ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 19, 2014
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
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
Electrical
Filed Oct 19, 2007
1992 MERCEDES E 400 MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. HARNESS FRIED DUE TO POOR WIRING INSULATION. I OWN TWO MERCEDES AND BOTH ARE FOR SALE. WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM MERCEDES EVER AGAIN. TOO MUCH MONEY AND TOO MANT PROBLEMS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10206299
- Incident
- Jun 10, 2007
- Mileage
- 125,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 25, 2007
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. THE WIRING HARNESS WIRES WERE FRIED AND BECAME BRITTLE.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10194117
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2003
- Mileage
- 165,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 20, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS, AND AN AIT TEMP SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARING HARNESS WAS DEFECTED AND METAL WAS VISIBLE. THE WIRES INSIDE WERE DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 6TH, 8TH, 9TH, AND 18TH, AND THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 132,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10188457
- Incident
- Apr 6, 2007
- Mileage
- 13,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2006
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1992 MERCEDES 400E HAS DETERIORATED AND IS CAUSING SHORTS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS FAILING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE REPAIR IS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPLACED DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10167735
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2006
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 24, 2006
I WAS DRIVING 80 GOING ON HIGHWAY 696 WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 3 LANE FREEWAY. I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE ALONG WITH A FEW ANGRY DRIVERS. IT APPEARS THE WIRE HARNESS WAS TOAST. IT SHORT CIRCUITED AND FRIED THE LH MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10166483
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2006
- Mileage
- 162,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 24, 2006
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CRACKED, REPLACED AT COST OF $728 @ MILEAGE OF 86,226 ON 10/21/03. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED AS MB STARMARK VEHICLE AT ~45,000 MILES. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10156015
- Incident
- Oct 21, 2003
- Mileage
- 86,226 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 7, 2006
VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10152151
- Incident
- Mar 7, 2006
Electrical
Filed May 19, 2003
VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING ,TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION. *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10018929
- Incident
- May 15, 2003
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 2003
MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT.
- NHTSA ID
- 10005286
- Incident
- Sep 12, 2002
- Mileage
- 120,239 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2002
CONSUMER STATES IN 08/02 EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS W/AIR CONDITIONING CUTTING OFF. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO DIAGNOSED THAT INSULATION ON FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF BIO-DEGRADABLE MATERIAL RESULTING IN EARY DETERIORATION. NLM
- NHTSA ID
- 8019881
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2002
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.