RoadVitals

1995 Mercedes-Benz 320 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
29
Latest Dec 20, 2012
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.
6
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Aug 8, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 320. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 29 · page 1 of 2

Electrical
Filed Dec 20, 2012

CAR WAS CRUISING AT 10MPH BEFORE GETTING INTO OUR HOUSE DRIVEWAY, WHEN SMOG CAME UNDER THE HOOD, OPEN HOOD IMMEDIATELY AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS MELTING DOWN, SHUT OFF ENGINE AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10489329
Incident
Dec 10, 2012
Mileage
132,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 22, 2012

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MISSING INSULATION WAS DISCOVERED ON WIRING TO A SENSOR IN THE AIR TUBE, VISIBLE OUTSIDE OF TAPE WRAP. I MADE SURE THAT WIRES WERE NOT TOUCHING AND INSULATED THE EXPOSED AREAS AT THE CLIP-ON CONNECTOR TO THE SENSOR. ENGINE MISSFIRE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FUEL DELIVERY AND INJECTOR CLEANER WAS ADDED TO TANK. DRIVEABILTY CONTINUED TO WORSEN, AS ENGINE MISSFIRE BEGAN TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN. I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THE WIRING ISSUES, SO I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE TAPE WRAP ON THE LEAD TO THE SENSOR. THE ENTIRE LENGTH THAT I EXPOSED, HAS CRACKED AND MISSING INSULATION. I THEN STOPPED, AS DISTURBING ANY ADDITIONAL WIRING WILL WORSEN THE PROBLEM. I CHECKED WITH MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES ISN'T DOING ANYTHING TOWARD FIXING THE DEFECTIVE WIRING, AND THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE DISPOSED OF THEIR VEHICLES OR JUST QUIT DRIVING THEM RATHER THAN SPEND THE MONEY TO HAVE REPAIRS MADE. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. DUE TO THE RISK OF FIRE, NOW IT JUST SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL I DECIDE IF I WANT TO HAVE IT HAULED AWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10448946
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Electrical
Filed May 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 320SL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED AUTOMOTIVE CENTER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10329995
Incident
May 4, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 11, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ 320SL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAVE IT TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10329987
Incident
May 4, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 2009

THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IN THE CAR IS KNOW NOT GOOD THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE IN THE CAR. BENZ SHOULD REPAIR IT AT NO CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290748
Incident
Oct 16, 2009
Mileage
170,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 12, 2009

WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER. I WAS TOLD THE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A "BAD" WIRING HARNESS. COST TO REPAIR WAS $1,500.00. WAS TOLD IF THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE THE VEHICLE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PROBLEMS. PRIOR TO SPENDING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND FIND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING 1991-1996 WIRING HARNESSES. I BELIEVE AN IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE VAST NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WOULD CLEARLY INDICATE MERCEDES SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10261605
Incident
Feb 20, 2009
Mileage
104,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 8, 2008

WIRING HARNESS WAS NOTICED TO BE DAMAGED DURING SERVICE AT MERCEDES SERVICE CENTER AND WAS REPLACED. EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE PART AND WAS TOLD BY REPAIR FACILITY THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. HFM CONTROL UNIT IS NOW DAMAGED, ANOTHER VERY EXPENSIVE PART, AND WAS TOLD THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241383
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
202,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 7, 2008

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT OF CAUSING UNEVEN IDLE AND ENGINE SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226952
Incident
Apr 25, 2008
Mileage
129,560 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2007
1 injury reported

FAILURE OF ENGINE WIRE HARNESS ON 1995 E320 MERCEDES BENZ. APPARENTLY DUE TO INFERIOR WIRE. HEAT DESTROYED SOME BUT NOT ALL WIRES. TOTAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE AND NO USE OF THE VEHICLE! QUOTES TO REPAIR (MERCEDES) FROM $2,000 TO $3,700. *TR

NHTSA ID
10205300
Incident
Nov 17, 2006
Mileage
104,581 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 2, 2007

HIGH STATIC ELECTRICITY SHOCK. VEHICLE SHOCKS AFTER ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WHEN BODY CHASSIS IS TOUCHED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10184061
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Electrical
Filed Feb 26, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES SL 320. DURING 60,000 MILE MAINTENANCE CHECK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10183534
Incident
Feb 21, 2007
Mileage
59,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 2006

FAULTY(PREMATURE DETERIORATION) OF WIRING WITHIN MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS; KNOWN ISSUE BY MANUFACTURER(MERCEDES BENZ) CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO RELATED ENGINE COMPONENTS AND COMPROMISING OVERALL SAFETY AND DRIVEABILITY OF VEHICLE, 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 SEDAN.

