MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55 · model year

2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55

129 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004MERCEDES-BENZAMG E55 carries 129 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 AMG E55 is fuel/propulsion system with 62 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (43) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump (7). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 15 investigation files overlapping the 2004 AMG E55. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

129
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

129 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM62
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE43
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP7
SUSPENSION3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
SERVICE BRAKES2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1
POWER TRAIN1
WHEELS1
SEATS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SEAT BELTS1

Recalls (3)

22V95400023/12/2022

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please refer to MBUSA's recall report for specific vehicle model details. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and may detach.

19V91800020/12/2019

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 vehicles. The bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame may deteriorate, possibly resulting in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/

24V87400019/11/2024

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2001-2011 C-Class, CLK, E-Class, and CLS vehicles. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models and model years. The glass sunroof panel may not be properly secured and can detach.

Recent Complaints

20230125SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the suspension of the vehicle lowered intermittently. A message advising to stop the vehicle due to low air ride suspension was displayed. The contact stated that the air ride suspension would no longer rise upon starting the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt was loosened. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle for State Inspection, she was informed that the air ride suspension system had failed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20230125SEAT BELTS

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the suspension of the vehicle lowered intermittently. A message advising to stop the vehicle due to low air ride suspension was displayed. The contact stated that the air ride suspension would no longer rise upon starting the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger’s side seat belt was loosened. The contact stated upon taking the vehicle for State Inspection, she was informed that the air ride suspension system had failed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Mileage: 200,000

20210920FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2004 Mercedes-Benz E55. The contact stated that upon placing fuel into the gas tank, a strong gasoline odor began to emit from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact removed the rear seat and saw that fuel had leaked from the fuel pumps. The contact reached out to the manufacturer through the manufacturer’s website and his request to repair the vehicle was denied. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer and the manufacturer denied the repair a second time. The contact stated that the same failure occurred back in 2008 and that the vehicle was repaired under a manufacturer’s recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Mileage: 111,000

20210807FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

When the vehicle is has a full tank of gas, there are heavy fumes of gasoline in the interior of the car. It appears to be the fuel pumps that are underneath the rear seats, leaking fuel on top, next to the the wiring. It is a hazard for fumes and possibly a fire

20201013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG GASOLINE ODOR IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AFTER FILLING UP THE TANK. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE WAS COVERED AT SOME POINT BUT WAS NEVER DONE TO THIS SPECIFIC CAR VRTC-DCD-3206. I PURCHASED THE CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WAS TOLD BY MB THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER REFUSED TO DO THE FIX/SERVICE. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE THE CABIN HAS AN INCREDIBLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. IF THE FIX WAS OFFERED AT SOME POINT AND WAS NEVER DONE, WHY CANT THEY PERFORM IT NOW? QUOTE FOR FIX ATTACHED

Mileage: 148,000

20200803FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

GAS LEAK, THERE A STRONG GAS SMELL

Mileage: 95,000

20200611FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SMELL OF STRONG GAS ODOR. RECALL EXPIRED LESS THEN ONE YEAR AGO SO MERCEDES WONT FIX IT. WHY IS THERE A CUT OFF DATE TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION? *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20200324FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VERY STRONG FUEL ODOR WHEN HALF TANK OR MORE OF GAS. CANNOT PARK IN GARAGE OR WILL SMELL ENTIRE GARAGE WITH FUEL ODOR. ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH MY PREVIOUS CAR WHICH WAS A 2004 MERCEDES E500.

Mileage: 110,500

20190627FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND GAVE ME A CODE P0456. PLESSE ADVISE!

Mileage: 120,000

20190606FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL OK I BOUGHT MY WIFE THE 04 E55 AMG MERCEDES ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR WE STARTED TO NOTICE A FAINT FUEL SMELL OCCASIONALLY, SO WITHIN THE PAST THE THREE YEARS THE FUEL SMELL HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE AND WORSE ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR CAUSING MY WIFE TO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN FEAR OF A FUEL SYSTEM RELATED FIRE WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE, I DO NOT BLAME HER. SO I STARTED DRIVING THE CAR MYSELF WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS I FILLED THE TANK UP ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASION AND IT HAS THE FIRST TIME THE GAS SMELL WAS SO BAD I HAD A HARD TIME DRIVING THE CAR MYSELF BUT THIS LAST TIME, IT DRAINED OVER HALF OF THE GASOLINE INTO THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. NOT ONLY MAKING THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE GASOLINE COVERED MISS BUT MAKING THE ENTIRE CAR SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE MY GARAGE SMELL LIKE GASOLINE. AS WELL AS THE INSIDE OF MY HOUSE. ONCE THIS HAD HAPPENED I LOOKED INTO TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM MYSELF AND FOUND THAT THE WIRING GOING TO THE FUEL FUEL PUMP

