2004 Mercedes Benz 211 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns
2
66.7%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2013
2
2014
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2013
2
2014
1
2013: 2; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS FROM REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. FUEL LEAK FOUND UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO AUTO SHOP; MECHANIC FOUND A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER/PUMP. REPLACED SENDER/PUMP. RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO STRONG FUEL SMELL AND NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAK AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SHOP FOR FUEL LEAK ISSUE AND THIS IS ALSO MY SECOND FILING A COMPLAINT VIA THIS AGENCY. I THINK 211S HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM. I DON'T SEE RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL...THIS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE TO THE OWNER AND PUBLIC, …
I HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED ON FUEL LEAK MARKS AROUND THE TANK. *TR
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
66.7%Usable mileage2 / 3 records
100.0%Valid incident date3 / 3 records
100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates3 / 3 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2003
2004
2005
Service Brakes
222.2%ODI 10459610
DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM OF RESERVOIR, WHICH IS PART OF THE SENSOTRONIC BRAKE SYSTEM (SBC). THERE WAS A SYSTEM RECALL #2004 050014, FOR THE SBC. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT TO REPAIR, WHICH IS A KNOW FACT FOR MANY OWNERS TO HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. DUE TO THE VAST AMOUNT OF OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE, REGARDING THE RESERVOIR AND SBC UNIT, THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT UP TO MERCEDES BENZ USA. MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS REFUSE TO REPLACE RESERVOIR, BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT TO BE A DIFFERENT ITEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE TWO I…
AFTER A GASOLINE FILL-UP A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IS NOTICED OUTSIDE THE CAR AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED. THIS CONTINUES UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 1/8 TANK OF GASOLINE IS USED. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT IT CANNOT BE PARKED IN A CLOSED GARAGE FOR FEAR OF A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *TR
VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS FROM REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. FUEL LEAK FOUND UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO AUTO SHOP; MECHANIC FOUND A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER/PUMP. REPLACED SENDER/PUMP. RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO STRONG FUEL SMELL AND NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAK AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SHOP FOR FUEL LEAK ISSUE AND THIS IS ALSO MY SECOND FILING A COMPLAINT VIA THIS AGENCY. I THINK 211S HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM. I DON'T SEE RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL...THIS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE TO THE OWNER AND PUBLIC, …
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2005 MERCEDES E55 AMG (AKA 211 & W211). I HAVE EXPERIENCED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AFTER REFUELING MY CAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE SMELL OF GAS IS STRONG NOT ONLY INSIDE THE CAR, BUT FILLS THE ENTIRE GARAGE AND FUMES ARE NOTICED INSIDE THE HOUSE AS WELL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A LEAKING FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILTER MODULES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL STICKER REFERENCING 2008020001 FROM 2009 ON THE UNDER SIDE OF MY HOOD. THIS IS FROM A PREVIOUS ATTEMPT BY MERCEDES TO FIX THIS…
I HAVE REALIZED FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW THAT MY CAR HAD INSIDE GAS FUMES AND I WAS LOOSING GAS, AS WELL AS MY GAS FUEL INDICATOR BEING OFF, BUT I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY, UNTIL RECENTLY. MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WHEN I FILL MY GAS TANK, IT LEAKS. I RECENTLY HAD A MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS LEAK IN THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS LEAKY/BAD SEALS AND THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AND FUEL SENDER NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE RECOMMENDED WORK IS VERY EXPENSIVE, WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. I INQUIRED AT THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP AND WAS T…
I HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED ON FUEL LEAK MARKS AROUND THE TANK. *TR
THERE ARE WIRING DEFECTIVE FOR 2003 MB E320 AND MAY BE OTHER YEARS AND MODELS, THAT USE SINGLE BOARD FOR TAIL LIGHTS (BRAKE, NIGHT LIGHT, SIGNAL, REVERSE AS ONE BOARD). IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH REPLACE THE BOARD ($65/BOARD OR $130 FOR TWO PLUS $125 LABOR), IT WILL GO OUT LESS THAN ONE DAY USE. IT IS DANGERS THAT STOP LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, AND WILL EVENTUALLY INJURY OR FATALITY WILL OCCUR. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS NO INDICATION FROM THEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WIRING HARNESSES AND WIRES FOR TAIL …
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF RANDOMLY AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY AND I WILL LOSE STEERING AND MY BRAKING ABILITIES. THE SBC PUMP ALREADY HAD BEEN REPLACED AND MERCEDES HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO REIMBURSE ME, MULTIPLE AREAS OF THE WIRING HARNESS WILL CRUMBLE IN YOUR HAND INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE TRUNK HAD PINCHED WIRES SHORTING OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I HAD BEEN IN THE GARAGE AT THAT TIME TO WITNESS AND PUT IT OUT. THE CAR WILL START UP AND DRIVE AND STALL OUT RANDOMLY NOW AT ANY SPEEDS OR EVEN BEING STOPPED.
