RoadVitals

1993 Mercedes-Benz E Class

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.
7
Latest Nov 15, 2010
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.
2
Latest Apr 7, 2009
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

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mercedes-Benz E Class, most frequently naming the electrical and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical787.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%

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

2 campaigns 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
09E012000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 7, 2009
16,270 units potentially affected
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
SABERSPORTView on NHTSA.gov
95V031000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Feb 21, 1995
50,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT PASSENGER METAL FOOT REST CAN, OVER TIME, ABRADE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE FOOT REST CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT, STALL THE ENGINE, OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY AN AIRBAG, ANY OF THESE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL WIRING HARNESS CABLE FASTENER TIES AND EDGE PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SHARP EDGES OF THE METAL FOOT REST.
MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Nov 15, 2010

RECENTLY MY 53K MILE (VERY LOW MILEAGE) 1993 MERCEDES 300E 2.8 SUDDENLY STALLED (WITHOUT ANY WARNING) ON A LOCAL EXPRESSWAY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT (THE CAR FROM BEHIND ALMOST HIT ME). AFTER I HIRED A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE STALL WAS CAUSED BY BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THIS CAR (ALSO SEE HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML#COMMENT-FORM). I CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. THIS ENGINE STALL ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN FEW DAYS AGO, AND IT'S MAKING SUCH A WELL-MAINTAINED LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I URGE THE NHTSA SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES AND ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THANKS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10365668
Incident
Oct 20, 2010
Mileage
53,999 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 16, 2009
Fire reported

WIRING HARNESS DEFECT / FAILURE, LEADING TO INOPERABLE AND FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258838
Incident
Feb 14, 2009
Mileage
155,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 13, 2007

THE INSULATION ON THE ENGININE WIREING HARNESS HAS DISENTIGRATED. THIS IS THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS AND IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH 1991-1996 MERCEDES-BENZ M104 ENGINES. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE RISK AS WELL AS AN ACCIDENT HAZARD AS IT WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE (AND POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC.) TO FAIL AT SPEED. MERCEDES WILL NOT RECALL THE PART AND RELACEMENT IS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

NHTSA ID
10196287
Incident
Jul 10, 2007
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED. INTENSE PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REQUIRED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. AFTER BEING TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEMS PERSISTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 95V031000, WHICH PERTAINED TO THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. SECONDLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM ACTIVATED, AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED. A MANUFACTURER TECHNICIAN DISCONNECTED THE ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10172529
Incident
Oct 27, 2006
Mileage
53,090 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 2006

THE IGNITION MODULE (ALSO KNOWN AS AN EZL) IN MY 500E SHORTED OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOSE SPARK TO 4 OUT OF 8 ENGINE CYLINDERS (ONE-HALF OF MY ENGINE), AND THRU MY CAR INTO "LIMP-HOME" MODE, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS BEGINNING TO MERGE ONTO THE #405 FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES. I BELIEVE THE DISINTEGRATING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MERCEDES HAS INSTALLED IN THE MAJORITY OF THEIR MODEL YEAR 1991-1995 PRODUCTION IS WHAT CAUSED THIS OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE MODULE TO FAIL, PLACING ME IN A VERY DANGEROUS AND TENSE SITUATION. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE TO READ NEARLY ONE-HUNDRED FIFTY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS: HTTP://USERS.ADELPHIA.NET/~INFOAGE1/COMPLAINTS_NHTSA_MERCEDES_WIRING_HARNESS_FAILURES_1992_1995.HTML. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152244
Incident
Nov 30, 2005
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2004

WIRING HARNESS: UNDER HOOD TOP OF MOTOR FAILED. SHEATHING HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND INDIVIDUAL WIRING STRANDS HAVE MELTED TOGETHER. VEHICLE QUIT RUNNING AND WOULD NOT RESTART. BURNT WIRE COULD BE SMELLED WHEN HOOD WAS RAISED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10056735
Incident
Feb 2, 2004
Mileage
131,050 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 14, 2003

MY 1993 300CE WIRING HARNESS HAS TOTALLY DRIED UP AND CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. RESULTING IN INTERNITTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND WASTED DOLLARS SPENT ON TROUBLE SHOOTING.

NHTSA ID
10005860
Incident
Feb 15, 2001
Mileage
75,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI68.05-P-059193

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

SENTEX gate operator with Clik Card Remote not compatible with Homelink

885040

STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID

TRUNK LID OPENS OR CLOSES TOO QUICKLY WHILE OPERATING WITH REMOTE TRUNK LID CONTROL BUTTON. *TT

5410117

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER SHUTOFF DISPLAYED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHILE DRIVING. *TT

PSIMBNA4020M

TIRES

UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC

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

Mercedes-Benz E Class by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008500—
2006101144.1
2005931—
2004154049.9
2003454046.7
2002800—
2001150238.7
2000341343.5
1999131239.6
1998240237.7
1997381243.9
1996162143.7
1995212048.5
1994382053.8
1993Viewing720—
1992020—
1991010—
1990010—
1989010—
1988010—
1987010—
1986010—
1985010—

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.