Mileage: 160,000

20180416FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2004 E55, I AM SMELLING A LARGE ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF CAR. GAS CONSUMPTION HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND FEEL OF CAR HA DROPPED. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING CAR WITH FAMILY. I SMELL THE FUMES IN THE MOTION AND NOT IN MOTION.

Mileage: 80,000

20180416UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2004 E55, I AM SMELLING A LARGE ODOR OF FUEL IN THE CABIN AND OUTSIDE OF CAR. GAS CONSUMPTION HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND FEEL OF CAR HA DROPPED. DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING CAR WITH FAMILY. I SMELL THE FUMES IN THE MOTION AND NOT IN MOTION.

Mileage: 80,000

20170910FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

EVERY TIME I FILL THE GAS TANK. IT STARTS SMELLING LIKE GAS INSIDE THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN THE REAR. AND EVEN WHEN YOU APPROACH THE CAR FROM BEHIND YOU CAN SMELL THE GAS ODOR. IF I CAN BE HELPED HERE WITH THIS SITUATION. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR WITH A FULL TANK.

Mileage: 142,000

20160929ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CHECK THE PUMP SENDER , AND I FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE CONNECTOR FOR THE PUMPS. SEE PICTURE. THIS ISSUE COULD CREATE ELECTRICAL SPARK AND YOUR CAR COULD BE ON FIRE! BIG ISSUE CHECK YOUR VEHICLE. THE DESIGN OF THE CONNECTOR ARE UNDER HEAT CAPACITY. AND THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF LEAK OF FULL.

Mileage: 35,000

20160929FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAVE GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR. I CHECK THE PUMP SENDER , AND I FOUND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE CONNECTOR FOR THE PUMPS. SEE PICTURE. THIS ISSUE COULD CREATE ELECTRICAL SPARK AND YOUR CAR COULD BE ON FIRE! BIG ISSUE CHECK YOUR VEHICLE. THE DESIGN OF THE CONNECTOR ARE UNDER HEAT CAPACITY. AND THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF LEAK OF FULL.

Mileage: 35,000

20160808SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E55. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKES FAILED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A KNOWN FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BY TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,800.

Mileage: 90,800

20160529FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL SMELL IS CONSTANT AND SO STRONG IT BURNS YOUR EYES. FUEL IS LEAKING INTO THE CAR AND DAMAGING THE REAR SEATS, DISCOLORATION IS EVIDENT FROM THE LEAKING FUEL ON THE LEATHER. A SIMPLE TOWEL LEFT WILL STINK LIKE GASOLINE OVER A MATTER OF MINUTES WHEN LEFT IN THE BACK SEAT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 122,100

20160529SEATS

THE FUEL SMELL IS CONSTANT AND SO STRONG IT BURNS YOUR EYES. FUEL IS LEAKING INTO THE CAR AND DAMAGING THE REAR SEATS, DISCOLORATION IS EVIDENT FROM THE LEAKING FUEL ON THE LEATHER. A SIMPLE TOWEL LEFT WILL STINK LIKE GASOLINE OVER A MATTER OF MINUTES WHEN LEFT IN THE BACK SEAT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 122,100

20160224FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

NOTICED FUEL SMELL WHEN FILLING TANK MORE THAN HALF WAY. INVESTIGATED TO FIND POOLING FUEL ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP / SENDER ASSEMBLY BENEATH REAR SEAT.

Mileage: 101,000

20151223FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SMELLS OF FUEL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS 3/4 OR FULL TANK.. (FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT).

Mileage: 72,000

Compare 2004MERCEDES-BENZAMG E55 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55 have?
The 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55 has 129 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55?
Yes, the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55?
The most-complained component for the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55 is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 62 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP.
Is the 2004 MERCEDES-BENZ AMG E55 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.