THERE ARE WIRING DEFECTIVE FOR 2003 MB E320 AND MAY BE OTHER YEARS AND MODELS, THAT USE SINGLE BOARD FOR TAIL LIGHTS (BRAKE, NIGHT LIGHT, SIGNAL, REVERSE AS ONE BOARD). IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH REPLACE THE BOARD ($65/BOARD OR $130 FOR TWO PLUS $125 LABOR), IT WILL GO OUT LESS THAN ONE DAY USE. IT IS DANGERS THAT STOP LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING, AND WILL EVENTUALLY INJURY OR FATALITY WILL OCCUR. MERCEDES BENZ WAS NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS NO INDICATION FROM THEM TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS WIRING HARNESSES AND WIRES FOR TAIL …
AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK AND FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AFTER UNTIL THE FUEL LEVEL IS USED DOWN TO ALMOST HALF FULL, THERE IS S VERY STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL COMING FROM UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND WHEN PARKED, FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHEN IT IS PARKED ESPECIALLY IN THE GARAGE. *TR
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Fuel System, Gasoline
Too few reports for a range
79,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10522443 · 79,000 mi
VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS FROM REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. FUEL LEAK FOUND UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO AUTO SHOP; MECHANIC FOUND A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER/PUMP. REPLACED SENDER/PUMP. RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO STRONG FUEL SMELL AND NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAK AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SHOP FOR FUEL LEAK ISSUE AND THIS IS ALSO MY SECOND FILING A COMPLAINT VIA THIS AGENCY. I THINK 211S HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM. I DON'T SEE RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL...THIS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE TO THE OWNER AND PUBLIC, …
I HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED ON FUEL LEAK MARKS AROUND THE TANK. *TR
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2004: 0 complaints · 2005: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2004
0
0
0
2005
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2004
3
0
0
2005
13
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Fuel System, Gasoline
Fuel/Propulsion System
Fuel System, Gasoline
—
0
Fuel/Propulsion System
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Fuel smell or leak mentions
3 mentions · 100.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 96,000 mi (2 usable records).
ODI 10522443 · 79,000 mi
VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS FROM REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. FUEL LEAK FOUND UNDER VEHICLE. TOOK CAR TO AUTO SHOP; MECHANIC FOUND A DEFECTIVE FUEL SENDER/PUMP. REPLACED SENDER/PUMP. RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO STRONG FUEL SMELL AND NO VISIBLE FUEL LEAK AFTER THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I TOOK THIS CAR TO A SHOP FOR FUEL LEAK ISSUE AND THIS IS ALSO MY SECOND FILING A COMPLAINT VIA THIS AGENCY. I THINK 211S HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL SYSTEM. I DON'T SEE RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC MODEL...THIS A SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUE TO THE OWNER AND PUBLIC, …
MY CAR SMELL GAS STRONGLY WHEN I PUT FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR ME N FAMILY. I NEED RECALL FOR MERCEDES DEALER. I READ TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT E SERIES IN THE WEB. THANKS.... *TR
I HAVE A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED ON FUEL LEAK MARKS AROUND THE TANK. *TR