Electrical
Filed Jun 28, 2020
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS MADE WITH BIODEGRADABLE INSULATION THAT HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN OFF THE THE WIRES CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE GLOW PLUG SYSTEM.
- NHTSA ID
- 11331311
- Incident
- Jun 15, 2020
- Mileage
- 212,000 mi
1995 Mercedes-Benz E 300
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 Jun 28, 2020
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mercedes-Benz E 300, most frequently naming the electrical, body & structure and suspension categories. 20 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2014 | 2 | 2 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 2017 | 1 | 4 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 6 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical571.4%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Suspension114.3%
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
Electrical
Filed Jul 7, 2017
THE COPPER CORE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRE ARE EXPOSED CAN EASILY CAUSE SHORTING OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A DAILY DRIVING VEHICLE SINCE 1995 SPENDING THE WHOLE LIFETIME IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL MODEL LINE 1995 MERCEDES E300 DIESEL, BUILT IN THOSE PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR. THESE WIRES ARE CONSIDERED LIFETIME AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT CONSIDERED BE REPLACED AFTER 10 OR 15 OR EVEN 20+ YEARS IN USE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11003727
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2017
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2017
ALL OF THE WIRE INSULATION ON THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD DECAYED. SEVERE RISK OF FIRE. APPARENTLY MERCEDES-BENZ USED BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION. WHEN EXPOSED TO THE HEAT THAT IS IN THE ENGINE BAY, THE COATING COVERING THE WIRES DISINTEGRATES. VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER, NO ACCIDENTS.
- NHTSA ID
- 11000303
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2017
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 3, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED AND A SQUEAKY NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME HOLDING THE SUSPENSION SHOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED WELDING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,872.
- NHTSA ID
- 10892918
- Incident
- Jul 27, 2016
- Mileage
- 171,872 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2014
THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE GLOWPLUG WIRING HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED LEAVING THE COVERING IN DUST EXPOSING BARE WIRES THAT SHORT OUT AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS. MBUSA WAS CONTACTED AND THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS TO GET A LOCATION. I INQUIRED A SECOND TIME BUT GOT NO RESPONSE EXCEPT A NEW HARNESS WAS $565 AT LOCAL DEALER. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10639600
- Incident
- Jun 17, 2013
Electrical
Filed Sep 28, 2014
WIRE INSULATION COVERING HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO HEAT AND AGE LEAVING POWDER OF INSULATION AND BARE WIRES CAUSING MALFUNCTION. MBNA WAS CONTACTED BUT NEVER ANSWERED EXCEPT TO GET MY COUNTRY. SECOND ATTEMPT AT COMMUNICATING WITH THEM GOT NO RESPONSE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10639598
- Incident
- Sep 8, 2014
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
LI42.47-P-067502
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC); SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
If the customer brakes sharply from a speed of > 30mph, without ABS intervention, there is a single cracking noise from the area of the ESP hydraulic unit
LI54.65-P-072065
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Unmotivated Reaction from Park Assist - model series 213 facelift / 238 facelift with option code 235 (active par- king assist) and option code 501 (surround view system)
LI32.22-P-071495
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRMATIC Fault Message "Max 80 km/ h (50 mph) " In Instrument Cluster
LI46 35-P-070153
STEERING
Assessment of actuating and operating noise from steering
LI35 30-P-058566
POWER TRAIN
Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of rear axle
LI33 30-P-056665
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SUSPENSION
Throttle lift-off clunking noises at drive shafts of front axle
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.