1994 Mercedes-Benz 320

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

NHTSA ID

10500882

Incident

Feb 7, 2013

Mileage

192,350 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE INDICATOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ERRONEOUSLY, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS AND WIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ID

10483531

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS RUSTED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED EVOQ 03/28/12

NHTSA ID

10451959

Incident

Feb 13, 2012

Mileage

55,000 mi

I HAVE A 1994 E320, IM GOING TO SUM THIS UP, THE HARNESS IS JUNK, MY CAR STALLS ON THE FREEWAY, USES UP GAS LIKE A RUNNING HOSE, GOT 6 MILES ON 12.00 WORTH OF GAS, LIGHTS FLICKER, WHEN I CUT BACK THE TAPE IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE PUT CIG TOBACCO IN THE WIRE, THEN I LOOKED AND IT WAS THE INSULATION THAT HAD TURNED TO NOTHING, ALL WIRES ARE RUBBING. THE FUEL INJ. GET FLOODS WITH OIL,GAS. ITS A MESS AND THEY WANT OVER 1000.00 TO GET A NEW ONE. RECALL THIS HARNESS BEFORE PEOPLE START TO DIE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419345

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 MERCEDES E-320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE AIR CONDITIONER AND SMOKE BEGAN EMITTING FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING WIRES HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 288,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10386853

Incident

Sep 8, 2010

Mileage

288,000 mi

1. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHT ALARMS OVER 12 MONTH PERIOD. 2. AFTER MANY FRUITLESS AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS OF SENSORS, THE PROBLEM WAS TRACED TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, WHERE THE INSULATION ON INDIVIDUAL WIRES HAD LARGELY DISINTEGRATED. THIS WAS REPORTEDLY DUE TO USE OF DEFECTIVE INSULATION AT THE TIME OF MANUFACTURE, WHICH OVER TIME AND NORMAL USE, WOULD DISINTEGRATE AND BREAK OFF, ENABLING INDIVIDUAL WIRES IN THE HARNESS TO SHORT TOGETHER. THE REPAIR FACILITY HAD MAYBE 20-25 OF THESE FAILED HARNESSES HANGING ON THE WALL AS A DISPLAY - THIS IS IN A SMALL TOWN, SO THE TOTAL NUMBER MUST BE VERY LARGE IN THE USA. MERCEDES BENZ REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM OR THE REPAIR, CLAIMING ESSENTIALLY THAT IN 10 YEARS FROM MANUFACTURE DATE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE AND THAT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THIS FAILURE PRODUCED UNSAFE CONDITIONS, THE CAR WOULD FAIL TO START, STOP RUNNING ON THE ROAD AND WOULD FAIL TO RESTART, ETC. 3. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED, AT MY COST OF CLOSE TO $1000. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE. THE OLD PART IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298842

Incident

Jun 3, 2003

Mileage

71,000 mi

I WAS GETTING THE CAR DYEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND AT STOP LIGHTS AND SMOKE OUT FROM UNDER MY HOOD, THEN TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME OF A PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES WIRING FROM 91-96. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT FESS UP TO!!! THE HARNESS COST ME OVER $600.00!!!!! FOR WHAT THEY PROBABLY PAID 10.00 TO HAVE MADE FOR THEM. WHERE IS MY GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ME AND OTHERS FOR WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE IT GETS LOOKED AT SERIOUSLY? GO TO ANY MERCEDES FORUM AND THERE WILL BE PAGES UPON PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY PROBLEM?????!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10273162

Incident

May 29, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

1994 MERCEDES E320 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN IN THE MB COMMUNITY THAT THESE CARS WIRING HARNESS WAS MADE FROM DEFECTIVE MATERIALS AND PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE. THIS HARNESS COSTS AROUND 1000.00 WHY IS MY GOVERNMENT NOT PROTECTING IT'S PEOPLE FROM THIS FRAUD?! *TR

NHTSA ID

10270105

Incident

May 27, 2009

Mileage

152,000 mi