2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 fuel/propulsion system problems
56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the fuel/propulsion system on the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 — 39% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“Approximately in March 2026, I started noticing a very strong gasoline odor coming from my 2004 Mercedes-Benz E 500 4-matic with original miles approximately 56,300. The fuel odor always got stronger whenever I would fill up the gas tank. The history on my car is such that it has always been garage…”
filed May 26, 2026
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a suspected safety-related defect involving the fuel system of my Mercedes-Benz vehicle. I have experienced a persistent gasoline odor originating from the vehicle. The presence of fuel odor is not a normal operating condition and reasonably indicates a…”
filed Jan 20, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Fuel/propulsion System problems in other E500 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 E500 | 16 | 32% |
| 2005 E500 | 55 | 39% |
| 2003 E500 | 27 | 22% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.