RoadVitals

1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E

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.
19
Latest Jun 19, 2014
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.
2
Latest Jan 6, 1994
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and driver assistance categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Electrical1781.0%
  • Brakes14.8%
  • Driver assistance14.8%
  • Engine14.8%
  • Powertrain (other)14.8%

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

2 campaigns 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
94V004000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Jan 6, 1994
5,900 units potentially affected
The defect: HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
The risk: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
92V083000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Jun 11, 1992
845 units potentially affected
The defect: THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
The risk: BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 19
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 19, 2014
Fire reported

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED THROUGH AND SOME FLAME WAS STILL GLOWING IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR FILTER. THE UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS CHARRED ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE CAM ACTUATOR HAD DISINTEGRATED. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED HOME I FOLLOWED THE HARNESS BACK TO THE AMP CONNECTOR AND ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES HAD COMPLETELY DEGRADED TO A POWDER. I ALSO CHECKED THE WIRES ON THE MAF SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND THE SAME CONDITION. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE: SUBSTANDARD WIRING INSULATION ON ALL WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604618
Incident
May 26, 2014
Mileage
135,905 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Mar 6, 2014

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES RENDERED VEHICLE USELESS. *SMD MERCEDES BENZ WROTE TO THE CONSUMER, STATING THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING RECALL CAMPAIGNS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL NUMBERS, 92V083000 AND 94V004000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10567263
Incident
Mar 3, 2014
Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 2008

1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE WIRING HARNESS ON THIS VEHICLE. INSULATION ON WIRES IS CRACKING AND PEELING OFF EXPOSING WIRES TO OTHER WIRES AND THE ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CAUSING A FIRE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS COMMON TO THIS MODEL BECAUSE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE INSULATION MATERIAL. I DO NOT WANT INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS WHILE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247345
Incident
Oct 28, 2008
Electrical
Filed Oct 13, 2008

MB WIRING HARNESS FAILURE 1992 400SE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245281
Incident
Sep 27, 2008
Electrical
Filed Jul 9, 2008

THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400E (145,000 MILES), 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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10233679
Incident
Jul 9, 2007
Mileage
145,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 18, 2008

I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ 400E AND THE WIRING HARNESS EVENTUALLY WITHERED AND DETERIORATED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231493
Incident
Jan 24, 2007
Electrical
Filed Jun 11, 2008

1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400E WIRING HARNESS MULTIPLE FAILURES. REPLACED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR (USED) IN 2005 DUE TO DETERIORATION OF INSULATION FROM THE WIRES. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ERA OF MB DUE TO SOME PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE OR TARGETED SELF-DESTRUCTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. TODAY I AM TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO THE STARTER MOTOR FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PARTS, ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUIRE EXTENSIVE LABOR TO REPLACE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY A COMPANY THAT CLEARLY ADVERTISES A "LONG-LIFE" PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10230774
Incident
Jun 10, 2008
Mileage
135,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 26, 2008

THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1992 400E HAS DISINTEGRATED, AS I'VE READ TO BE COMMON OF THE MERCEDES OF THE EARLY 1990'S. MY CAR SHUDDERS DRAMATICALLY WHEN IDLING, AND ALTERNATES BETWEEN PERIODS OF SLOW/NO ACCELERATION TO UNEXPECTED LURCHING FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10222346
Incident
Mar 20, 2008
Mileage
95,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 400E by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1993191038.9
1992Viewing192052.9

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.