2004 Mercedes Benz E320 Problems: Fuel system (202 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Mercedes Benz E320 is Fuel system (56% of 202 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Fuel system — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 202 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Mercedes Benz E320?

113 of 202 filings named Fuel system (56% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Brakes (44 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2003 has 211 reports on file; this year has 202. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Mercedes Benz E320

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Fuel system. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly.
  3. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Fuel system. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Fuel system 113 complaints · 55.9% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 6
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 5
  • Deaths 0
All Mercedes Benz E320 years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) appears in 113 of 202 owner complaints (55.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 113 complaints, 55.9% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 113 · 55.9% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 44 complaints, 21.8% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 4 crash reports 44 · 21.8% Engine (ENGINE): 5 complaints, 2.5% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 5 · 2.5% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 4 complaints, 2.0% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 1 crash reports 4 · 2.0% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 4 complaints, 2.0% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 4 · 2.0% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 4 complaints, 2.0% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 4 · 2.0% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 3 complaints, 1.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 · 1.5% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 3 complaints, 1.5% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 · 1.5% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 3 complaints, 1.5% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 · 1.5% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 62 complaints, 30.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 62 · 30.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 113 55.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 44 21.8% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 5 2.5% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 4 2.0% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 4 2.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 4 2.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 1.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 1.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 1.5% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 62 30.7% 2 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2004; the first recall shown was reported in Dec 2019. 2004-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2005-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2011-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2013-Q1: 13 owner reports 13 2013-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2013-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2013-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q2: 10 owner reports 10 2014-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2014-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2015-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2015-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2015-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2016-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2017-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 Owner reports Oct 2004 Jan 2025 Recall campaign 19V918000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V918000 Recall campaign 24V874000 ◆ Recall campaign 24V874000 Investigation EA13003 ● Investigation EA13003
  • Campaign 19V918000 was reported 3,035 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 24V874000 was reported 4,831 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2004-Q4 Owner reports 2
2005-Q1 Owner reports 3
2005-Q2 Owner reports 2
2005-Q3 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2010-Q4 Owner reports 3
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 4
2011-Q4 Owner reports 2
2012-Q1 Owner reports 5
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 3
2012-Q4 Owner reports 6
2013-Q1 Owner reports 13
2013-Q2 Owner reports 16
2013-Q3 Owner reports 11
2013-Q4 Owner reports 7
2014-Q1 Owner reports 5
2014-Q2 Owner reports 10
2014-Q3 Owner reports 9
2014-Q4 Owner reports 8
2015-Q1 Owner reports 5
2015-Q2 Owner reports 7
2015-Q3 Owner reports 5
2015-Q4 Owner reports 5
2016-Q1 Owner reports 1
2016-Q2 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 7
2016-Q4 Owner reports 3
2017-Q1 Owner reports 6
2017-Q3 Owner reports 2
2017-Q4 Owner reports 2
2018-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 2
2018-Q4 Owner reports 2
2019-Q1 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q1 Owner reports 2
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q4 Owner reports 3
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2024-Q2 Owner reports 2
2025-Q1 Owner reports 3
Recall campaign 1 19V918000
Recall campaign 1 24V874000
Defect investigation 1 EA13003
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras.

  1. Recall campaign 19V918000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    A detached glass panel can separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the glass panel bonding and replace the sliding roof, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 10, 2020. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2020040011.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 24V874000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    A detached sunroof panel can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect and replace the sunroof panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2025. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 22V-954. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2024120001/2/3.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 8 of 202 complaints · page 1 of 9
2025-03-11Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11647683
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E320. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V918000 (Visibility); however, the contact was informed by the dealer that the sunroof glass was manufactured in a year outside of the year stated in the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the sunroof glass was not covered under the recall. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2025-02-18Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11643417
CrashFireInjuryDeath
To Whom It May Concern, I took my 2004 Mercedes-Benz into the Stevens Creek location located in San Jose, CA 95129 to have the sliding roof bonding recall fixed on December 24, 2024. I have attached the repair invoice to this complaint. It has now been almost two full months and I am still being blocked from updating my vehicle registration because my vehicle needs to complete an Official Brake and Light Adjustment Certification. However, the recall vin lookup page (https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/) has been showing my recall as incomplete for almost two full months now. The mechanic that performs the Brake and Light inspection says the vehicle will fail the test until the recall vin lookup page displays a 0 for my vehicle. Once again, this issue is preventing me from updating my vehicle registration until the recall vin lookup page shows the successful completion of the vehicle recall performed on December 24, 2024 at Mercedes-Benz of Stevens Creek. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2025-02-13Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11642524
CrashFireInjuryDeath
SBC braking system stated as covered under 25 year/unlimited miles warranty. SBC system failed on 2/1/25. Vehicle towed to local dealer service facility on 2/3/25. Tow was authorized at no charge by MB Roadside Assistance at no charge plus $100.00 credit toward diagnostic. Was told by phone on 2/3/25 that upon confirmation that SBC did in fact fail, the SBC replacement would be performed at no charge due to warranty through 2028. As of 2/10/25 service facility did confirm that the SBC system had failed. Currently, MB USA has a HOLD pending for authorization of repairs, with no reason given as to why as of 2/13/25.
2024-05-03Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11586834
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The sunroof has a recall due to the fact that it has a bad seal, which could fly off due to this issue. I know the seal is bad because the whole roof leaked a few years ago and fried all the electronic; e.g. lights, sunroof controls, trunk light controls, side door controls. I went to the dealership and they said they would not fix it because they could not open the sunroof to see the manufacturer date on it.
2024-04-22Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11584505
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The driver's side mirror auto-dim function failed (as theorized by simple research where others have this issue) December 2023 and leaked a liquid behind the glass causing blurriness, double vision, and extremely dim reflection. This makes it difficult to safely judge other traffic using the mirror and seems very dangerous while driving. It also seems to present a risk of misjudging any other objects on the road which are reliant on this mirror. The equivalent replacement mirror glass alone is prohibitively expensive and Mercedes-Benz USA was contacted twice for help and refused to provide help or replacement. Neither the manufacturer nor another entity has inspected it yet. The mirror is available for inspection upon request. The passenger side view mirror is not auto-dimming so there is no issue.
2024-01-07Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11563988
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The glue around front windshield has deteriorated and has caused major damage to my interior lights, electrical essemblys , interior damage to seats , dash board and flooring. Including the trunk seal is also deteriorated and causing the battery to stop working and has made my car non drivable.
2023-12-27Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 11562004
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Mercedes Benz has a KNOWN safety problem with this model and has not put it under recall yet and it needs to be. The wire casing in the wiring harness for the headlights crumbles and leaves exposed wires that touch, short, and draw causing dim headlights. Due to being cited for dim headlights the night before, I called MBUSA on December 27 2023 and they initially REFUSED to take a case from me.
2023-12-17Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11560575
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The TRUNK will not open. It is supposed to open by pressing the button on the key fob or taking the thin key out of the key fob and manually open the truck with the keyed lock. Neither method works. There is absolutely no way to open the trunk otherwise (i.e. inside button or lever). When the key fob button and the thin key do not work there is absolutely no way to open the truck. There is no way to access the lock from the trunk lid rear and there is no way to access the trunk from behind the back seat cushions. It is a very bad situation and dangerous.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Mercedes Benz E320?

Owners named Fuel system most often — 113 of 202 reports (56%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Mercedes Benz E320?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Mercedes Benz E320?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check for fuel smell, leaks and whether it starts and idles cleanly. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources