULL. SINCE THE FUMES ARE GREATEST WHEN MY TANK IS MORE THAN HALF FULL, I LIVE WITH FILLING IT HALF WAY OR LESS. WHEN I HAPPEN TO FORGET AND FILL THE TANK TO CAPACITY, I HAVE TO PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE MY GARAGE, AND DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. THE FUMES INSIDE THE CAR ARE UNBEARABLE, AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF MY SON. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I ASKED A MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO. I NEVER HEARD BACK. I CALLED AGAIN A FEW DAYS AGO. I TOLD THEM THE ISSUE, AND ASKED WHAT THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS COULD BE, AND WHAT THE APPROXIMATE REPAIR COST WILL BE. I WAS TOLD THEY'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS THAT CAUSE THE FUEL SMELL: A LEAK IN SOME PART OF THE FUEL SYSTEM (CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT); AND, THE GAS TANK ITSELF. DEPENDING ON THE CAUSE, THE REPAIR COULD RUN ANYWHERE FROM $600+ TO $2500. NOTE: DATE OF INCIDENT AND VEHICLE MILEAGE ARE APPROXIMATIONS. I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH THIS AWHILE. I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER HOW LONG. *TR