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2006 Mercedes Benz E Class

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
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73,410 miles · Jan 11, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHENEVER MY CAR FILLED UP (NOT OVER FILL) WITH GASOLINE, THE STRONG GASOLINE SMELL WILL LAST A FEW DAYS. THE CAR WAS INVESTIGATED BY MERCEDES DEALER, THEY FOUND FUEL PUDDLED AT SENDER UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT ON LEFT SIDE. THEY STATED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR USE AT THIS TIME DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. HOWEVER, THEY WON'T FIX IT A…

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WHENEVER MY CAR FILLED UP (NOT OVER FILL) WITH GASOLINE, THE STRONG GASOLINE SMELL WILL LAST A FEW DAYS. THE CAR WAS INVESTIGATED BY MERCEDES DEALER, THEY FOUND FUEL PUDDLED AT SENDER UNDERNEATH THE REAR SEAT ON LEFT SIDE. THEY STATED THAT THE CAR IS NOT SAFE FOR USE AT THIS TIME DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. HOWEVER, THEY WON'T FIX IT AS MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND WOULD CHARGE ME FOR $1,300.00 AND I DIDN'T REPAIR IT SINCE IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. I ALSO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS NOT THE PART THAT NEED REGULAR SERVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE WARE OUT. MERCEDES BENZ NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559479

73,410 miles · Nov 26, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

EACH TIME AFTER FILL UP THE GASOLINE (NO OVER FILL), I HAVE TO SMELL THE FUEL SMELL FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. I HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2009, BUT THE ODOR IS GETTING EXTREMELY STRONG. I WENT TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEAL FOR INSPECTION,THEY CHARGED ME $175 AND INSISTED THAT IT IS NOT RECALL ITEM. THE INSPECTION SHOWS: 73412 FUEL SENDER LE…

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EACH TIME AFTER FILL UP THE GASOLINE (NO OVER FILL), I HAVE TO SMELL THE FUEL SMELL FOR ONE OR TWO DAYS. I HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2009, BUT THE ODOR IS GETTING EXTREMELY STRONG. I WENT TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEAL FOR INSPECTION,THEY CHARGED ME $175 AND INSISTED THAT IT IS NOT RECALL ITEM. THE INSPECTION SHOWS: 73412 FUEL SENDER LEAKING FUEL, VEHICLE NOT SAFE FOR USE AT THIS TIME DUE TO FIRE HAZARD, INSPECTED VEHICLE FOUND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, REMOVED REAR SEAT AND INSPECTION COVER FOR FUEL SENDER, FOUND FUEL PUDDLED AT SENDER. I THINK THE LEAKING IS CAUSED BY DEFECTED PARTS WHICH SUPPOSE TO LAST LIFE TIME LONG. MERCEDES SHOULD RECALL THIS ITEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553931

146,000 miles · May 2, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS ISN'T A COMPLAINT, IT IS A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF OR ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASOLINE TANK FOR MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK OWNERSHIP FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, THE FIRST TIME I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK, THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MERCEDES BENZ CERTIFIED SERVICE R…

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THIS ISN'T A COMPLAINT, IT IS A REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION OF OR ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GASOLINE TANK FOR MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK OWNERSHIP FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER, THE FIRST TIME I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK, THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MERCEDES BENZ CERTIFIED SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE PREVIOUS OWNER ALWAYS HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED. THERE WERE NO RECORDS SHOWING THIS PROBLEM BEING LOOKED INTO, AND WHEN I ASKED THE PREVIOUS OWNER, HE SAID HE NEVER FILLED UP THE GASOLINE TANK, ALWAYS PUTTING IN $15 - $20 OR SO AT A TIME, THEREFORE HE NEVER SMELLED THE GASOLINE ODOR. THE MERCEDES BENZ CERTIFIED SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THIS MODEL ALONG WITH 2005 AND 2007 MODELS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE GASOLINE TANKS. I THEN TOOK IT TO OUR MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIP HERE AND TALKED WITH A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. HE WAS VERY, VERY HELPFUL, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND TOLD ME THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE ON THESE MODELS, BUT NO VEHICLES HAD BEEN RECALLED. HE TOLD ME HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO HAVE THE GASOLINE TANK REPLACED (WORSE CASE SCENARIO) SUGGESTED I WRITE TO YOU AND SEE IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER REPLACEMENT OR ASSISTANCE. IT IS MY FIRST MERCEDES BENZ TO OWN AND I LOVE THIS VEHICLE. I AM A RETIRED MINISTER LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, SO ANYTHING YOU COULD DO FOR ME WOULD BE PRAYERFULLY APPRECIATED. WOULD YOU MIND LOOKING INTO THIS AND ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457124

Official recalls

1

08V303000 · Electrical System

Jul 7, 2008

MERCEDES-BENZ IS RECALLING MY 2006-2008 M-CLASS, R-CLASS, MY 2005-2009 SLK-CLASS, MY 2005-2008 C-CLASS, MY 2003-2004 AND 2006-2008 CLK-CLASS, MY 2003-2008 E-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2008 CL-CLASS, MY 2008 CLS-CLASS, MY 2004 AND 2007-2008 S-CLASS, MY 2003 G-CLASS, AND MY 2003-2004, 2006 AND 2009 SL-CLASS VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION NUMBER (SCN) CODING RECEIVED ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES DURING A RECENT WORKSHOP VISIT WAS INCORRECT. DEPENDING ON THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTED, THE RESULTS OF AN INCORRECT SCN CODING CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF VEHICLE SAFETY AND EMISSION FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF FUNCTIONS: (1) THE FUEL GAUGE READINGS MAY BE INCORRECT; (2) A STUCK FUEL-LEVEL SENSOR MAY NOT BE DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER; (3) THE OBD SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE INCORRECTLY; AND, (4) THE SPEEDOMETER MAY BE OUT OF TOLERANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP MAY NOT RECEIVE A CRASH SIGNAL THAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO DISCONNECT AND PREVENT FUTURE FUEL DELIVERY AS DESIGNED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECODE THE SCN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MERCEDES-BENZ AT 1-800-367-6372.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE10017 · Driver Air Bag Circuit High Resistance

Opened May 14, 2010 · Closed Nov 24, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Air Bags:frontal

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Air Bags

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Electrical System

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.

Electrical System:wiring

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has reported a high number of warranty claims for air bag warning lamp illumination due to a diagnostic fault code 9103 or 9123 indicating a high resistance in the driver's frontal air bag firing circuit.MBUSA's testing and evaluation have shown that this condition is the result of a faulty connector (specifically, improper wire crimp) but that it will not prevent proper deployment of the driver's frontal air bag.The faulty connector can cause the air bag circuit resistance levels to exceed the threshold that illuminates the air bag warning lamp, but they do not exceed a higher limit at which proper deployment of the air bag may no longer occur.The agency believes that further expenditure of agency resources does not appear to be warranted at this time.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.During the investigation, ODI learned that MBUSA will initiate a warranty extension program to address the faulty connectors in subject model year 2005 and 2006 E-Class and other MBUSA model/model year vehicles.This action will extend the warranty coverage for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.MBUSA will notify all affected vehicle owners of this action.A bulletin describing this program is available in the investigative file.