1994 Mercedes-Benz 600

DETERIORATED INSULATION ON ETA HARNESS AND STATING HARNESS CAUSED ELECTRICAL SHORT. VEHICLE TO STALLED ON THE BUSY ROAD. MAIN ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND ONE OF THE ETA'S HAS BEEN ALREADY REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SAME INSULATION ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587645

Incident

Sep 16, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE ENGINE AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CAR HAVE DISINTEGRATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES DETERIORATE PREMATURELY ALLOWING THE WIRES TO SHORT OUT AND AFFECT AND HARM MOST OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT REFUSES TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION OR TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY. THE ASR, & SRS SYSTEMS WERE DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY, THE CAR STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE WOULD SURGE OCCASIONALLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, BUT IT WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND THIS MAJOR MANUFACTURING PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

10414468

Incident

Nov 15, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DEVELOPED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO REVERSE OR ANY OTHER GEAR. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, IT ALMOST RAN OVER MY CHILD WHO WAS PLAYING NEARBY AND I WAS TRYING TO BACK UP THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE FOR A WASH. ONE MOMENT THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE, THE NEXT IT SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES TO A HIGH RPM, EVEN BURNING TIRES IN THE PROCESS.AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR ("ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ACTUATOR" "THROTTLE BODY") WIRING HARNESS HAD MULTIPLE SHORT CIRCUITS AS A RESULT OF THE WELL KNOWN MERCEDES WIRING HARNESS DEFECT (WHICH AFFECTS THE MAIN ENGINE WIRE HARNESS, ANOTHER SOURCE OF DANGER AND CAUSE OF MANY ACCIDENTS). THE WIRES' INSULATION OF THE INTERNAL WIRES PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED AND TURNED TO DUST. THIS CAUSED MULTIPLE SHORTS AND THE UNEXPECTED BEHAVIOR. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A 400HP VEHICLE AND AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT IT TURNED LITERALLY INTO A KILLING MACHINE. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES SINCE NEW AND COST $140,000 IT HAS NEVER BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE AND WAS, UP TO NOW, CONSIDERED A SHOWPIECE AND MAINTAINED WITH THE UTMOST CARE. MERCEDES BENZ WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO HONOR ANY REPAIRS. THERE ARE SEVERAL THOUSAND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT YET THE NHTSA HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT INVESTIGATING MERCEDES BENZ. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT OVER 100 LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST WORLDWIDE AND MERCEDES HAS QUIETLY SETTLED THE MOST NOTORIOUS ACCIDENTS. THIS IS WELL KNOWN TO MERCEDES BENZ AND THE INTERNET IS REPLETE WITH EVIDENCE. OVER TWO MILLION VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED. I CONTACTED BOSCH ENGINEERING, THE CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS OF THE PARTS AND SPOKE WITH AN ENGINEER. BOSCH IS FULLY AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEY BASICALLY CLAIM THAT THESE UNSUITABLE, LOW-QUALITY WIRES WERE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY MERCEDES-BENZ IN THEIR DESIGN. THIS IS A $3+ BILLION ENGINEERING PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS AND THE NHTSA, PRESUMABLY AS A RESULT OF POLITICAL PRESSURE HAS NOT INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308743

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

49,000 mi

I BOUGHT A CAR ON EBAY, THE OWNER DECLARED THE CAR WAS FINE AND I PROCEEDED WITH THE SALE. I DROVE UP TO PA. TO PICK THE CAR UP AND THE GENTLEMAN SAID THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS SOON AS HE STARTED IT THAT MORNING. WE THEN WENT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A O2 SENSOR, AND QUOTED ME $200,00 INSTALLED. I DECLINED AND BROUGHT THE CAR HOME TO HAVE MY OWN PEOPLE WORK ON THE CAR. WHEN I WENT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THEY TOLD ME THE WIRING HARNESS WAS SHOT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. $2,000.00. I TOLD THE SELLER AND HE SAID TOO BAD FOR YOU, NO I HAVE A CAR I CANNOT DRIVE AS IT REEKS OF GAS AND STALLS OUT WHEN I PUT THE GAS ON. I AM DEVASTATED TO FIND OUT THAT MERCEDES HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOT HELPING PEOPLE SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I OWN A RUSTING PIECE OF GARBAGE I CANNOT DRIVE AS I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN INCURRED AS THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243123

Incident

Jul 25, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

COOLING SYSTEM LINK, DIAGNOSED TO BE A 4 WAY HEATER HOSE CONNECTOR WHICH MOUNTS ON THE FIREWALL OF MY 1994 S600. INTAKE MANIFOLD MUST BE TAKEN OFF WHICH HAD A WIRING HARNESS LEADING THREW IT WHICH IN TURN CRUMBLED AND FUSED TOGETHER WHICH LEAD TO MULTIPLE ISSUES AND DAMAGE TO MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND PARTS. AFTER THE COOLANT LEAK WAS FIXED THE CAR NEVER RAN THE SAME. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS AT AN OFFICIAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN MULTIPLE WIRE HARNESSES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS BEING DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED THE DOLLAR FIGURE AS OF 8/12/2008 $42,000 AND AS OF TODAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MERCEDES SERVICE EMPLOYEES THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT AND IS A TYPICAL FAILURE ON 91-96 MERCEDES BENZ (ALL MODELS) INCLUDING THE V-12 S600 THAT I OWN. WE HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION, RECORDS AND RECEIPTS OF ALL REPAIRS AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FROM A REPUTABLE MANUFACTURER LIKE MERCEDES BENZ AND FEEL LIKE I SHOULD COMPENSATED FOR MY EXPENSES DUE TO THIS TYPICAL ISSUE AND FEEL THAT WE ALL SHOULD BE GIVEN A RESPONSE FROM MERCEDES AS TO WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN DEALT WITH PROFESSIONALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237919

