RoadVitals

1994 Mercedes-Benz 129

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest May 23, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 11, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz 129, most frequently naming the electrical category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

May 11, 2009
42,540 units potentially affected
The defect: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
DOPE, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed May 23, 2012

THE WIRING HARNESS, OF WHICH THERE ARE THREE, WAS CONSTRUCTED OF AN INSULATION CASE THAT IS BY DESIGN BIODEGRADABLE. THIS WAS A MATERIAL SELECTION DEFECT AND IS CAUSING GREAT EXPENSE AND PAIN TO OWNERS OF THESE CARS. IT IS ALSO DRASTICALLY AFFECTING RESALE VALUE OF THE CARS. UNUSUAL FOR A CAR THAT COST OVER $100K NEW. THEREFORE, THE OUTER CASE OF THE THREE HARNESSES DISINTEGRATES OVER TIME, AND EXPOSES THE INDIVIDUAL WIRES TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE 12 CYLINER MOTOR - THIS CAUSES THE INSULATION AROUND THOSE INNER WIRES TO CRACK AND DISINTEGRATE, AND OVER TIME LEADS TO FAILURES AND HAZARDS - AND DURING MODEL YEAR 94, 95, 96 - AND CASES ARE NOW BEING REPORTED FOR MODEL YEAR 1997 - IN THE SL600 MODEL - IT IS THE R129 CHASSIS AND IS KNOWN TO AFFECT OTHER CHASSIS THAT USE THE SAME 12 CYLINDER MOTOR. THE FAILURE RATE IS NEARLY 100%. IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF IF IT HAPPENS, IT IS A QUESTION OF WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE CONTACTED MERCEDES ABOUT THIS, AND OFF THE RECORD, THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM - IT IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES, BUT THERE IS NO MANDATE TO CORRECT IT OR SO THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. . THERE ARE MANY CASES LISTED HERE WITH THIS AGENCY WHERE ENGINE FIRES OR LOSS OF DRIVER CONTROL OCCURS AS WELL - PLEASE SEE OTHER CASES LISTED HERE. THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME YET, BUT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURES. IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR - BOTH FOR PARTS AND FOR LABOR, AND CAN RUN UPWARDS UP TO 8000 TO REPAIR. THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS PROBLEM ARE POOR OR INCONSISTENT PERFORMANCE FROM THE ENGINE, POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE, OR COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSORS. INCLUDING ROUGH IDLE, HESTITANT ACCELERATION, ENGINE FIRES, ENGINE SHUT OFF DURING OPERATION, FAILED ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *TT

NHTSA ID
10459356
Incident
May 2, 2012
Mileage
39,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

463040

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

FLOW NOISES FROM AREA OF POWER STEERING PUMP AND/OR FOAMING OF POWER STEERING OIL IN RESERVOIR. *TT

916035

AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG ON-OFF SWITCH ON MODEL 129 VEHICLES. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 129 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002010—
2001010—
2000010—
1999110—
1998010—
1997110—
1996010—
1995210—
1994Viewing110—
1993110—
1992010—
1991110—
1990010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.