2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-Benz E-Class 2004

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class repairs by problem area

Engine (27%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (11%)

Suspension and Steering (32%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (17%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (1%)

Other (2%)

Chart based on 127 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class repair cost distribution

$2500+ (9%)

$1000 - $2499 (19%)

$500 - $999 (23%)

$100 - $499 (35%)

< $100 (15%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 102 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Engine not specified

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Jun 2015 - Sep 2015
Jun 2015

167000 mi

US $600
fuel pump replaced exhaust leak fixed by welding crack in catalitic converter 
Jul 2015

168000 mi

US $2000
air shock leak 
Sep 2015

168000 mi

US $2765
replace driver side airspring (back) and air suspension control module; also had passenger side airspring replaced at independent that did the work last year as they used a non-OEM part that wouldn't balance the car out. 
Mercedes-Benz in New York, United States
Feb 2011 - Sep 2018
Mar 2011

98000 mi

US $300
Thermostat failed open; car would not maintain proper operating temperature. Thermostat was replaced and problem was resolved. Small transmission fluid leak at electrical connector. Connector was replaced and transmission fluid flushed and replaced. 
May 2011

100000 mi

US $650
Fuel line from tank to engine mounted hi-pressure fuel pump had leak at connection. This fuel leak puddled on the fuel pump and boiled off, causing smoke under the hood. Dealer replaced lines and cleaned mating surface to abate leak. 
Jun 2011

101000 mi

US $560
Trunk mounted DVD Navigation drive failed, causing failure of navigation system. Repalcement of the drive was a used unit restored functionality. 
Sep 2015

160000 mi

US $650
faulty GPS antenna replaced replaced both outer tie rod ends replaced lower ball joints replaced upper ball joints 
Dec 2015

164000 mi

US $250
reprogrammed SBC controller 
Feb 2016

166000 mi

US $35
removed airbag, repaired clock switch due to failed turn signal cancellation mechanism, reinstalled repaired part, reset warnings in computer module 
Apr 2016

167700 mi

US $50
evacuated system, found leak; sealed same; recharged with R134a 
Sep 2016

174000 mi

US $200
replaced the GPS antenna (AGAIN) this time with a generic antenna off ebay, stuffed under package tray. Repair took 15 minutes and cost under $10 (vs.previous $650 repair of SAME PART from dealership) repaired coolant lines moving to radiator for cooling; repair necessary due to corrosion replaced headlight bucket assemblies due to severe yellowing / cloudiness and fading AND due to internal failure of turn signal reflector, causing it to roll around loose inside the headlight bucket 
Oct 2016

174000 mi

US $2100
replaced both ABS rings rear axle replaced alternator and voltage regulator replaced all brake lines under the car' caused by brake line failure at Right Rear wheel, Failure was due to corrosion, enhanced by 10 years of exposure to liberal application of winter road salt in our locality replaced seal washers on all 6 diesel CDI injectors. 3.2L staright 6 suffered from "Black Sludge of Death" disease. 
Aug 2018

185000 mi

US $300
Rear suspension components entirely replaced Replaced front springs Replaced front rotors / drums Repaired / replaced last foot of front brake lines 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Wagon

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Connecticut, United States
Aug 2013 - Sep 2015
Dec 2013

85000 mi

US $1000
Change rotors, pads and brake control unit which was defective 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Washington, United States
Jul 2016 - Nov 2016
Sep 2016

89000 mi

US $100
purchased car with AIRmatic issues problem somewhere in canbus system 
Nov 2016

89000 mi
never did find the problem, but it looked to be the ignition switch... ($500+ coding) 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Northwest Territory, Canada
Jun 2021 - May 2023
May 2023

127100 mi

C $750
The compressor and control valves were intermittently losing power. A wiring repair was completed and an oil change. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Ontario, Canada
Jul 2016 - Sep 2018
Sep 2016

120280 mi

C $4000
Busted joint in front suspension (not sure which) . Was required to pass safety. 
Jun 2017

120900 mi

C $400
Replace front pads (wear), rotors (corrosion, car sat for a year+ before i bought it). Replace one OEM wheel due to a crack in it 
Jan 2018

