AI Damage2004 Mercedes-Benz E500: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 filed 142 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 142
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 39% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 16% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 5% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Engine and cooling 2% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 56 complaints (39% of all).
- Fuel system: 31 complaints (22% of all).
- Service brakes: 26 complaints (18% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 23 complaints (16% of all).
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (5% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 142 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 56 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 26 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On 12/6/07 my family was involved in a head on collision that caused both front airbags to deploy. My concern is regarding the passenger airbag that should not have deployed according to the dashboard console. When my 7 year old daughter is in the passenger seat the ?passenger air bag off?
Fuel vapors present a known fire and explosion hazard and constitute a safety risk to vehicle occupants, surrounding vehicles, and property. This condition was not present prior to the issue and has persisted despite inspection.
The contact stated that upon making a stop, he noticed fuel leaking onto the driver's side rear wheel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the failure was associated with an unknown recall for the fuel tank.
The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake malfunction warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the SBC hydraulic unit needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
The contact stated that after releasing the driver's seat, the seat belt warning light illuminated with an audible chime. The contact also stated that rear passenger's seat belt failed latch securely in the buckle. Additionally, the center seat belt tongue ceased in the buckle. The vehicle was not repaired.
While the vehicle was being refueled, the contact became aware of a fuel leak. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor detected outside of the vehicle. The contact stated that the the instrument cluster was red and the check engine warning light was illuminated.
The problem with my vehicle is that with its current tcm( transmission control module) in a 722.9 transmission, the conductor plate that holds the sensors in place become defective and creates a problem in which the transmission gets stuck in 2nd gear.
The government investigation determined leaks could occur from the gas tank pressure sensor, the outlet of the gas tank filling limiter valve and at the top of the fuel pump.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,764 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the E500 has 66 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 142, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, fuel system, service brakes. Total complaints: 142. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (31%), warning lights, check engine (16%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E500 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.