RoadVitals

1994 Mercedes-Benz 600 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.
8
Latest May 11, 2014
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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.
0

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.

6
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10587645 · filed May 11, 2014

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 · filed Jul 20, 2011

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.

3
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 10414468 · filed Jul 20, 2011

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 · filed Feb 11, 2010

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.

2
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 10414468 · filed Jul 20, 2011

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 · filed Feb 11, 2010

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

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 · filed Feb 11, 2010

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10308743 · filed Feb 11, 2010

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 .