126480 mi

C $800
Lift gate struts pooched 214 each part to install plus labour. I must say they are asked to hold up a lot of weight. Busted seat belt fastener my fault and the rear seats are industructible. The car continues to be simply amazing in snow and ice even on all seasons. Trace of water through the the rear window in really bad rain. 
Mar 2018

127720 mi

C $90
Rear wheels have been deformed by Toronto potholes. Front fine. Down to 30% on rear pads they will be done soon. Minor plastic bits in interior are aging. An ashtray won’t stay shut. A trim beginning under drivers left knee and going around the seat is totally loose. Some epoxy or gluecaulk from the boat will fix it. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Jun 2011 - Feb 2016
Dec 2011

91000 mi
Failed latch on tailgate. 
Jul 2012

93800 mi

US $1100
Collapse of left front air suspension strut. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2014 - Dec 2015
Apr 2014

144000 mi

US $1200
Air Compressor for Airmatic system was bad as well as a few sensors Belt tensioner was making some noise Oil pan had a slight leak 
Dec 2015

148000 mi

US $2000
Suspension air bags had to be replaced 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Minnesota, United States
Feb 2011 - Sep 2011
May 2011

193700 mi

US $2400
Failed left front wheel bearing. Replaced bearing, drive shaft, other parts. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Wagon

221-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in North Carolina, United States
Apr 2011 - Nov 2011
Oct 2011

87000 mi

US $100
Aux battery (original, 7-years old) failed and needed to be replaced. Picked one up at AutoZone and installed in the parking lot. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Nov 2015 - Feb 2016
Nov 2015

154000 mi

US $429
leaking gasket covers 
Dec 2015

155000 mi

US $600
Motor mounts failed 
Feb 2016

155000 mi
Air bag for suspension blew out on right rear wheel 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Texas, United States
Aug 2012 - Jun 2018
Oct 2012

87700 mi

US $500
Replace camshaft position sensor. 
Feb 2014

109700 mi
SBC reservoir faulty. 
Jun 2014

114000 mi

US $800
Replaced tie rod ends, upper/lower ball joints, and brakes all around. 
Jan 2015

127000 mi

US $500
Alternator, auxiliary battery 
Jul 2015

132500 mi

US $300
EGR faulty, still investigating. 
Jun 2017

162000 mi

US $3800
Sensotronic brake control (SBC) pump rebuild Motor mounts Compressor, dryer, receiver and recharge. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Oregon, United States
Dec 2014 - Apr 2018
Dec 2015

270000 mi

US $325
Fuel pump failed. Replaced pump and sending unit, as both were original. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Mississippi, United States
Sep 2011 - Sep 2013
Nov 2012

70700 mi

US $400
Dealer identified the need for new ball joints and lower control arms. I agreed on the issue, based on what I knew. Wanted 1500. I did it myself for 400, but spent about 10 hours working on it. 
Apr 2013

75000 mi

US $200
Check engine light came on and a scan indicated it was a mass air flow problem. I replaced the MAF sensor with a new one and the problem went away. 
Aug 2013

80000 mi

US $350
Had a SOS light, Airbag, and display malfunction light all come on at the same time. They replaced something they called a service gateway and all was well. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Wagon

221-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Connecticut, United States
Dec 2010 - Jul 2013
Dec 2012

91000 mi

US $1700
regular maintenance at 90,000 miles, valve cover gasket replacement and new spark plugs 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Connecticut, United States
Apr 2018 - Apr 2018
Mar 2018

166000 mi

US $5500
Front left wheel sag 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Pennsylvania, United States
Apr 2011 - Jun 2018
May 2013

76000 mi

US $304
Fault codes for gasoline evaporation system. R/R gas cap. Repaired plastic lines of evap. recovery system. 
Jul 2015

85000 mi

US $1610
1. replaced left front sway bar end link. ($310.00)  2. replaced both front axle inner & outer CV joint boots. ($1300.00) 
Nov 2015