Incident

Aug 8, 2007

Mileage

79,000 mi

I OWN A 1994 MERCEDES S600, 12 CYLINDER COUPE. THE CAR LISTED FOR $135,000 AND CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN GARAGED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AND HAS BEEN SERVICED EXACTLY TO MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTED SCHEDULE AND ALWAYS BE AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. I WAS RECENTLY ADVISED BY A SERVICE MANAGER AT MERCEDES IN NASHVILLE THAT RECENT PROBLEMS WITH HANDLING AND TROUBLE LIGHTS WERE BEING CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING INSULATION WHICH IS WELL KNOWN BY THIS DEALER AND ALSO BY MERCEDES .. I WAS ADVISED BY THE NASHVILLE DEALER THAT TO REPAIR THE CAR WOULD COST $14,000. I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY REFUSE TO STAND BEHIND THE WIRING OR TO OFFER ANY FINANCIAL HELP TO REPAIR IT. I INVESTIGATED THIS MATTER ON THE INTERNET AND WAS ASTONISHED TO FIND THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT MANY FIRES AND ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. THIS DEFECT IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND WIDESPREAD. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTION TO REQUIRE MERCEDES TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE AND REPLACE THE DANGEROUS WIRING BEFORE DEATH AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS, WHICH SEEM INEVITABLE, MAKE US ALL WISH WE HAD DONE WHAT WE COULD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214605

Incident

Jan 10, 2008

Mileage

82,500 mi

I PURCHASED A 1994 SL600 ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WHICH HAD ONLY 56,000 MI ON IT. IT WAS SOLD TO ME AS A LIKE NEW AUTO. WELL, IT IS FAR FROM LIKE NEW BUT THE PROBLEM I WILL MENTION TO YOU IS THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH HAS VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXORBITANT PRICE. THE DISINTEGRATING WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUSED ME ENORMOUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR,NOT TO MENTION THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING A FIRE HAZARD. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MERCEDES 91-96 MODELS AND I WANT TO ADD MY NAME TO THE LISTS OF COMPLAINTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188056

Incident

Apr 16, 2007

Mileage

56,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS HAD VARIOUS ANOMALIES OCCURRING OVER SEVERAL MONTHS INVOLVING ENGINE SPUTTERING AND ABUNDANT SMOKE FROM ENGINE. NUMEROUS SERVICE ATTEMPTS DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM AS ALL CLUES WERE INTERMITTENT. WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH FOR "CHECK ENGINE" "SRS" "ASR" AND OTHERS WOULD APPEAR CERTAIN TIMES UPON IGNITION, WHILE OTHERS APPEAR NEXT TIME. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START BUT NOT MAINTAIN IDLE INDEPENDENT OF APPLYING ACCELERATOR, AND THEN ONLY TRAVEL AT A MAX SPEED OF 20 MPH AT 3000 RPM. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT DETERIORATED ENGINE HARNESS EXPOSING HV WIRES HAD DAMAGED THE LEFT AND RIGHT THROTTLE CONTROL AND THE EFP CONTROL UNIT. THE TIGHT GROUPED VOLUME OF WIRES WERE DECAYED, CHECKED, OR POWDERIZED THROUGHOUT ITS ENTIRETY, AND COUPLED WITH NOW SHORTED-OUT DAMAGED COMPONENTS, CAUSED THE SMOKING AND SPUTTERING... A RECIPE FOR FIRE. AND FIRE IS EXACTLY WHAT'S OCCURRED TO THE MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME SORT OF DECAYED WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM THAT I'VE ONLY NOW LEARNED FROM YOUR WEBSITE AND OTHER INTERNET SOURCES HAS BEEN PREVALENT AND KNOWN FOR YEARS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE LIST PRICE FOR THIS NEW HARNESS AND THE THREE COMPONENTS EXCEED $13,000.00, WHILE FROM THEIR MODEST APPEARANCE, THEIR COST TO CONSTRUCT ARE LIKELY ONLY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THESE HARNESSES SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED TO ENSURE THAT NO FIRES OCCUR. MOREOVER, MERCEDES HAS ALREADY RECOVERED THERE "R&D" COSTS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST SOLD, AND IN NO WAY SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS BY BEING ALLOWED TO PROFIT FROM SALES OF OTHER COMPONENTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT THAT THE HARNESS SUBSEQUENTLY FOULED. CURRENTLY, I AM AT A STANDSTILL AS THE UNFAIR LIST PRICING FOR THESE FOUR PARTS THAT COULD FIT INTO A LUNCH PAIL, EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AS A WHOLE. I AM WRITING TO REQUEST THAT THIS ISSUE BE OFFICIALLY INVESTIGATED SO THAT I, AND THE MANY OTHERS IN MY POSITION, CAN BE PROPERLY REMEDIED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179001

Incident

Jan 9, 2007