1994 Mercedes-Benz E Class Owner Complaints

WIRE HARNESS DECAY, DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10364292

Incident

Nov 3, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

I TURNED ON THE SWITCH OF MY 1994 E320 MERCEDES NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. OPENED HOOD IT WAS ON FIRE. AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED WIRING HARNESS, PLUGS, BUT CAR IS STILL SURGING NOT IDLING PROPERLY. REPLACED INTAKE AIR SENSOR, PLANNING TO REPLACE IDLE ACTUATOR, AND OVP RELAY. 153,000 MILES I HAVE SPENT 3000.00. MY SON WAS PRESENT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. I HAVE ALL OLD PARTS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10339207

Incident

Sep 20, 2008

Mileage

153,000 mi

ENGINE OCCASIONALLY STALLING AT ANY SPEED INCLUDING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. MECHANIC TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHORTING. THE DRIVING IS UNSAFE AS THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE WITH MANY FIRES REPORTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334576

Incident

May 30, 2010

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS WERE CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE STABILIZER BAR WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY IS ONLY VALID IN CANADA AND NOT THE UNITED STATES. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 06/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SPRING HOUSING SHROUD WAS CORRODED. THE WHEEL DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AND THE WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT TO BE A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. UPDATED 06/10/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10268748

Incident

Apr 12, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

1. POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, UNSAFE DRIVABILITY, HESITATION AND STALLING. 2. FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM IS VERY OFTEN. QUALIFIED MERCEDES-BENZ REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DEGRADATION. THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE HARNESSES FAIL, ACCORDING TO THEIR HEAD MECHANICS. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER MECHANICS, THEY, TOO, HAVE WITNESSED AN EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATE. 3. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,210.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264371

Incident

Mar 17, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,800. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADDED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS AT A HIGH FREQUENCY WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10253378

Incident

Dec 5, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

IN MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY DEGRADED IN SOME PARTS, CAUSING THE INDIVIDUALLY INSULATED WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, CAUSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. MY CAR HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES, NEARLY KILLING MYSELF AND ENDANGERING OTHERS. MY FRIEND'S 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, CAUSING SEVERE BURNS ON HIS UPPER ARMS AND SMOKE INHALATION INJURIES BETWEEN ME, HIM, AND SEVERAL PEDESTRIANS. THIS IS A CRUCIAL SAFETY DEFECT AND I CANNOT FIND ANY RECOURSE VIA MERCEDES BENZ TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I AM A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND TO MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246768

Incident

Jul 8, 2008

CRUMBLING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY CAR. I'VE COLLECTED AND RESTORED CARS FOR MANY YEARS, AND FIND THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO BE UNBELIEVABLE - ESPECIALLY FROM MERCEDES BENZ. FURTHERMORE THE LACK OF RESPONSE OR RECALL IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT MB IS INDIFFERENT ABOUT EXISTING OWNER SATISFACTION, CUSTOMER SAFETY AND THE QUALITY OF THE BRAND THEY SO PROUDLY PRODUCE. THE REPAIR IS A $900+ EXPENSE TO ME, AND THERE'S NO ASSISTANCE FROM MB. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241399

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

I OWN A 1994 MB E320,MY ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS,TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM I ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE INTO TANK BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY SEEMED LIKE A FUEL PROBLEM. THE CAR DID RUN OK .A COUPLE OF WEEKS WENT BY AND SEEMED FINE, BUT THE CAR SLOWLY STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN AND CAUGHT US ALL BY SURPRISE WHEN THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID LIMP HOME MODE, WE WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT TWICE AND NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BE SHUTTING OFF MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE, AND NOW THE ASR DOES NOT TURN OFF AND IS STILL IN LIMP MODE. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO ALOT OF MERCEDES BENZ OWNER'S IN THIS CLASS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED MB MECHANIC AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP,THIS ALL WAS WORTHLESS AND A WAIST OF MONEY AS IT SEEMS NEITHER NEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE, SO I HAVE TO DEPEND ON IT EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT RELIABLE ANY MORE. MY FAMILY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME BUT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MERCEDES BENZ? I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR JUST NOW OR TO BE TAKING IT BACK AND FORTH TO BE SERVICED AND BE ADDING NEW PARTS TO IT, BEING THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ONES BEING REPLACED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT,AND THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO IT. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM TO IGNORE OR SWEEP UNDER THE RUG. MY CAR IS THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND SO ARE SOME OF MY PROBLEMS, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID BEFORE THIS VEHICLE IS THE SOURCE OF INCOME AS IT IS THE TRANSPORTATION OF 3CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOL AND MY NEWBORN BABY TO DR.VISITS. MERCEDES BENZ IF YOU READ THIS COMPLAINT AND I KNOW YOU WILL, PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS,IF YOU WISH NOT TO BE, COME PICK UP YOUR CAR AND PAY BACK WHAT I PAID FOR IT SO I CAN BUY ME A RELIABLE CAR OR JUST MAKE IT RIGHT !! *TR

NHTSA ID

10235778

Incident

Jun 17, 2008

Mileage

155,000 mi

I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WAGON AND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS COMPLETELY FAILING. THIS RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO REPLACE IT FOR $1100. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235431

