RoadVitals

1993 Mercedes-Benz 600

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.
6
Latest Oct 30, 2012
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 Sep 19, 1996
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz 600, most frequently naming the electrical and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Electrical571.4%
  • Powertrain (other)228.6%

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
96V175000

VISIBILITY

Sep 19, 1996
28,874 units potentially affected
The defect: IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
The risk: PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 30, 2012
Fire reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING MY 1993 MERCEDES TO A GAS STATION IN MY TOWN BEFORE A PLANNED TRIP OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES OF OPEN HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET. SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRANSMISSION HUMP SO I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RAN TO FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE CALLING 911. POLICE ARRIVED AND KEPT ME AWAY FROM THE CAR, WHICH BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HOSED IT ALL DOWN THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND I WAS VERY SHAKEN UP. I ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE FAMOUSLY BAD WIRING ON THESE CARS AND WANT OTHERS TO BE WARNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10482633
Incident
Jan 1, 2012
Mileage
122,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 1, 2011

I OWN A WHITE 1992 600SEL WITH 85,000 ORIGINAL MILES. THE CAR'S INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HOWEVER, THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS IS DISINTEGRATING CAUSING ALL KIND OF ERRATIC ENGINE AND DRIVE-ABILITY BEHAVIOR. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT ALL. IT IS LOOSING POWER, POWER STEERING IS GETTING STIFFER, AND SMELLS LIKE SULFUR ALL THE TIME. THE LAST TWO DAYS THE CAR IS RUNNING VERY SLUGGISH AND MAKES MERGING INTO TRAFFIC OR JOINING TRAFFIC ON FREEWAYS DANGEROUS AS THE CAR CAN'T GAIN SPEED FAST ENOUGH DUE TO THE HESITATION CAUSED BY THE POORLY AND CHEAPLY DESIGNED MAIN WIRING HARNESS WHICH IS MELTING. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY A MERCEDES MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN TRYING TO SAVE THE CAR, BUT THE DISINTEGRATION IS SPREADING ALL OVER. HARNESS REPLACEMENT WILL COST $7000 PLUS, PLUS. MERCEDES BENZ MUST ISSUE A RECALL ON SUCH VITAL SAFETY ELEMENT IN THIS CAR. I AM SURPRISED THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE GIVEN OUR COUNTRY'S STUCK STAND ON SAFETY AND WERE NO PRICE CAN EVER PUT ON SAFETY. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS. ALREADY REPLACED TWO AIR MASS FLOW SENSORS, COOLANT SENSOR, COILS, CONTROL MODULES, FUEL INJECTOR TOP WIRING HARNESS, AND PLUGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10398393
Incident
Apr 30, 2011
Mileage
83,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 8, 2010

MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SAYS THAT MY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO INSULATION CRACKING ON THE WIRES. THEY STATE THAT ENGINE DAMAGE AND FIRE COULD RESULT FROM THIS DEFECT. IN ADDITION A WARNING LIGHT IS ON WHICH OF COURSE RENDERS THE CAR UNSALEABLE. THEY FURTHER STATE THAT THIS IS SYMPTOMMATIC IN ALL THE AGE CARS FROM MB. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT MAY CATCH FIRE AND CANNOT BE SOLD! *TR

NHTSA ID
10342052
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
36,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 26, 2008

VEHICLE IS A 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 600SEL. THE ASR (ACCELERATION SLIP CONTROL) WARNING LIGHT APPEARS AFTER THE ENGINE HAS STARTED (USUALLY LESS THAN 10 MINUTES). THE ENGINE SUFFERS LOSS OF POWER AND VEHICLE BECOMES UNDRIVABLE. MERCEDES MECHANIC STATES THE ENGINE HARNESS BODY MOUNTED (PART NO 1405404805) NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE WIRING IN THE HARNESS HAS APPARENTLY DEGRATED TO THE POINT WHERE SHORTING IS OCCURRING IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT(S).MERCEDES WANTS $3600 FOR THE PART ANT $650 FOR LABOR. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN THE FIRST PLACE. REGARDS JACK G DAVIS *TR

NHTSA ID
10232347
Incident
Jun 25, 2008
Mileage
115,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 15, 2006

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 600 SL - ENGINE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAS DISINTEGRATED. THIS CAR HAS UNDER 80,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152808
Incident
Feb 18, 2006
Mileage
79,452 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 17, 2002

POWER TRAIN PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID
9005925
Incident
Nov 26, 2001

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 600 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001801—
1997200—
1995700—
1994810—
1993Viewing610—
1992800—
1967010—
1966010—
1965010—
1964010—

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.