ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Apr 22, 2013
DETERIORATED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING CAUSING FORCED LIMP MODE AND OTHER GREMLINS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10509193
- Incident
- Apr 19, 2013
- Mileage
- 123,233 mi
1995 Mercedes-Benz 500
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.
8
Latest Apr 22, 2013
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.
0
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
1 injuries, 1 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz 500, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and driver assistance categories. 9 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 3 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 6 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 7 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 8 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical433.3%
- Engine325.0%
- Driver assistance18.3%
- Brakes18.3%
- Fuel system18.3%
- Seat belts18.3%
- Visibility18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 12, 2012
I OWN A BEAUTIFUL BLACK 1995 S500 MERCEDES BENZ WITH 142,000 MILES. AS YOU KNOW, THE MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATION KNOWINGLY INSTALLED A BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IN MODELS '91-'96. THESE ENGINE WIRE HARNESSES, WERE PURPOSELY INSTALLED AND DESIGNED TO BREAKDOWN AND DISINTEGRATE. BECAUSE OF THIS FLAWED DECISION, I NOW FACE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. AFTER RESEARCHING MY VEHICLE'S DIAGNOSIS, I DISCOVERED THAT MERCEDES CORPORATION KNEW THE HORRIFIC, DETRIMENTAL HAZARDS AND IMMENSE FINANCIAL COSTS OWNERS INHERITED DUE TO THE BIO-DEGRADABLE MATERIAL IN THEIR VEHICLES. I FIND IT TO BE CRIMINAL AND SHAMEFUL THAT MERCEDES HAS NEVER TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND HAVE NEVER NOTIFIED POTENTIAL BUYERS OR OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES OF THE HAZARDS AND EXPENSE. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. THE ENTIRE CAR IS AT RISK AND SO IS MY LIFE. I AM EXPERIENCING ALL KINDS OF MALFUNCTIONS IN MY VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT INTO MERCEDES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THE WIRE HARNESS AND ACTUATOR WERE GIVEN AS THE CAUSE AND IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE OF REPLACEMENT. NEVER ONCE DID MERCEDES INFORM ME WHY THE HARNESS HAD FAILED. THE WIRES HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE, CAUSING SHORTS, MALFUNCTIONS, SMOKE, AND UNRELIABLE STARTUP. MERCEDES BENZ KNEW IT FROM THE START, AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ALSO KNOWS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS OBVIOUS SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE UNNECESSARY HARM AND DEATH? AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS, WHAT I FOUND LEFT ME DISGUSTED AND OUTRAGED. I AM UNDERTAKING A CAMPAIGN TO GET THIS OUT TO THE CONSUMER. I WONDER HOW MANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, INJURIES EVEN DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS SILENCE. HAS NHTSA RESEARCHED THIS? RECALL..IT?S THE RIGHT THING TO DO! *TR UPDATED 10/04/12
- NHTSA ID
- 10475240
- Incident
- May 25, 2012
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 20, 2010
ON FEB 18, I DROVE MY MB S500, 1995 WITH MY FAMILY ON ORANGE HIGHWAY 5 AT 70M/H AND SUDDENLY MY CAR ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, I WAS ALMOST GET HIT BY THE TRUCK IN MY BACK. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT STILL WORKED BUT WITH A RED SIGNAL "CHECK THE ENGINE". I DROVE TO THE NEARBY MB REPAIR STORE AND IT IS A PROBLEM CALLED " ENGINE WIRE HARNESS" DEFECT. THE PROBLEM ALMOST GET ME AND BROTHER KILLED. I AM STILL TERRIFIED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10312384
- Incident
- Feb 18, 2010
- Mileage
- 79,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 2008
THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1995 S500 MERCEDES-BENZ HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND THE COST IS OVERWHELMING TO REPAIR. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MUCH IN OTHER UNNECESSARILY REPAIRS. MERC-BENZ SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH POOR MATERIALS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10216864
- Incident
- Jul 23, 2006
Brakes
Filed Oct 30, 2000
Crash reported1 death reported
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 735440
- Incident
- Sep 7, 2000
Visibility
Filed Nov 7, 1997
REAR DEFROSTER FAILED.
- NHTSA ID
- 605794
Seat belts
Filed Apr 14, 1997
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS ON THEY ARE VERY LOOSE. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT HOLD CONSUMER IN THE SEAT IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED BOTH BUT STILL HAVNG THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 807179
- Incident
- Jan 12, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed May 22, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
TURNING INTO PARKING LOT VEHICLE SURGED 80 MPH TWICE, RESULTING IN TWO ACCIDENTS, DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES IN SECOND ACCIDENT. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 965638
- Incident
- May 21, 1995
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
27/962B
WHEELS
REAR WHEEL RIMS WIDER THAN FRONT RIMS - DIFFICULTY IN ROTATING TIRES. *TW
MB77/35
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
UNKNOWN
MB10/954
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHEEL HARNESS CHANGE. *TW
MB08/952
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLES BUILT IN 1995 WILL NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF TURNING THE TRUNK LIGHTS OFF MANUALLY. *TW
MBNA54/42
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
ENGINE WILL NOT CRANK - REWIRING VOLTAGE SUPPLY FOR STARTER LOCK-OUT RELAY MODULE. *TW
01/953
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
DESIGN CHANGE OF HORN. *TW
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
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.