RoadVitals

1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 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.
11
Latest Jun 13, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320, 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

  • Electrical738.9%
  • Driver assistance316.7%
  • Engine316.7%
  • Fuel system211.1%
  • Interior & seats15.6%
  • Other / unspecified15.6%
  • Powertrain (other)15.6%

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.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR WAS NOT STARTING BROUGHT TO MERCEDES DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR AND THE MECHANIC AND ADVISOR SHOWED ME THE WIRE HARNESS TOLD ME I SHOULD CHANGE IT IT IS BRITTLE AND I WILL HAVE FUTURE PROBLEMS I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES ON THIS VECHICLE

NHTSA ID 10818056 · filed Jan 5, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. NONE OF INDICATORS ON THE PANEL FUNCTIONED EXCLUDING THE CLOCK. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID 10593414 · filed May 22, 2014

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RECENTLY BOUGHT CAR. WIRING HARNESS HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, BUT COMPUTER HAS NOT ACTED CORRECTLY SINCE THE WIRING SHORTED OUT DUE TO FAULTY INSULATION. THROWING FAULTS AND NO IDLE. SURGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. WHILE BACKING IT OUT OF GARAGE, IT SURGED BACKWARDS SO FAST THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD. HIT TRACTOR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE GETTING IT STOPPED. BROKE REAR BUMPER COVER. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES (1974 CHEVY) (1990 CHEVY PICKUP) WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WIRING PROBLEMS. NOW I HAVE A REALLY NICE 1994 E320 THAT IS JUNK BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE $12 - $1500 TO REPAIR IT. I CAN NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN HAVE IT REPAIRED. GOOD THING I WASN'T IN TRAFFIC BEHIND A COP WHEN IT DECIDED TO SURGE FORWARD ON IT'S OWN, OR I WOULD BE WRITING THIS FROM INSIDE A JAIL CELL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10543216 · filed Sep 12, 2013

DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS KNOWN TO EXIST ON MANY MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES MADE FROM 1990 ON, I HAVE THE EXCESSIVE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING AND REPLACING EXPENSIVE PARTS (THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS) IN THIS VEHICLE THAT FAILED PREMATURELY DUE TO FAULTY WIRING INSULATION. THE WIRING INSULATION IS INEFFICIENT AND WAS CORRECTED ON LATER MODELS, BUT CONSIDERING THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN ON MERCEDES PART, I BELIEVE THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WIRING ISSUE. THESE CARS DO JUSTIFY THEIR PRICE IF MAINTAINED PROPERLY, AND MY VEHICLE IS OLDER AND ASIDE FROM THE WIRING HARNESS, IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER; YET ME, AS A CUSTOMER WHO PAYS THE PRICE TO MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE, I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS JUSTIFIED THAT MERCEDES ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE VEHICLE PRICE THE COST OF A SUPPOSED QUALITY WIRING HARNESS, YET WHEN IT FAILS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, THE CONSUMER PAYS THE PRICE TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH WHAT SHOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN INSTALLED. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT IN THE RECENT ROUGH ECONOMY THAT AN AUTO MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD RESULT IN MILLIONS LOST, AND ATTEMPT TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS ON THE FLAW BY CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THE UPDATED HARNESS, BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE SORTED OUT FOR DRIVERS OF ALL VEHICLES WITH THE FAULTY HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE ON A SAFETY BASIS, IF IT HAS JEOPARDIZED THE LIFE OF THE DRIVER, THEN IT SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE (SURELY THAT IS THE LEAST THAT COULD BE DONE). MY CAR HAD A SHORT TODAY IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT CAUSED UNINTENDED SURGE OF ACCELERATION WHEN I PULLED UP TO A CURB AND THE CAR JUMPED OVER THE CURB AND BROKE OFF A BIG PLASTIC PIECE OF THE BUMPER. I ASK MYSELF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THIS HAPPENED? *TR

NHTSA ID 10470205 · filed Aug 11, 2012

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

CAR WAS NOT STARTING BROUGHT TO MERCEDES DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR AND THE MECHANIC AND ADVISOR SHOWED ME THE WIRE HARNESS TOLD ME I SHOULD CHANGE IT IT IS BRITTLE AND I WILL HAVE FUTURE PROBLEMS I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES ON THIS VECHICLE