Incident

Jul 9, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FAILURE. WIRES HAVE DISINTEGRATED IN THE MAIN HARNESS RUN FOR THE ENGINE. SAME IS TRUE WITH WIRE HARNESS THAT RUNS DIRECT TO THE M/16 THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THROWING CODES AND ENGINE SURGES AND WILL CUT OUT. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND THEY VERIFIED WHAT WAS A KNOWN FACT. THE WIRE SHEATHING HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND HAD EXPOSED WIRES IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222457

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

122,565 mi

1994 MERCEDES E320 WAS INVOLVED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FAILURE - INSULATION WAS CRACKING AND PEELING OFF AND SHORTED OUT - THIS CAUSED THE THROTTLE BODY AND TRACTION CONTROL TO SHORT OUT THE MAIN COMPUTER OF THE CAR. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS TELLING ME THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THIS COST ME OVER $3,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND USAGE LOSS. NOW, I AM STILL CHASING MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222079

Incident

Jun 30, 2007

Mileage

110,000 mi

MERCEDES BENZ E320 YEAR 1994. MECHANIC SAYS I HAVE A DEFECTIVE ENGINE HARNESS. CAR SPARKS AND CAUGHT FIRE ONCE WHEN STARTED. THIS IS BECOMING A VERY COMMON PROBLEMS IN MERCEDES SOLD AROUND THE YEAR 1994. A SAFETY RECALL IS REQUIRED ASAP TO AVOID INJURY AND CONSUMER ROBBERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219827

Incident

Feb 20, 2008

THE WIRING HARNESS IS DETERIORATING , THE INSULATION IS COMING OFF , PEELING ,AND I GUESS THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BROKE DOWN ON THE ROAD THREE TIMES AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO BE FIXED , BUT THE WHOLE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED UNTIL THE WIRING HARNESS IS REPLACED I HAVE HEARD THAT THE COMPANT HAS IN THE PAST REPLACED SOME OF THE HARNESSES BUT I AM UNABE TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO RESPOND. *CN

NHTSA ID

10213779

Incident

Aug 19, 2001

Mileage

50,000 mi

WIRING HARNESS PREMATURE WEAR DRAMATICALLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212672

Incident

Dec 24, 2007

AUTO FIRE , TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197237

Incident

Jul 17, 2007

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE MERCEDES DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 118,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10194973

Incident

Apr 6, 2006

Mileage

80,000 mi

1994 E320 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED. ALL INSULATION ON WIRES CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF. THE WIRE FUSED TOGETHER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10194719

Incident

Jun 15, 2007

Mileage

104,200 mi

1993 400E MERCEDES BENZ - ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS CRACKING, CAUSING FALSE ENGINE LIGHT CODES. WIRING HARNESS ON TOP OF ENGINE. COST TO REPLACE (PART ONLY) WIRING HARNESS IS APPROXIMATELY $575.00.

NHTSA ID

10193093

Incident

Jun 12, 2007

Mileage

121,000 mi

FAILURE OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL ON FREEWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190976

Incident

May 14, 2007

Mileage

110,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY OTHER CARS WHEN TRYING TO QUICKLY EXIT BUSY FREEWAY. TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW $600.00 ENGINE HARNESS. WE ASKED IF THIS IS A RARE PROBLEM AND HE SAID ALL 1993 AND 1994 E420 MERCEDES NEED THE HARNESS AT ABOUT 100 THOUSAND MILES AND THEY USED A BIODEGRADEABLE COVER ON THE HARNESS AND IT FAILS FROM ENGINE HEAT. HE ALSO SAID IF WE DON'T REPLACE IT, THE ENGINE WILL STOP WHEN DRIVING, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL MERCEDES MECHANICS. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED!!!! *NM

NHTSA ID

10178717

Incident

Jan 12, 2007

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE CONNECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOWING COMPANY HAD DIFFICULTIES ON TOWING THE VEHICLE. THE TOW COMPANY HAD TO USE A HYDRAULIC JACK TO KEEP THE RACK AND PINION FROM DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10177736

Incident

Dec 24, 2006

Mileage

200,000 mi

HI, I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 COUPE. I WAS IN THE SEARCH OF REPAIR ON MY RADIO PROBLEM,THEN I FOUND OUT FROM THE OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM WITH THEIR MERCEDES. I CHECKED THE WIRING HARNESS WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION ON MY CAR, I FOUND THAT THE SAME PROBLEM JUST LIKE THE OTHER OWNER SAY, A LOT OF CRACK ON THE WIRES. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, BECAUSE OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBE THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CAUGHT ON FIRE, SUDDENLY LOST POWER, SHORT OUT THE COMPUTER UNIT ON THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES HAVE NOT DO A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVE FILED THE COMPLAINT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOUR PEOPLE CAN HELP. I JUST NOT DRIVING MY CAR NOW, THE SHOP WANT ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS, THAT'S SOME THING YOU DON'T EXPECT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A USE CAR. THANKS... *NM

NHTSA ID

10172413

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

144,727 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS SCANNER INDICATED A WIRING PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 95V031000 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS SUGGESTED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.

NHTSA ID

10172162

Incident

Oct 27, 2006

Mileage

102,000 mi

MY 1994 MERCEDES E420 WAS NOT STARTING PROPERLY (ASR LIGHT COMING ON, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS). TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO NOTICED ELECTRIC TAPE ON SOME CONNECTIONS, THEN LATER FOUND OUT WHY. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD DETERIORATED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT A MEETING IN THE POURING RAIN AND COULD NOT GET BACK TO THE HOSPITAL ONE EVENING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10169654

Incident

Jul 20, 2006

Mileage

135,000 mi