← New search

2005 MERCEDES-BENZ E350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all E350 years →

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: 13 of 15 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 →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
82,958 miles · May 12, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

WE OWN A 2005 E350 MERCEDES WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. A MONTH AGO WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AFTER FILLING THE TANK SO WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF CINTI ON…

Read full complaint

WE OWN A 2005 E350 MERCEDES WITH ONLY 83,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE OWNED IT. A MONTH AGO WE NOTICED A SMELL IN THE GARAGE AFTER FILLING THE CAR WITH GAS. IT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AFTER FILLING THE TANK SO WE TOOK THE CAR INTO MERCEDES OF CINTI ON MONTGOMERY ROAD ON APRIL 2, 2014. (THIS IS WHERE OUR CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT) THEY FLIPPED UP THE BACK SEAT AND PULLED UP THE BLACK LINER AND WE COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS GAS IN THE CAR. THAT WAS SCARY TO ACTUALLY SEE GAS WAS MOVING AROUND INSIDE OUR CAR JUST UNDER WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE SEATED. MERCEDES SAID IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE TANK. IN TOTAL, WE PAID $2073.21 TO REPAIR IT. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON APRIL 4, 2014. WE THEN GOOGLED MERCEDES GAS LEAKS AND FOUND THERE WAS A ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE ON THIS IN MARCH 2013, OTHER BLOGS AND YOUR ARTICLE. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THESE ARTICLES. MY HUSBAND WAS REFERRED TO A CORPORATE MAN AT MERCEDES, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMON. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH, THEY SENT US A CHECK FOR $1,573.21, THUS WE STILL HAD TO PAY $500 FOR THE FAULTY TANK. WE WANTED OUR GAS LEAK TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED AT NO CHARGE TO US. I KNOW MERCEDES IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HIRED A LAW FIRM TO DEFEND THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THAT THE STATEMENT BY THE MERCEDES ATTORNEY DOES NOT DENY THE PROBLEM. THEY ACTUALLY ADMIT IT EXISTS BUT SAY IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD. GAS LEAK NOT A PROBLEM, GO FIGURE. ...UPDATED 09-05-14 *BF UPDATED 09/15/2014 *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587817

82,959 miles · May 12, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,959. UPDATED 07/16/14 MA UPDATED 8/23/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10587807

40,000 miles · Apr 13, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING ALONG WITH A LEAK UNDERNEATH HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW AND SHE ADDED FUEL OUTSIDE AIR WAS ENTERING THE TANK CAUSING THE LEAK. THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MERCEDES BENZ E350. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING ALONG WITH A LEAK UNDERNEATH HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW AND SHE ADDED FUEL OUTSIDE AIR WAS ENTERING THE TANK CAUSING THE LEAK. THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE AND TANK WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10395745

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.