NHTSA ID
10172545
Incident
Nov 2, 2006
Mileage
45,200 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 3, 2006

CAR CUTS OFF AT VERY HIGH SPEED WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164294
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
85,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 22, 2006
Fire reported

1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320; MY CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING AT IDLE, WORST WHEN A/C IS ON, WHEN ACCELERATING, MAKING TURNS, BACKFIRES CONSTANTLY WHICH FRIGHTENS ME THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH FIRE AND INJURE THE KIDS IN THE CAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHOULD BE REPLACED FIRST BEFORE HE COULD TROUBLESHOOT ANY PROBLEMS AND THIS WOULD COST ME $1000-1600 FOR THE PART PLUS LABOR. I FEEL THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A BUNCH OF WIRES AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT RIGHT MERCEDES BENZ CARS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO DETERIORATE LIKE THIS, IT SHOULD LAST FOREVER. WHEN HAVING TO PAY MORE THAN 50K DOLLARS FOR A CAR, THESE THINGS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. PLS. APPROVE THIS IMPORTANT RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10160457
Incident
Jun 22, 2006
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 4, 2003

WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES E320 HAS DETERIORATED AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE AS PER MERCEDES DEALER. THE CAR STALLS AND IS A SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD. ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS ARE RENDERED USELESS. IT IS AN OBVIOUS MATERIALS OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN BY MECHANICS, BUT DENIED BY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016993
Incident
Apr 21, 2003
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsTransmission
Filed May 22, 2002
1 injury reported

BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND TRANSMISSION GEAR CONSOLE CAME APART. DRIVER WAS INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IF NOTHING WAS HIT.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010305
Incident
Apr 17, 2002
Electrical
Filed Nov 9, 2001
Fire reported

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A POWER SURGE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CAUSED A FIRE TO START. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
898986
Incident
Oct 13, 2001
Engine
Filed May 1, 2000

I CONTACTED TWO DEALERS AND THREE INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANICS AND THEY ALL REPORTED THE SAME THING. MERCEDES USED A NEW TYPE OF GASKET MATERIAL ON THE MERCEDES IN-LINE SIX ENGINE AND THERE HAS BEEN REPEATED FAILURES WITH THERE GASKETS. *AK

NHTSA ID
722154
Incident
Apr 25, 2000
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2000

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND MY SERVICE TECH ADVISED ME OF A DETERIORATED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION. I CONTACTED OUR PARTS SUPPLIER AND WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES WAS HAVING A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE HARNESSES IN 1994 AND 1995 E CLASS MODELS. AT THAT POINT I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE A FACTORY REP LOOK AT MY CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FACTORY REP SAID MERCEDES WAS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF RECONDITIONING CARS. I THEN ASK TO SPEAK TO THE FACTORY REP MYSELF. THE FACTORY REP CALLED AND SAID HE KNEW OF NO SUCH PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED I TAKE MY CAR TO ATLANTA SINCE THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN THEIR REGION. AFTER CALLING SEVERAL DEALERS INSIDE HIS REGION AS WELL AS OTHERS I FOUND THAT ALL DEALERS WERE AWARE OF THIS FIRE HAZARD AND MOST WERE REPLACING THE HARNESS AT NO COST. THE PART NUMBER IS 124 440 5632 AND IS STOCKED AT MOST MAJOR DEALERS BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEM. MY FEELING IS , IF MERCEDES-BENZ KNOWS OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW OF YOUR FINDINGS. SINCERELY KEITH B. KINGAN. *AK

NHTSA ID
720365
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Filed Jan 26, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
717911
Incident
Jan 13, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 29, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DURING A FOUR VEHICLE COLLISION, RESULTING IN A FATALITY AND INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
605735
Incident
Nov 4, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 1998

ABS BRAKES FAILED. ALSO, ELECTRIC SHORT, CAUSING BATTERY/HEADLIGHTS/RADIO/POWER LOCK AND INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
525180
Incident
Sep 30, 1997
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Dec 17, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

VEHICLE'S BODY DID NOT SHIELD WELL DURING AN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DEATH AND INJURY.

NHTSA ID
526781
Incident
Apr 3, 1997
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Nov 7, 1997

PROBLEMS WITH THE SWAY BAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARM, LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
524549
AirbagsEngine
Filed Nov 7, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

ENGINE STALLED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. 526781 DUP OF 524465, POSTED ON 03-N0V-98. *AK

NHTSA ID
524465
Incident
Apr 3, 1997

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.

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