NHTSA Complaint #11192462 — 2004 MERCEDES BENZ E320

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR HAS BECOME STEADILY WORSE AND WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ASSISTANCE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I INQUIRED HOW THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED, I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE DUE TO IMPACT OR TRAUMA (WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY INCIDENT). WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $2,300.00 TO REPAIR VEHICLE. CALLED MB-USA AND ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE FUEL TANK AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST. AS THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE, I HAD THE WORK PERFORMED AND RECEIVED A 10% "GOODWILL" DISCOUNT. PICKED UP VEHICLE AND DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE AND CONTINUED TO SMELL FUEL. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAME TO PICK-UP. ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DID NOT TIGHTEN A CLAMP OR SOMETHING. WE PICKED IT UP AGAIN AND THE ODOR WAS PERSISTENT. IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK AND WE SUBSEQUENTLY TRADED THE VEHICLE IN. BOTTOM LINE.... I DO NOT THINK THAT A FUEL TANK SHOULD FAIL ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. I HAVE THE OLD TANK AND BELIEVE THAT MB SHOULD REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE TANK.