85000 mi

US $1265
digital instrument cluster failed. No gauges, speedo, odo, clock, all gauges in the cluster. Cluster was removed and replaced. Original bill was to be $1800. I objected. MBUSA contributed $500. 
Oct 2016

88000 mi

US $200
car would not start when hot; fault code indicated the crankshaft position sensor; sensor was replaced. $203.52 
Dec 2016

88000 mi

US $297
Main battery failed (there are two batteries in this model). R/R main battery with new Interstate battery. $296.80 
Apr 2017

89000 mi

US $145
Car would not start; would not maintain a charge; but it could be jump-started. The main battery was not yet one year old. Testing showed that the alternator was charging properly. I speculated that the 'auxilliary battery' probably needed to be replaced. Jump started the car and drove to my mechanic. He ordered a new auxiliary battery and installed it. Completely solved the problem. Battery & installation $143.10 
Oct 2017

90000 mi

US $450
R/R left front shock absorber (strut). 
Mar 2018

91000 mi

US $160
R/R front brake pads and sensors 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Ohio, United States
Feb 2016 - Dec 2016
Dec 2016

45000 mi

US $1300
CV boot ripped Strut for tailgate failed. Replaced both 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan

supercharged 469hp 5.4L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Florida, United States
- Oct 2009
Sep 2008

38000 mi

US $850
Supercharger - internal gasket failed allowing oil to enter intake creating blue exhaust smoke. Gasket replaced and all is well. Covered under extended warranty. 
Mar 2009

45250 mi

US $1350
Engine and transmission mounts leaking fluid - diagnosis was a replacement at $900.00. Rear seating temperature control unit failed. Replacement cost was $450.00. 
Oct 2009

52250 mi

US $670
Ball joints worn and replaced. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Sep 2016 - Mar 2018
Oct 2016

136000 mi

US $700
Airmatic driver's side front strut failed. Replaced with rebuilt unit. 
May 2017

148000 mi
Fuel tank replaced under recall - unlimited mile, 15 year warranty extension on fuel tanks for cracking issues on the E55 AMG. The fuel tank was cracked and venting. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
May 2016 - Jun 2018
Aug 2016

76000 mi

US $1200
Air shock blew out SBC module malfunction, reached end of service light. Accumulator also failed. 
Dec 2016

82000 mi

US $200
Spark Plugs and leaky valve covers 
Jun 2017

94000 mi

US $150
Replaced control arm, worn out bushing. 
Nov 2017

103000 mi

US $250
Replace L/R air strut due to previous strut failure. 
Jun 2018

114000 mi

US $200
Replace ball joints 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Texas, United States
Sep 2011 - Mar 2015
Sep 2013

91000 mi

US $3000
Air shocks leaking required replacement 
Oct 2013

91200 mi

US $1267
Front airmatic strut leak 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Illinois, United States
May 2014 - Apr 2015
Jul 2014

79000 mi
Replaced Cranshaft Positioning Sensor 
Mar 2015

80000 mi
The Car would randomly stall during complete stops. It happened about 3 times, but would start back up. On the fourth time, the car no longer started and had to be towed. Dealer replaced Crank Positioning Sensor (CPS)- under warranty. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 7-speed shiftable automatic RWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Nov 2013 - Sep 2017
Mar 2014

223000 mi

US $100
engine lag, sputtering at takeoff. Unexpected acceleration at a stop. All recommendations were to change MAF sensor. Turned out to be 000-470-88-93, PURGE VALVE & 1 002-540-70-97 CHANGE OVER VALVE. Runs like new now. 
Dec 2015

240000 mi

US $750
Remanufactured Alternator from Mercedes failed at 13 months. Replaced again with Remanufactured unit. Replaced voltage regulator and battery prior to narrowing down to Alternator. Car experiences a battery drain when undriven for 4 days. 
Feb 2017

253000 mi

US $210
Replace Right Front Control Arm Bushings. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Jun 2015 - May 2017
Mar 2016

88000 mi

US $2550
new ALTERNATOR new radiator, thermostat brake battery replaced 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Texas, United States
Feb 2013 - Jul 2014
Dec 2013

134000 mi

US $1800
lots of computer problems  Pulley had to be replaced. A/C went out. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan

