1993 Mercedes-Benz 300 Owner Complaints

THE ENGINE HARNESS PROBLEM AFTER OWNING MY CAR SINCE 1993. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS MADE WITH BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL WHICH HAS NOW LOST IT'S PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE METAL WIRES. WITH WIRES EXPOSED AFTER THE ENGINE HARNESS DEGRATION, THE CAR WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO LAST ME FOR A LONG TIME, HAS BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. WITHOUT THE PROPER HARNESS REPLACEMENT, THE CAR IS TOTALLY USELESS. UPON CHECKING INTO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT EVERY E300 BUILT BETWEEN 1992 AND 1997 IS BUILT WITH THE SAME HARNESS. ALL THESE CARS THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM TOLD THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, THEREFORE I HAVE STOPPED USING MY CAR. THIS PROBLEM SOONER OR LATER WILL HURT SOMEONE UNTIL MERCEDES RECALLS AND REPLACES THE HARNESS FOR THE CARS THAT THEY HAVE ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505881

Incident

Apr 5, 2013

Mileage

71,000 mi

MY WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED ON MY 1993 300E MERCEDES BENZ THE INSULATION COME OFF WIRING. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437495

Incident

Jun 11, 2007

MY RESEARCH INDICATE THAT THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY MERCEDES BENZ, 300 E, AND 300SE CARS WITH THE TWIN CAM ENGINES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1995. NOT ONLY I AM UNABLE TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TT

NHTSA ID

10417754

Incident

Jul 17, 2011

Mileage

37,854 mi

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF MY VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACT ERRATICALLY. AT START, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT NORMALLY IDLE; INSTEAD IT LURCHED BETWEEN 500-1500 RPM. DURING OPERATION, AT A RANDOM POINTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND TO PRESSING THE GAS, INSTEAD SURGING POWER UNTIL I STOP AND IDLE FOR A MINUTE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH IS DISINTEGRATING. THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE USE OF INFERIOR MATERIALS BY MERCEDES-BENZ WHICH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR USE IN HIGH-TEMPERATURE ENVIRONMENTS. RECENTLY, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE; TODAY, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACHIEVE ANY GOOD ACCELERATION NOR IS IT VERY RESPONSIVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE IS SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED AT THIS TIME. SO FAR, THIS PROBLEM HAS NECESSITATED THE REPLACEMENT OF A BATTERY. I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WILL BE UPWARDS OF $2,000 DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT HARNESS, A PART WHICH IS NORMALLY DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE ENTIRE LIFESPAN OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398067

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

127,000 mi

1. BURNING SMELL 2. POOR RUNNING FAST IDLE TO NO IDLE 3. BM NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10248616

Incident

Nov 11, 2008

Mileage

120,000 mi

THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 300E HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN TO MY MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE HESITATION AND SHORTING THAT OCCURS - ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE THE AC OR HEATER RUNNING AND HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON TRYING TO REMEDY IT BY ATTEMPTING TO RE-WRAP THE WIRING BUT IT ONLY AFFORDED ME A TEMPORARY FIX AT BEST. THE ESTIMATE I WAS GIVEN TODAY WAS FOR $1,400 FOR THE WIRING HARNESS AND ANOTHER $700 - $800 FOR THE LABOR COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT'S INSTALL. FROM THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR ANECDOTAL STORIES I HAVE READ ONLINE WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I WONDER WHY MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229661

Incident

Jun 2, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

VEHICLE IS 1993 MERCEDES 300E SEDAN. 1. STRANGE THINGS GO ON WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2. WHEN UNLOCKING KEY, SOMETIMES THE ALARM WILL GO ON. 3. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER REPAIR WAS DONE. 4. SOMETIMES AIR BLOWER WILL WORK, SOMETIMES NOT. 5. SOMETIMES ANTENNA WILL COME UP, SOMETIMES NOT. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MIGHT BE AFFECTING THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE. I WOULD HATE TO STRIP THE HARNESS TO FIND OUT. BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS NOW ON THIS WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. I WISH THAT MERCEDES WILL DO A RECALL AND REPAIR THESE CARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227953

Incident

Mar 17, 2006

Mileage

130,000 mi

1993 300E 3.2 M104 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DISINTERGRATING, WIRE INSULATION FALLS APART ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS WIRES EVEN NOT EXPOSED TO HEAT DAMAGED. CHRONIC PROBLEM ALL 3 OF OUR MERCEDES HAVE THIS PROBLEM THE 300E THE WORST. I WORKED AT MERCEDES AND REPLACED THESE HARNESS EVERY WEEK. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE CAN RESULT IN FIRES, ECM FAILURE, DRIVABLE ISSUES, NO START, AND MANY MORE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227117

Incident

Apr 28, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF MY MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRES HAD DISINTEGRATED CAUSING SHORTAGES ON THE WIRES. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE MERCEDES WITH SUCH HIGH REPUTATION ON QUALITY WOULD IGNORE SUCH FAILURES ON THEIR PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225826

Incident

Jan 6, 2008

Mileage

97,400 mi

FUEL INJECTOR HARNESS IS DRY ROTTED AS SEEN IN THE IMAGES ON THIS SITE. I JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE HARNESS ASSEMBLY DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP THIS IS CERTAINLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MERCEDES SHOULD REPLACE THE HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215182

Incident

Jan 16, 2008

I OWN A 1993 MERCEDES 300E THAT FOR THE SECOND TIME HAS HAD ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. I FIND THIS TO BE A VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM WITH INSULATION FROM THE WIRE BECOMING BRITTLE AND FALLING OFF. I OF AT LEAST THREE OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198453

Incident

Aug 2, 2007

Mileage

183,000 mi

WIRING HARNESS DISINTERGRATED CAUSING WIRES EXPOSED AND TOUCHING OTHER WIRES. LITTLE OR NO INSULATION IS LEFT ON MOST WIRES. THE ENGINE SURGES/CHARGES WHILE COMPLETE IDLE AND BREAK FULLY ON HOLD.

