1994 Mercedes-Benz 320 Electrical Problems

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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

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

ALREADY REPLACED THE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS ON MY MERCEDES E320 AT A HIGH COST DUE TO FAULTY ENGINEERING USED BIODEGRADABLE WIRING HARNESS NOW I NEED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATOR ALSO A HIGH DOLLAR ITEM SAME THING CORRODED FALLING APART WIRES AND MERCEDES KNOWS OF THIS PLEASE HELP I NEED SOME RELIEF OF THIS MESS PART#0001415725 THANKS.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249962

Incident

Oct 5, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 CABRIOLET HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. AN INVESTIGATION LEADS TO DISINTEGRATED ENGINE WIRE HARNESS, THAT IS SHORTING. THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH AND STALLING. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE HAZARD. THE CAR STALLED ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A SIDE POLE, DAMAGING THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247195

Incident

Sep 15, 2008

Mileage

56,556 mi

CRUMBLING FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING, MISFIRING, EXPOSED WIRES A FIRE HAZARD AND A "NO SPARK CONDITION" CAUSING DEAD CYLINDERS TO POUR RAW FUEL INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER RESULTING IN HEAVY SMOKE AND AN EMANATE SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THIS CONDITION DESTROYED THE $1200 CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO PASS STATE EMISSIONS TESTING. MERCEDES-BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AN OFFERS NO REMEDY. MAYBE AFTER SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED , THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241290

Incident

Mar 16, 2008

Mileage

72,500 mi

MY 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 HAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. IT IS FALLING APART BEING THAT IT WAS CONSTRUCTED USING BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS. IT IS CAUSING MANY, MANY, PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE MISFIRING, SMOKING / BARE WIRES, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235207

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

159,000 mi

A/C AND ALL ITEMS ON FUSE #7 QUIT WORKING. CAR SKIPPED AND WOULD JUST DIE. CHECKED WIRING AND FOUND WIRES CRACKED. ALL WIRES IN HARNESS CRACKED AND LOOKED OVERHEATED. WIRING HARNESS REPLACED BY NEW OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233196

Incident

Jun 14, 2008

Mileage

161,960 mi

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS MADE OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL THAT HAS CAUSED MASSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHEN IT DISINTEGRATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227110

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

Mileage

132,000 mi

1994 MERCEDES E320 WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATION, CRACKING REPLACEMENT WILL BE $2,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223561

Incident

Apr 7, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO BECK MERCEDES BENZ, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS CONDUCTED, I WAS TO THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY INTO. THE HARNESS WIRES WERE QUOTED AS BEING ROTTED. COST IS OVER $2,000.00 TO REPAIR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. AFTER QUESTIONING HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN I WAS GIVEN NO ANSWERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223063

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

WIRE HARNESS FAILURE OUTER SHEATH IS MISSING AND EXPOSED INSULATION IS BRITTLE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES BETWEEN '93 - '95. WHEN WILL THE COMPANY STAND UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I GUESS SOMETIMES IT TAKES A ACCIDENT WITH LIVES LOST AND LAWSUIT BEFORE ANYONE WILL ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222948

Incident

Mar 22, 2008

Mileage

122,000 mi

THE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. ALL THE INSULATION AROUND EACH WIRE HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE CAR DIED AS I PULLED INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR MERCEDES AND THAT THE MFGR. WILL NOT ADMIT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRE INSULATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217590

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

Mileage

179,000 mi

MY WIFE OWNS A 1994 E320 THAT HAS ONLY 19,000 MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 91-96 MERCEDES BENZ ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 19,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211155

