NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Preliminary Evaluation PE12-001: Fuel System (Tank/Sender) Leakage

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE12-001 on January 23, 2012 and closed it on March 18, 2013. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003–2006 Mercedes Benz AMG E55 for it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: PE12-001 (also written PE12001)
Investigation type: Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
Status: Closed March 18, 2013
Opened: January 23, 2012
Closed: March 18, 2013
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Components: Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly
Vehicles and equipment: 2003–2006 Mercedes Benz AMG E55

A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE12-001.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 20 consumer reports.

All of the vehicles were E55 AMG models and the complainants alleged fuel leaks or a strong odor of gasoline both inside and outside of their vehicle, particularly after refueling.

Some complainants alleged that the leaks may be related to a 2008 Mercedes Benz emission recall (Campaign No. 2008020001) on the fuel filter module. This recall pertained to model years 2003-2006 E and CLS AMG models only.

These AMG models use a different fuel pump and fuel filter module than the non-AMG E-class, however, they share other fuel system components, including the fuel tank.

Since opening the investigation ODI has received an additional 350 reports relevant to this investigation.

Of those reports, 116 reports are on the E55 AMG model.

The remaining 234 reports are on other E-class models (i.e., E320, E350, E500, E550 and E63) which are now included in the scope of EA13-003.

The investigation has been upgraded to Engineering Analysis, EA13-003, for further study.

The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the identification (ODI) numbers cited on the following page.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE12-001. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz AMG E55
- 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

All Mercedes Benz recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Mercedes Benz VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for PE12-001

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.