NHTSA ID 10818056 · filed Jan 5, 2016

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP TO ABOUT 3500 RPM AS IF I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. FREAKY EXPERIENCE BUT LUCKILY THE ROAD WASN'T TOO BUSY. I SLOWED DOWN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (WAS DRIVING IN PORTLAND OREGON INNER CITY AREA) BY PRESSING THE BRAKES AND FLIPPING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP AROUND 3000-4000RPM. WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN, IT WASN'T SO BAD BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL REVVING UP AND DOWN BY ITSELF BETWEEN ABOUT 750 AND 2000RPM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD GONE INTO - WHAT I LATER READ ON INTERNET TO BE CALLED - LIMP HOME MODE WHICH MADE IT VERY ANNOYING FOR ME TO DRIVE. RESEARCH ON INTERNET TELLS ME MY E320 WAGON WITH THE M104 ENGINE HAS A TYPE OF BIODEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH FALLS APART AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. I LOVE MY MERCEDES AND IT DRIVES BEAUTIFULLY, BUT THAT WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM MAKES IT A PROBLEMATIC CAR, AND DANGEROUS TOO. I AM NOT WILLING TO SPEND $1,500 ON A NEW HARNESS FROM THE DEALER, SINCE IT IS NOT A RESULT OF BAD MAINTENANCE, BUT MORE A DESIGN FLAW BY MERCEDES BENZ AG. THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND DO A RECALL. SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T ALREADY DO THAT (DID THEY?) AS I CAN IMAGINE THE BIG DAMAGE TO THE MERCEDES BENZ NAME AND IMAGE IF SOMEBODY WERE TO END UP IN A FATAL CAR CRASH DUE TO A BIODEGRADABLE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10484043 · filed Nov 12, 2012

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

I SMELL GASOLINE INSIDE MY 1994 E320 WHEN I'M DRIVING, JUST STARTED SMELLING IT ON 3/20/15. NEVER BEFORE THIS DATE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10700895 · filed Mar 22, 2015

RECENTLY BOUGHT CAR. WIRING HARNESS HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, BUT COMPUTER HAS NOT ACTED CORRECTLY SINCE THE WIRING SHORTED OUT DUE TO FAULTY INSULATION. THROWING FAULTS AND NO IDLE. SURGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN. WHILE BACKING IT OUT OF GARAGE, IT SURGED BACKWARDS SO FAST THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD. HIT TRACTOR PARKED IN DRIVEWAY BEFORE GETTING IT STOPPED. BROKE REAR BUMPER COVER. I HAVE OLDER VEHICLES (1974 CHEVY) (1990 CHEVY PICKUP) WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WIRING PROBLEMS. NOW I HAVE A REALLY NICE 1994 E320 THAT IS JUNK BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD THE $12 - $1500 TO REPAIR IT. I CAN NOT DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN HAVE IT REPAIRED. GOOD THING I WASN'T IN TRAFFIC BEHIND A COP WHEN IT DECIDED TO SURGE FORWARD ON IT'S OWN, OR I WOULD BE WRITING THIS FROM INSIDE A JAIL CELL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10543216 · filed Sep 12, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR WAS NOT STARTING BROUGHT TO MERCEDES DEALER REPLACED A SENSOR AND THE MECHANIC AND ADVISOR SHOWED ME THE WIRE HARNESS TOLD ME I SHOULD CHANGE IT IT IS BRITTLE AND I WILL HAVE FUTURE PROBLEMS I ONLY HAVE 60,000 MILES ON THIS VECHICLE

NHTSA ID 10818056 · filed Jan 5, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320. WHILE REMOVING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL, THE VEHICLE'S FACTORY EQUIPPED JACK FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FELL ON THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE COLLAR BONE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 11101643 · filed Jun 13, 2018

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

DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS KNOWN TO EXIST ON MANY MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES MADE FROM 1990 ON, I HAVE THE EXCESSIVE EXPENSE OF REPAIRING AND REPLACING EXPENSIVE PARTS (THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS) IN THIS VEHICLE THAT FAILED PREMATURELY DUE TO FAULTY WIRING INSULATION. THE WIRING INSULATION IS INEFFICIENT AND WAS CORRECTED ON LATER MODELS, BUT CONSIDERING THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN ON MERCEDES PART, I BELIEVE THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WIRING ISSUE. THESE CARS DO JUSTIFY THEIR PRICE IF MAINTAINED PROPERLY, AND MY VEHICLE IS OLDER AND ASIDE FROM THE WIRING HARNESS, IS IN GOOD RUNNING ORDER; YET ME, AS A CUSTOMER WHO PAYS THE PRICE TO MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE, I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS JUSTIFIED THAT MERCEDES ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN THE VEHICLE PRICE THE COST OF A SUPPOSED QUALITY WIRING HARNESS, YET WHEN IT FAILS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, THE CONSUMER PAYS THE PRICE TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH WHAT SHOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY BEEN INSTALLED. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT IN THE RECENT ROUGH ECONOMY THAT AN AUTO MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD RESULT IN MILLIONS LOST, AND ATTEMPT TO MAXIMIZE PROFITS ON THE FLAW BY CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THE UPDATED HARNESS, BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE SORTED OUT FOR DRIVERS OF ALL VEHICLES WITH THE FAULTY HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE ON A SAFETY BASIS, IF IT HAS JEOPARDIZED THE LIFE OF THE DRIVER, THEN IT SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE (SURELY THAT IS THE LEAST THAT COULD BE DONE). MY CAR HAD A SHORT TODAY IN THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT CAUSED UNINTENDED SURGE OF ACCELERATION WHEN I PULLED UP TO A CURB AND THE CAR JUMPED OVER THE CURB AND BROKE OFF A BIG PLASTIC PIECE OF THE BUMPER. I ASK MYSELF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND THIS HAPPENED? *TR

NHTSA ID 10470205 · filed Aug 11, 2012

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 .