Incident

Dec 6, 2007

A YEAR OR TWO AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED(MAY, 1995) I OBSERVED AN OIL LEAK. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER BACK THEN, AND WAS TOLD ESSENTIALLY THAT ALL CARS LEAK OIL AND THAT THIS LEAK WAS MINOR. OVER THE YEARS IT HAS BEEN GETTING MORE PRONOUNCED, NOW LEAKING ON THE EXHAUST CAUSING SMOKE. RECENTLY I STOPPED GOING TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, NOW TO AN INDEPENDENT MERCEDES SPECIALIST. THEY TELL ME THAT THIS OIL LEAK IS FROM THE HEADGASKET, A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE W124 CHASSIS (E320 MODEL). FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON MY PART REVEALS THIS PROBLEM TO BE A COMMONLY REPORTED ISSUE, AND WAS FIXED ON THE NEXT MODEL BY BOLSTERING THE HEADGASKET IN A CERTAIN AREA. IN REPAIRING THE HEADGASKET THE CYLINDER HEAD HAS TO BE REMOVED AND THE ENGINE HARNESS DISCONNECTED. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE HARNESS IS ALREADY CRACKING AND FALLING OFF, EXPOSING THE METAL WIRES. THE ENGINE HARNESS WILL BE COMPLETELY DESTROYED WHEN IT IS MANIPULATED TO DISCONNECT IT. I ALSO IDENTIFIED FROM MY RESEARCH THAT THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS MADE FROM BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS, NOW HOW SMART WAS THAT? NOW I'LL HAVE A $4-5000 REPAIR BILL ON TWO COMMON PROBLEMS WHICH MERCEDES DENIES EVEN EXISTS ON THIS MODEL CAR. IF I DON'T FIX IT, THEN I RUN THE RISK OF ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM THE HARNESS, AND THE RISK OF ENGINE FIRE FROM THE HEADGASKET LEAK, OR SOME CATROSTROPIC COMBINATION OF BOTH. THE ENGINE HARNESS WAS ALSO REPLACED ONCE IN 1998, AFTER IT FAILED ON A 500 MILE ROUND TRIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206569

Incident

Jun 15, 1996

Mileage

10,000 mi

A/C AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES DUE TO WIRE INSULATION CRACKING. A KNOWN DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10204174

Incident

Sep 25, 2007

WIRING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AND IT WAS RAINING AT THE SAME TIME, MY LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, LEADING TO A CRASH ON HIGHWAY I-44. *JB

NHTSA ID

10202468

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

Mileage

160,000 mi

I HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1994 E320 AT 146000. THE HARNESS HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT AND WAS THE SOURCE OF CONTINUED ISSUES WITHIN THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. ULTIMATELY, I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT DUE TO SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195533

Incident

Apr 7, 2004

Mileage

146,083 mi

I HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS DEALING DIRECTLY WITH A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1994 E 320 FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT THEY SEEMED TRUSTWORTHY AT THE TIME BUT AT FURTHER REVIEW I SEE THEY WERE SELLING ME A CAR WITH A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. I HAVE DONE EXTENDED RESEARCH ON WIRING HARNESSES AND THEIR LIFESPAN ARE MORE THAN LIKELY TO LAST LONGER THEN 30 YEARS. I WAS DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY WITH MILD TRAFFIC. IF I WASN'T DRIVING WITH MY ABSOLUTE FULL ATTENTION I WOULD OF RAN TWO CARS OFF THE ROAD. THE CARS CRUISE CONTROL KICKED IN AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD FROM AROUND 65 MPH TO AROUND 75-80 MP CAUSING THE CAR TO DART FORWARD TOWARDS TWO VEHICLES AROUND 3 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF ME. I MANAGED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND I PULLED IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE SAFELY BACK HOME. AFTER THE INCIDENT I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE CARS WIRING HARNESS WAS FAILING AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES BENZ BEFORE I HAD ANYTHING DONE WITH THE CAR. I THEN PROCEEDED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND THAT'S HOW I CAME UPON THIS WEBSITE. I BELIEVE THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE IS A DEFINITE MB FACTORY DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS. BECAUSE NOT A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND THEY COULD BE AT RISK EVERY TIME THEY DRIVE THEIR CAR. IF I WOULD OF KNOWN ABOUT THIS I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS WHOLE ORDEAL IS JUST RIDICULOUS AND MB SHOULD RECALL THE WIRING HARNESSES IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS. IT WOULD SURE BEAT A LAWSUIT. THANKS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188173

Incident

Apr 8, 2007

Mileage

134,267 mi

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS - INSULATION DETERIORATED AND CAUSED POOR PERFORMANCE, ENGINE MISFIRE AND DISPLAY OF VARIOUS FAULT CODES ON DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171717

Incident

Mar 6, 2006

Mileage

91,000 mi

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE INSULATION RESULTING IN STALLING WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10170875

Incident

Oct 14, 2006

Mileage

135,203 mi