1995 Mercedes-Benz E Class Owner Complaints

WIRING HARNESS HAS SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS-STARTED WITH WIRING TO MAS MELTING. I REWIRED THAT-DROVE CAR ANOTHER YEAR WITH SMALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BLOWING FUSES WITHOUT FINDING CAUSE-DROVE CAR TO WORK ONE DAY,RAN FINE,CAME OUT TO GO HOME AND IT HAD A MISS. REMOVED COVER OVER INJECTORS AND FOUND ALL THE WIRING WAS BARE.THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MBS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520698

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

I HAVE MULTIPLE WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FAULTY TACHOMETER GOES ON AND OFF BY IT SELF. FAULTY AC WIRES ISOLATION IS DESTROYED, FAULTY GLOW PLUG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF BY IT SELF. THIS CAR HAS WIRING PROBLEMS LIKE MANY OTHER W124. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464333

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E420. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY FOR A FEW WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT NEEDED A SPARK PLUG HARNESS, SPARK PLUGS, A DISTRIBUTION CAP, ROTORS AND A CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10344298

Incident

Jun 18, 2010

Mileage

170,000 mi

ENGINE HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR HARNESS. ALTERNATOR HARNESS OVERHEATED DUE TO INSULATION ON WIRES COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. HARNESS WAS REPLACED BY EUROPEAN SERVICE AND TRANSMISSION, IN CUMMINGS, GEORGIA ON OCTOBER 22ND 2009. *TR

NHTSA ID

10291334

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

MAIN AND AUXILIARY WIRING HARNESSES PLASTIC WIRE COATING IS CRUMBLING OFF LEAVING THE COPPER WIRES EXPOSED AND PRONE TO SHORTS..MY VEHICLE GAUGES FOR THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE, ABS, AIR BAGS, TRACTION, AND THE LESSER IMPORTANT GAUGES ARE WORKING ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. MERCEDES USA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY WIRING RELATED PROBLEMS (OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS) FOR THE E SERIES 124 TYPE BODY VEHICLES BUT IT HAS AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF NEW AND IMPROVED HARNESSES THAT VARY IN PRICE FROM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE THOUSANDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267079

Incident

Mar 18, 2009

Mileage

229,000 mi

WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR I SMELT PLASTIC BURNING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE END CLOSE TO THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THAT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED, BECAUSE OF INSULATION COVER FOR WIRING. WHEN I START TO INVESTIGATE FOR THE PART,THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MERCEDES BENZ E 320 CLASS. I CHECK WITH INTERNET, MERCEDES BENZ CLUB I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS RECALL FOR 1992-1995 E CLASS, FOR:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING.WITH CAMPAIGN#95V031000. WHEN I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ U.S.A(1-800-367-6372. EXT:4620 AND EXT:7810 ). PERSON AT EXT:7810 TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL WITH CAMPAIGN# EXIST AND NHTSA OFFICE, GAVE ME A WRONG INFORMATION AND COMPLETELY FALSE. AND WHAT I GOT FROM THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ,THEY COMPLETELY DENY IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ISSUED AND JUST WISHED ME LUCK ! *TR

NHTSA ID

10264268

Incident

Apr 3, 2009

Mileage

203,433 mi

1. ERRATIC STEERING. 2.SECOND OCCURRENCE. 3.BEING REPLACED & OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247655

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

Mileage

270,000 mi

THE WIRE HARNESS IS CRACKED. A/C COMPRESSOR STOPPED, AND THAT MADE RELAYS BLEW OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246053

Incident

May 10, 2008

Mileage

155,104 mi

AT APPROXIMATELY 3 PM ON THE REPORTED DATE THE VACUUM PUMP OPERATING THE RIGHT REAR HEADREST TO MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E300D SPECIAL EDITION GOT STUCK OR THE RELAY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE PUMP TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY, BUILDING UP FRICTION AND CAUSING A FIRE THAT COMPLETELY BURNT THE INSIDE REAR SECTION OF MY VEHICLE. CAR WAS PARKED AND IGNITION WAS OFF AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. FIRE WAS REPORTED TO THE SANDY SPRINGS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND INVESTIGATED BY THEIR FIRE INVESTIGATOR. INSURANCE ADJUSTER ATTRIBUTED CAUSE OF FIRE TO FAILED VACUUM PUMP. CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS AND I ALLOWED MY INSURER TOOK POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243940

Incident

Sep 8, 2008

Mileage

246,196 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E CLASS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, BUT IT CONTINUED TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. HE ARRIVED HOME AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. DAYS AFTER THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, BUT IT FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95V031000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS PERTAINING TO HIS VIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THE RECALL WAS REGARDING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT HE INFORMED THE DEALER ABOUT THE FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 187,000.

