NHTSA Complaint #11133569 — 2007 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

WHEN FILLING THE TANK, THERE IS AN UNUSUAL SMELL OF GAS THROUGHT THE VEHICLE. WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO GAS BEING ON MY HAND SINCE I LIVE IN A STATE WHERE MOST GAS STATION ARE SELF SERVICE. LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AFTER VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE A FAULT FUEL PUMP, I STARTED LOOKING ON LINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR, BUT NOT THE VEHICLE ID NUMBER. THE MANUFACTURER DID EXTEND WARRANTY ON SOME VEHICLES, BUT NOT TP ALL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. I DO NOT SEE HOW ALL VEHICLES COULD EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT RECEIVED THE SAME COVERAGE. ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED FOR THE STRICT EMISSION STANDARD THEY HAVE IN CALIFORNIA, I STILL BELIEVE THEY USE THE SAME GAS TANK ON THE SAME MODEL YEAR. TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, IT WOULD COST OVER 3000 DOLLARS DUE TO THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP ARE ONE COMPLETE UNIT. WHILE THIS MAY SEEM IRRELEVANT TO SOME, I STARTED ENVISIONING GETTING HIT IN THE REAR OR SOME ONE SMOKING IN OR NEAR MY CAR THAT COULD RESULT IN A MASSIVE FIREBALL OF DESTRUCTION. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.