NHTSA ID

10185318

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

80,000 mi

DECAYED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MISCELLANEOUS ENGINE ERROR INDICATIONS, ASR LIGHT COMING ON (CAR IN "LIMP HOME" MODE). NOT TRACEABLE TO ANY COMPONENT FAILURE. INABILITY TO START THE CAR. REFUSAL OF INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO WORK ON THE CAR UNTIL THE WIRING HARNESS HAS BEEN REPLACES. FAILURE OCCURS ON 65 MPH ROAD, INABILITY TO ATTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REPEATED STALLING. CAR IS AT HOME IN GARAGE AND WILL NOT RUN FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184878

Incident

Mar 2, 2007

Mileage

214,000 mi

I OWN A 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300E. I NOTICED A SECTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS UNDERNEATH MY HOOD BACK AGAINST THE FIREWALL HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE. THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC ON THE WIRING HARNESS IS CRACKING, EXPOSING WIRE. LOOKS LIKE A FIRE HAZARD. MY CAR HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE WIRE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155776

Incident

Apr 13, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHEN HAVING THE CAR SERVICED, THE REPAIR FACILITY IDENTIFIED MAJOR DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THEY INDICATED THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD, POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE OR LOSING ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154300

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 300E THE WIRING ON THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM (AS WELL AS OTHER AREAS OF THE HARNESS) WAS REPLACED 5 YEARS AGO AS DEFECTIVE NOW IT IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS THE RISK OF FIRE IS GOOD. MERCEDES APPEARS TO HAVE USED AN INSULATION THAT IS KNOWN FOR DEGRADATION AND REFUSES TO RECALL OR CARE FOR THE ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154262

Incident

Mar 31, 2006

Mileage

98,000 mi

1993 MB 300E - WIRING HARNESS HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND OR NOT START. STALLING CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THUS LOSING ALL POWER TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154252

Incident

Feb 20, 2006

Mileage

158,000 mi

HEAD GASKET AND FUEL INJECTOR PROBLEMS. *BF *JB

NHTSA ID

10109323

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

DURING A RECENT SERVICE OF MY VEHICLE AT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ SERVICE CENTER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSULATION COVERING MY WIRES WERE DECOMPOSING AND THE WIRES WERE EXPOSED TO THE ENGINE, HENCE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY FAMILY. DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM, AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES IF THE WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE, I ATTEMPTED TO ASCERTAIN SOME CLARITY TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I THEN SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC, AT WHICH TIME HE ADVISED IT WAS A MATERIAL DEFECT. DURING THIS BRIEF DISCUSSION IT WAS ALSO REVEALED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAD OBSERVED THIS PROBLEM WITH 1993 300E CLASS. SINCE, THIS APPEARED TO BE A HABITUAL DEFECT WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL; I ASKED IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED TO REPLACE THIS DECOMPOSING WIRE HARNESS. AS A RESULT, HE REPLIED "NO." I THEN PAID TO REPLACE MY WIRE HARNESS BECAUSE OF THIS EXTREME HAZARDOUS CONDITION. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052963

Incident

Dec 19, 2003

MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG UNTIL I REPLACE MINE. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD A THE LEAST REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS WERE MADE AND AT A COST OF OVER $500.00 PER HARNESS THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FROM CONSUMERS. IF YOU CAN HELP GREAT. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. DAVE MYERS

NHTSA ID

10003491

Incident

Jan 23, 2003

Mileage

103,756 mi

MERCEDES 1993 300E WIRE HARNESS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.(300E MERCEDES) CRACKED AND BRITTLE. MADE WITH VERY POOR MATERIALSMADE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MAKE OF MERCEDES. IF YOU OWN ONE OF THESE CARS IT IS WELL KNOWN YOU WILL NEED TO REPLACE YOUR HARNESS. MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO HELP. I HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG UNTIL I REPLACE MINE. I THINK MERCEDES SHOULD A THE LEAST REPLACE THE PART AT NO CHARGE. THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS WERE MADE AND AT A COST OF OVER $500.00 PER HARNESS THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY FROM CONSUMERS. IF YOU CAN HELP GREAT. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. DAVE MYERS

NHTSA ID

10003489

Incident

Jan 23, 2003

Mileage

103,756 mi

I TALKED TO SEVERAL MACHANICS AND TO DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE I AM VERY SUPRISED THAT IT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. IT ALSO CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL DURING TAKE OFF AND ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT WILL STALL.SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BEFORE PERSONS ARE KILLED OR INJURED. TS

NHTSA ID

767819

Incident

Nov 26, 2001

MY RESEARCH INDICATE THAT THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR MANY MERCEDES BENZ, 300 E, AND 300SE CARS WITH THE TWIN CAM ENGINES MADE BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 1993-1995. NOT ONLY I AM UNABLE TO HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT I AM TOLD BY THE REPAIR FACILITY THAT THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BECAUSE THERE IS A RISK OF FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

759679

Incident

Mar 22, 2002

A/C EVAPORATOR LEAKS WHICH PREVENTS COOLING OF THE VEHICLE. R134A STOP LEAK APPLIED HOWEVER IT DID NOT SEAL LEAK.*AK

NHTSA ID

752048

Incident

May 17, 2001

TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

895235

Incident

Jun 23, 2001