1995 Mercedes-Benz 420 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 420, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical743.8%
- Engine212.5%
- Transmission212.5%
- Steering16.3%
- Airbags16.3%
- Visibility16.3%
- Brakes16.3%
- Seat belts16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420 HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MANY PLACES, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A NON-OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SO FAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND WILL NOW NOT RUN AT ALL. APPARENTLY THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN DOWN DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE WIRES WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION THEY WERE USED FOR. *TR
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM PLASTIC COATING IS BREAKING DOWN AND THE BARE WIRES ARE SHORTING OUT MAKING THE CAR UNABLE TO USE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF WITH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. THE INSULATION WAS POORLY DONE, WHICH CAUSES THE WIRING TO BREAKDOWN. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX FOR THE CONSUMER. SAFETY IS THE ISSUE HERE WHEN THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO FAIL TO ACCELERATE. *TR
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S420 HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE WIRING INSULATION IS CRACKED AND BROKEN IN MANY PLACES, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A NON-OPERATING CONDITION. THE CAR HAS STALLED 3 TIMES SO FAR, IN TRAFFIC, AND WILL NOW NOT RUN AT ALL. APPARENTLY THE WIRES HAVE BROKEN DOWN DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I BELIEVE THE WIRES WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE APPLICATION THEY WERE USED FOR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
ASR SYSTEM FAILURE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE.
VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY VIBRATES WHEN IN ANY GEAR OTHER THAN NEUTRAL, DUE TO POSSIBLE DRIVE TRAIN COMPLICATIONS. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER TURNING RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL RESISTS TURNING BACK TO LEFT POSITION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG, CAUSING INJURY IN ACCIDENT. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUN ROOF FAILED. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKES VIBRATE, CAUSING ROARING SOUNDS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FIRMLY AFTER DRIVING LONG DISTANCES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEE INFORMATION RECORDED IN ATTACHED LETTER. COMPLAINT REGISTERED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICES CENTER, MERCEDES-BENZ, USA VIA TELEPHONE ON SEPTEMBER 13, AND 16, 2002, WITH NO RESULTS TAKEN TO RESOLVE FAULTY SEAT BELT. I NOTE THAT NHTSA BULLETIN NO.: SB049577, WAS ISSUED DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 1996, THAT INDICATES THAT VEHICLES, MY MODEL YEAR WITHOUT SIDE AIR BAGS SRS SENSOR WAS UPDATED AND REPLACED BY PART #001 820 19 26. I FIND NO EVIDENCE BASED UPON A REVIEW OF THE VEHICLE MASTER INQUIRY (VMI) THAT SRS SENSOR WAS REPLACED. COPY OF LETTER OUTLINING MY CONCERNS RE: SAFETY ISSUE BEING MAILED THIS DATE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .