2007 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E63 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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My 2007 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, which has developed a fuel system defect resulting in a leak. This issue poses a significant safety risk, including the potential for fire and explosion, and is directly related to a known defect that Mercedes-Benz USA has previously acknowledged through an extended warranty campaign.Safety Risk: Fuel system leaks pose an imminent danger, including the potential for fire and explosion, to vehicle occupants and others on the road. Manufacturer Acknowledgment: The warranty extension campaign underscores Mercedes-Benz’s recognition of this defect as a manufacturing issue, Repeat Occurrence: Having experienced this defect in my previous 2005 E500 4MATIC and now my 2007 E63 AMG, it is evident this issue is systemic and not isolated.Ethical and Legal Responsibility: Safety defects do not have an expiration date. Mercedes-Benz has an obligation to address this issue regardless of warranty status.Mercedes-Benz USA recognized the severity of this defect by extending the warranty coverage to 15 years and unlimited mileage for “Covered Fuel Tank Components” in specific models, including the 2003–2009 E-Class (W211). I received a notice in 2015 outlining this warranty extension, which covered the fuel tank, fuel filter/sender, fuel pump, and all related gaskets, seals, and retention rings. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz USA formally notified the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), specifically the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), of this extended warranty campaign in 2014. While the ODI concluded that the nature of the leaks "does not appear to present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety," I strongly disagree. Any defect involving fuel system leaks represents a substantial safety hazard, including the potential for fire, explosion, and environmental harm.

VIA REGULAR MAIL AND ONLINE SUBMISSION RE: VIN # [XXX] – Mercedes Benz 2007 E 63 Dear NHTSA – We would like to bring to your attention the failure of the Fort Lauderdale Mercedes Benz dealership to properly honor the repair and replacement of parts and labor covered under a recall for Fuel Tank Components for MODEL 211 (E-Class) years 2003-2009. A copy of the Recall notice which provided for an extension of the Recall thru 01/31/2021 is attached. Also attached please find a recent repair invoice for the respective repairs which should have been repaired under this recall. Mercedes Benz undertook a “partial” repair of the parts covered under this recall and at the time of that repair failed to properly repair all of the parts related to this issue/recall. Instead, they only replaced one fuel tank/fuel pump while the extended warranty coverage was in place and left the issue to materialize/manifest in the remaining fuel pump/tank despite the fact that conditions indicated it would likely fail in the near term at the time of the partial repair. Of further concern is the fact that an active Recall for the exact same item exists and remains active for later model years. Clearly, they have not fixed the cause of failure for this vital car part and continue to place drivers/owners at considerable risk. NHTSA – ODI It is incredulous to me, a 25+ year dedicated Mercedes Benz customer that an experienced dealership would attempt to evade responsibility for such a significant safety recall item. When this issue exists, the smell and fumes of petroleum/gas can be easily smelled from the exterior of the car. If you were to light a cigarette – you would likely cause the car to explode. When this issue existed, the interior cabin of the car would fill with petroleum/gas fumes again placing the driver at considerable risk. Please review the attached documentation and require Mercedes Benz to acknowledge that their half-hearted repair done during the recall INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

THE PROTECTIVE LACQUER FINISH HAS FAILED CAUSING WHEEL CORROSION AND RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT STARTING AROUND THE WHEEL HUBS. THIS CORROSION IS LIKE A METAL CANCER THAT IS STARTING TO DETERIORATE THE PROPERTIES OF THE METALS AND ALLOYS. THIS IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE WHEELS. THIS MFG DEFECT POSES SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS AND IS A PRODUCT LIABILITY THAT DAIMLER NORTH AMERICA CORPORATION DBA MERCEDES BENZ USA'S HAS KNOWN ABOUT BUT YET HAS DONE NOTHING. THIS DEFECT HAS AFFECTED SEVERAL OTHER MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES OF THE AMG PERFORMANCE LINE. OTHER MODELS INCLUDE SLK 55 AND SLK 350 FROM 2000-2009. IN ADDITION TO RUST AND CORROSION FORMING FROM THE INSIDE OUT ON SOME WHEELS, THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE WHEELS TO THE HUB ASSEMBLY TEND TO RUST AS WELL FURTHERING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. NOTE: VEHICLE IS USUALLY PARKED AND COVERED IN A CLIMATICALLY CONTROLLED GARAGE WHICH IS NOT EXPOSED TO THE USUAL ELEMENTS OF NATURE.

I FILLED UP THE GAS, TOOK A SHORT DRIVE HOME, AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. NEXT DAY, THERE IS A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN THE GARAGE AS WELL AS INSIDE THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED WHENEVER I FILLED UP THE GAS SINCE THEN.