2003 MERCEDES BENZ E320 Engine Problems

REPORT NUMBER: CAL-03-07 NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST

*1. The Fuel Tank and components and/or system failed or malfunctioned. *2. After filling the gas tank, the odor of strong pungent gasoline fumes fills the cabin of the and lingers for some time in the car and garage until the gasoline level goes down after being driven for a few miles. *3The car has been taken to a certified Mercedes Benz Dealership Service Center and was told that the problem was the gas tank and system/components. *4.The car was inspected by a certified Mercedes Benz Dealership Service Center Mechanic *5. There were NO warning lamps or messages on the dashboard or message center on car. The only symptoms of the problem was the strong odor of gasoline fumes after fuel fill ups.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TURNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL OF THE POWER WINDOWS BECAME INOPERATIVE, AS WELL AS THE HORN AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT STOPPING OR SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE A BEEPING SOUND AND THE STOP ENGINE AND BRAKE FAILURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CALLED (MERCEDES-BENZ OF BROOKLYN, NY, 718-258-5100) AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ABS WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

RECENTLY ON TODAY 7-12-16 AT 174,000 MILES THE DISPLAY ON MY 2003 E320 4S MERCEDES BENZ ALL OF A SUDDENLY DISPLAYED AN ILLUMINATED MESSAGE IN BRIGHT WHITE : "BRAKE" SERVICE BRAKE VISIT WORKSHOP. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BUSY MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM EXHIBITED THIS MESSAGE. SHORTLY PRIOR TO THIS MESSAGING, I NOTICE MY BRAKES WERE MORE HARD TO APPLY PRESSURE,. I AM GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING FAST, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS TRAGEDY TO MYSELF AS WELL AS THOSE OTHERS ON THE EXPRESSWAY JUST A AS I WAS. 2. PROBLEM WITH MY GAS TANK AFTER I FILL THE TANK , THE GAS FUMES BECOME SO INTENSE AFTER PARKING THIS VEHICLE INSIDE MY GARAGE. I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WERE A RECALL. IS THIS FUEL SAFETY HAZARD RECALL STILL IN EFFECT? IF SO, WHOM DO I CONTACT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT NO COST TO...

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED. I TRIED TO RESTART IT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT TO NOT AVAIL. IT MAY RESTART AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED OFF (AFTER 20-30 MINUTES) BUT THE PROBLEM REPEATS ITSELF WHEN THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING AND WARM AGAIN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A MALFUNCTION MESSAGE: BATTERY PROTECTION - CONVENTIONAL FUNCTIONS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE DISPLAYS. ONCE AT THE REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY POSSIBLY BE EVEN BEFORE TESTING FOR THE CHECK ENGINE CODE. HE SAID HE'S SEEN THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE PROBLEM CODE DID COME UP WITH A BAD CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AS HE PREDICTED. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS? FORUM WEB SITES AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS ENTRIES FROM OWNERS WITH THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM, AFFECTING SEVERAL MERCEDES MODEL YEARS. I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCEDES BENZ E 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE TWO VALVES AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. *TR