1994 Mercedes-Benz 600 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 1994 Mercedes-Benz 600, 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
- Electrical646.2%
- Engine323.1%
- Fuel system215.4%
- Driver assistance17.7%
- Powertrain (other)17.7%
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .