RoadVitals

1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
23
Latest Feb 13, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500, 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

  • Electrical1777.3%
  • Brakes14.5%
  • Driver assistance14.5%
  • Engine14.5%
  • Seat belts14.5%
  • Transmission14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

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.

17
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WIRE HARNESS DEFECT CAUSING SHORT IN SYSTEM SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTY ROAD IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER CUTTING OTHER DRIVERS OFF JUST TO GET VEHICLE IN A SAFE AND SECURED LOCATION.

NHTSA ID 10825979 · filed Feb 13, 2016

ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INSULATION CRACKED ALL THROUGHOUT HARNESS. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT!! *TR

NHTSA ID 10443206 · filed Jan 9, 2012
All 17 reports naming electrical →

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ABS BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN BRAKES FADING/EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS. *AK

NHTSA ID 523016 · filed Jan 14, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A STORE WINDOW, KILLING A BYSTANDER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID 852487 · filed Nov 3, 1999

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 500E SEDAN WAS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING, THUS PLACING ME AT RISK OF NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR AN EXAMINATION OF BOTH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE-BODY SHOWED DISINTEGRATION OF THE WIRES PROTECTIVE INSULATION. BOTH ITEMS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $1,900.

NHTSA ID 10200980 · filed Aug 28, 2007

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT FUNCTION SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA ID 9003474 · filed Aug 28, 2001

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM MOVING THE VEHICLE WHEN ANY PORTION OF VEHICLE IS ON ICE/SNOW ON AMAIN HIGHWAY OR IN DRIVEWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID 964294 · filed Apr 25, 1995

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

Data on this page last refreshed .