302-horsepower 5.0L V8 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Utah, United States
Sep 2016 - Oct 2017
May 2017

167000 mi

US $1300
Drive shaft  
Jul 2017

167300 mi

US $1900
Front driver side strut 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in New York, United States
Apr 2012 - Jan 2014
May 2012

76000 mi

US $5500
Replaced broken swaybar bracket 
Jan 2014

US $2700
transfer case 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan

221-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic RWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Dec 2015 - Dec 2018
Jan 2018

158000 mi

US $540
Front brakes,  one front wheel control arm bushing, small maintenance service 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Arizona, United States
Sep 2015 - Jun 2022
Mar 2018

116000 mi

US $3250
transmission and motor mounts SBC [stability control] unit 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Oregon, United States
Jul 2017 - Dec 2017
Jun 2017

113000 mi

US $500
Replaced conductor plate. 
Jul 2017

113000 mi
Needed gas tank replacement, covered by Mercedes 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Jan 2018 - Jul 2018
Jul 2018

158000 mi

US $658
Car was throwing p0171 and p0174 cel codes, spark plugs replaced and minor vacuum leaks fixed 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Jan 2018 - Jun 2022
Jan 2022

127000 mi

US $100
The tailight bulbs were going out on both sides and need the bulb retainers replaced which needed the truck liner pulled up and bulb retainers units which are then replaced. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in North Carolina, United States
- Nov 2009
Mar 2009

68000 mi

US $315
replace transmission wiring harness 
Sep 2009

71000 mi

US $685
replace engine and transmission mounts. 
Nov 2009

73500 mi

US $3800
replace entire suspension system. Airmatic pump and 4 struts. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Dec 2011 - Jan 2015
May 2013

83900 mi

US $2000
Replaced cracked bushing. Replaced leaking intake manifold gasket. Replaced failed third brake light LED strip. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Illinois, United States
Mar 2014 - Jun 2014
May 2014

45000 mi

US $318
Sounded like a helicopter out front, real low rumbling. I took it to a trusted mechanic and he diagnosed a wheel bearing gone bad. I chose to replace the entire wheel hub assembly. 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Alabama, United States
Nov 2012 - Oct 2013
Jul 2013

84300 mi

US $200
replaced valve 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Arizona, United States
Dec 2016 - Oct 2017
Apr 2017

61000 mi

US $740
Replaced gas tank on extended warranty per Mercedes Benz. Replaced battery and rear brakes as well as routine maintenance and oil change 
Mercedes-Benz E-Class in California, United States
Apr 2015 - May 2017
Mar 2015

95000 mi

US $1800
Replace SBC Control Unit (SBC brake system), Drive Belt replacement Replace front end air struts, Air compressor replacement, from strut failure 
May 2017

115000 mi

US $1600
Transmission was stuck in gear. Replaced the conductor plate, wire harness, and speed sensor. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4dr Sedan

221-horsepower 3.2L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic AWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Massachusetts, United States
Apr 2011 - Apr 2012
Feb 2012

87900 mi

US $600
had to replace two batteries 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4-door

turbocharged 5-cylinder diesel automatic 2WD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Serbia
Feb 2015 - Mar 2018
Dec 2016

189100 mi

$100
I replaced lower ball joint due to squeeky noise. 
Jun 2017

198400 mi

$250
While driving clear knocking acured...so went to the garage and it turned out it was bad ball joint on stabilizer bar...Than and they replaced brake pads-front, changed oil in differential(I asked that,because I have never changed that) ,and inspected the vehickle...took them just over two hours.. 
Sep 2017

187860 mi

$700
I changed rear shocks due to constant 'chewing' noise... 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4-door

6-cylinder diesel automatic 2WD

Mercedes-Benz in Norway
Feb 2011 - May 2011
May 2011

53320 mi
replaced shock-absorber for a car with air-suspension. 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class in Pakistan
Jun 2013 - Sep 2014
Mar 2014

46500 mi
Leakage in the fuel pump under the back seat. Entire fuel pump assembly had to be replaced 

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2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.