RoadVitals

1993 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 Mar 24, 2016
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.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 400E, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical1463.6%
  • Engine418.2%
  • Driver assistance313.6%
  • Fuel system14.5%

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

1 campaign 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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 19
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 24, 2016

PARKED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT IN PARK THEN TURNED IGNITION OFF. BURNING SMELL COMING FROM VEHICLE THEN SMOKE STARTED GOING IN THROUGH VENTS AND SEEMED LIKED IT WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS IS CREATING MASS AND THE CAR NEARLY WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND WERENT ABLE TO PUT OUT THE SMOKE AS THE SOURCE OF IT WAS NOT IMMEDIATLY DETERMINED. I AM NOT LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
10851497
Incident
Mar 24, 2016
Mileage
163,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 4, 2015

THE FUEL INJECTION ENGINE HARNESS WIRING HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED DUE TO THE USE OF A BIO DEGRADABLE MATERIAL BY MERCEDES BENZ. HAS RESULTED IN A LOT OF SHORTING ISSUES, WHICH RESULTED IN AIR CONDITIONING TURNING OFF, FAN CONTROL OFF, ENGINE HEATING UP, BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE, AND NOW SMOG FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MERCEDES AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT. I HAVE HAD OVER $4000 REPAIRS AND STILL NEED TO GET THE ENGINE HARNESS CHANGED, WHICH IS A CUSTOM PAR AND MERCEDES WILL TAKE 2 MONTHS TO BUILD AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE ON MY CAR IS OVER $8000 BY MERCEDES STEVEN CREEK. THESE PROBLEMS GOT ME 2 TRAFFIC TICKETS FOR NO REASON. DISGUSTING. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE, AND PROVIDE EXCELLENT SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, TO PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR CAR. I REQUEST MBUSA PRESIDENT TO KINDLY LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10692130
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Mileage
180,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 4, 2014
Fire reported

WIRING CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO FAULTY WIRING HARNESS INSULATION, WHICH IS WELL DOCUMENTED. YET, MERCEDES REFUSES TO RESOLVE/RECALL THIS ISSUE. WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618874
Incident
Aug 4, 2014
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 12, 2012

FAULTY WIRING IN ENGINE HARNESS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER AT SPEED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, LUCKILY AT THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR'S CHARGING SYSTEM HAD BEEN SHORTED OUT. STILL WAITING ON OTHER SYSTEM TESTS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MERCEDES. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10484072
Incident
Nov 9, 2012
Mileage
278,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 13, 2010

I OWN A 1993 400E MERCEDES. RECENTLY IT HAS HAD MAJOR DIFFICULTY TURNING OVER. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MERCEDES BENZ REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME IT THE ENGINE HARNESS HAS GONE BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COMPLETELY. EVIDENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS MERCEDES USED SUB-STANDARD MATERIALS WHEN BUILDING THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS CAUSES MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES AND I BELIEVE MERCEDES SHOULD BE FORCED TO BEGIN RECALLING THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10310130
Incident
Jan 1, 2010
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2009

WIRING HARNESS ON MERCEDES BENZ 400E FAILED AND ENTERED A LOW POWER BACKUP MODE ON THE HIGHWAY FAR AWAY FROM OUR RESIDENCE. WIRING HARNESS IS CHARRED AND HARNESS SHORTED OUT ON ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257260
Incident
Jan 30, 2009
Mileage
211,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 2008

MERCEDES 400 E HAS A TERRIBLE WIRE HARNESS DRY ROTTED FROM TEMPERATURE FROM ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236751
Incident
May 8, 2008
Mileage
210,789 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 10, 2007

THE WIRE HARNESS IS CRACKED AND ROTTEN. THE MOTOR DOES NOT RUN RIGHT. IT STALLS AND CUTS OUT. THE MECHANIC SAYS TO JUST GIVE HIM $1000.00 FOR A TEMP. FIX DUE TO THE MATERIALS USED IN THE REPLACEMENT HARNESS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10178341
Incident
Jan 10, 2007

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

S-B-54.10/262

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

MERCEDES MY-ALL MODELS 164.195 212.095, 221-195 222-163, 245.286 . VEHICLES MUST BE EXAMINED IMMEDIATELY AFTER AN ACCIDENT TO AVOID DAMAGE TO HV BATTERY. *LJ

LI54.65-P-059115

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PARKTRONIC SYSTEM TRIGGERS WITHOUT OBVIOUS CAUSE. *LJ

LI27.00-P-057408

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INTEGRATED TRANSMISSION CONTROL MUST BE REPLACED IF FAULT CODES ARE REPLACED. *LJ

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 400E by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1993Viewing191038.9
1992192052.9

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.