NHTSA ID

10232360

Incident

Jun 4, 2008

Mileage

187,000 mi

MY CAR EXPERIENCES HARD STARTS, ROUGH IDLING, POOR GEAR SHIFTING (AUTOMATIC), AND RANDOM STALLING IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ROADWAY ENVIRONMENTS. AFTER SYSTEMATICALLY TESTING AND ELIMINATING THE VEHICLES OTHER EQUIPMENT AS THE SOURCE, IT IS INCREDIBLY OBVIOUS THAT A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS IS TO BLAME. WHAT MERCEDES HAS LAMELY DESCRIBED AS "ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY" WIRE INSULATION IS REALLY A LIFE THREATENING DEFECT THAT LEAVES BARE WIRES EXPOSED THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE POTENTIAL ELECTRICAL SHORTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE, FIRES, ACCIDENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PERSONAL INJURY AND DEATH. DOES THAT SOUND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY? IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TELL WHEN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WILL FAIL BEFORE IT ACTUALLY BECOMES DANGEROUS. WE ARE ALL VERY LUCKY THAT THIS HASN'T KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED ANYONE YET. THIS DANGEROUS COMPONENT SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223640

Incident

Mar 24, 2008

Mileage

243,155 mi

WIRING HARNESS CRACKING, FLAKING OFF AND CRUMBLING. ENGINE TEMP SENDERS, GLOW PLUG WIRING, EGR AND OTHER UNIDENTIFIABLE WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEFECTIVE. SP FAR HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL EASY TO REACH WIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214118

Incident

May 10, 2006

Mileage

147,600 mi

NOTICEABLE HESITATION AND ROUGH IDLE ON MY MERCEDES E320 1994 WAGON. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IS CRUMBLING AND WAS WELL KNOW FOR CARS 1991-1996 FOR THIS MODEL AND DEALERS HAVE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS PART WILL NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF APPROX. $1600.00 AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 1995. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE HARNESS IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10200354

Incident

Aug 21, 2007

Mileage

112,153 mi

TWO REPUTABLE INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IN MY 1995 E300 DIESEL IS DECAYING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED MY GLOW PLUGS TO MALFUNCTION AND THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN MERCEDES VEHICLES MADE FROM 1991-1996. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PART BEFORE MORE SERIOUS EVENTS OCCUR DUE TO THE FLAW IN MERCEDES MANUFACTURING PROCESS FROM 1991-1996 . *AK

NHTSA ID

10186106

Incident

Mar 24, 2007

Mileage

130,350 mi

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION ON MY E300D DIESEL MERCEDES BENZ WAS SEVERELY CRACKED TO THE POINT THAT IS CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSORY FAILED, THE GLOW PLUG RELAY FAILED, AND THE EXTERNAL AIR TEMPERATURE SENSORY FAILED. THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED BY A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AT SIGNIFICANT COST.*AK

NHTSA ID

10185688

Incident

Mar 19, 2007

Mileage

200,000 mi

DURING ENGINE WORK MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD DEGRADED AND EXPOSED BARE WIRES IN SOME AREAS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDED FANS RUNNING CONSTANTLY AND INTERMITTENT AC OPERATION. MY RESEARCH INDICATED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ W124 BODY STYLE WIRING HARNESS, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS, SMOKE AND IN SOME CASES FIRES. APPARENTLY THE HARNESS HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO DEGRADE EASILY UPON THE END OF ITS LIFE IN A LANDFILL, BUT THE HARNESSES ARE DEGRADING WHILE STILL IN USE, TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE CONSUMER. I HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE HARNESS, WHICH I HAVE KEPT AND CAN PRODUCE IF HELPFUL. COST OF THE NEW HARNESS AND LABOR WAS APPROXIMATELY $500, SINCE MY CAR IS A DIESEL. SIMILAR HARNESSES FOR GASOLINE ENGINE CARS CAN COST IN EXCESS OF $1,000. I DID NOT WANT TO RISK A FIRE OR DAMAGE TO OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CAR, NOT TO MENTION THE RELIABILITY CONCERNS. I FEEL REPLACING THE PART WAS NECESSARY FOR THE SAFE DRIVING OF THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171241

Incident

Oct 18, 2006

Mileage

216,000 mi

SEAT FRAME FAILURE. THE LEFT FRAME RAIL OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED CAUSING THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TILT TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND IMPACT THE DOOR AND B-PILLAR. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS DRIVING POSITION. IF THIS HAPPENED DURING A COLLISION DRIVER WOULD'VE SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA AND SPINAL CORD INJURY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168421

Incident

Sep 10, 2006

Mileage

125,763 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. THE PLASTIC HARNESS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEED CONTROL AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AT 65 MPH AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR TWO YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10165159

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

Mileage

160,000 mi

MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136061

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

155,000 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART.*JB

NHTSA ID

10007091

Incident

Jan 2, 2003

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 950223/ NHTSA RECALL 95V031000; DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT IS LOCKED IN ONE POSITION, SEAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

875206