1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Problems

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION FALLING OFF - COPPER WIRES EXPOSED AND MAY RESULT IN SHORT AND ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.*DT CONSUMER STATED WIRING IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT MERCEDES HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT FOR MANY YEARS.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

ON THIS 1995 MERCEDES E320, WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS, TOOK TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1500. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CRUMBLING EVERYWHERE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL E20. I CHECKED NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE COATING TO THE WIRING HAS DISINTEGRATED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THESE CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 TO TRY TO GET THIS CAR TO PASS EMISSIONS, IT FAILS SO BAD I CANT EVEN GET A WAIVER. *TR

THE WIRES IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTING TO THE COILS FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ARE DISINTEGRATING. CURRENTLY THIS IS CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE POWER, RUN ROUGH, ONLY 2-4 CYLINDERS ARE FIRING. MY MECHANIC SAID HE FOUND ON THE WEB THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT TO MERCEDES CARS MADE DURING THE TIME PERIOD MY CAR WAS MADE BUT MERCEDES NEVER ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS HUGE PROBLEM. MY COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WAS ESTIMATED AT $3200.00 OR MORE DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OF THE WIRING SYSTEM HAS DISINTEGRATED AND WHAT OTHER SYSTEMS ARE AFFECTED. I CALLED MERCEDES ON HOWE AVE IN SACRAMENTO AND AFTER CHECKING MY VIN NUMBER SAID MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINES AND THE FAN BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,664. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON THIS 1995 MERCEDES E320, WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS, TOOK TO DEALER, WAS TOLD THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF $1500. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CRUMBLING EVERYWHERE. I CHECKED ONLINE AND IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL E20. I CHECKED NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS TOTALLY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM, THE COATING TO THE WIRING HAS DISINTEGRATED AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THESE CARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 TO TRY TO GET THIS CAR TO PASS EMISSIONS, IT FAILS SO BAD I CANT EVEN GET A WAIVER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD JUST LEFT A REPAIR SHOP WHERE A BULB WAS REPLACED WHEN SHE WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND SMELLED BURNING WIRES. SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HESITATED. SHE TURNED AROUND TO GO BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP BUT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. SHE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. SHE WAS NOT SURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AGAIN AFTER LEAVING THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AGAIN AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. ONCE AGAIN, SHE WAS NOT SURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND A BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,728. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000.

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND EA/CC/ISC(PART M16/1,ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR/CRUISE CONTROL/IDLE SPEED CONTROL) WIRING INSULATION HAS BADLY DETERIORATED ON MY 1995 E320 CABRIOLET DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE FROM POOR MANUFACTURING. THIS CAR HAS 92000 MILES. THE DECAY HAS REACHED THE POINT OF LEAVING BARE EXPOSED WIRE WITHIN THE HARNESS. THESE WIRES MAKE CONTACT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, SURGE AND SET MISC. ENGINE CODES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL...WHO KNOWS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AS EVIDENCED BY CONVERSATION THREADS ON SEVERAL WELL REGARDED FORUMS. THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MERCEDES WAS ATTEMPTING TO CREATE ECO-FRIENDLY WIRE INSULATION THAT WOULD DEGRADE IN THE LANDFILL. IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, BUT HAS FAILED MISERABLY. IN MY OPINION SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED WITH A RECALL. NOW. THIS IS NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION A PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. MY FEELING IS THAT BY WAITING IT OUT MERCEDES IS HOPING THESE CARS WILL JUST GO AWAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE HARNESS CLEARLY SHOWING THE DECAY. QUITE FRANKLY IT IS OUTRAGEOUS. I ALSO DO HAVE A BAD HARNESS THAT I KEPT. I HESITATE TO SEND IT AS I MAY BE FORCED TO TRY AND RECONDITION IT SOMEHOW. THE COST OF A NEW HARNESS IS RIDICULOUS NOT TO MENTION I WOULD END UP WITH A HARNESS THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING UNLESS THEY HAVE CHANGED THERE WAYS FOR THIS PART! HERE ARE THE FORUMS I MENTIONED ABOVE. HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESSHOP.COM/SHOPFORUM HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS HTTP://FORUMS.MBWORLD.ORG/FORUM. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY KNOWN FOR A HIGH QUALITY LONG LASTING PRODUCT WOULD DUCK OUT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS ISSUE. *NM

I DROPPED OFF MY CAR AT AUTO SHOP DUE TO MY CAR STARTING ROUGH, THE AC AND FAN CUT OFF, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE THE WIRE HARNESS AS I HAD READ ABOUT PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, AND HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH VARIOUS MERCEDES MECHANICS. I WAS TOLD THAT MERCEDES BENZ HAD INSTALLED BIO DEGRADABLE WIRE HARNESS THAT WERE RESULTING IN PREMATURE DETERIORATION. WHILE MY CAR WAS IN THE SERVICE BAY AT S THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP MY ENGINE WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE! THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE ENTIRE CAR AND HIS SHOP CAUGHT ON FIRE. I HAVE ASKED HIM TO RETAIN HARNESS FOR EVIDENCE, HE SAID HARNESS IS IN PIECES DUE TO EXTREME HEAT OF THIS ELECTRICAL FIRE. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE SHOP, OR MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I SAY THIS AS MY ELECTRIC LOCKS WERE MESSED UP, AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO WAIT UP TO A MINUTE OR MORE TO OPEN THE CAR DOORS AND TRUNK, AND ALSO TO LOCK MY VEHICLE DUE TO SOME SORT OF SHORT. WE COULD HAVE ALL BURNED TO DEATH IF THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND WE COULD NOT OF EXITED THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. THERE ARE OVER 700 COMPLAINTS, ALONG WITH DOZENS OF FIRE COMPLAINTS, REGARDING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT ON MERCEDES BENZ BUILT BETWEEN 1991-1997 WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. HOW MANY SAFETY REPORTS, ENGINE HARNESS FIRES, AND POSSIBLE HARNESS FIRES RESULTING IN DEATH DOES IT TAKE FOR ACTION IN THE FORM OF A RECALL BY MERCEDES BENZ AND THE NHTSA? THIS IS NOT A MATTER "IF" THESE WIRE HARNESS WITH FAIL, BUT WHEN AND HOW. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION REGARDING MY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT FAILED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND RESULTING DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN THE CONTACT FELT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL PULL AWAY FROM THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT INFORMED.

FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONER, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, RADIO ANTENNA, AND OIL LEAK. *LA THE A/C FAILED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE PURCHASED, THE FRONT WINDOWS HAD BROKEN MOTORS THE WATER PUMP BLEW, OIL LEAKED INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WAS REPLACED(WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED), TWO ENGINE MOUNTS COLLAPSED, DRIVER'S DOOR RATTLED, ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND BOTH FRONT TIRES LOST AIR AND WERE FILLED EVERY TWO WEEKS(FIVE SETS OF TIRE). THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO SUMMERS, THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT COMING ON BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS CRACKED AND COMING APART AND THE EVAPORATOR LEAKS, ALL OF THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO BLOW WARM AIR. NLM

FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONER, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, RADIO ANTENNA, AND OIL LEAK. *LA THE A/C FAILED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE PURCHASED, THE FRONT WINDOWS HAD BROKEN MOTORS THE WATER PUMP BLEW, OIL LEAKED INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WAS REPLACED(WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED), TWO ENGINE MOUNTS COLLAPSED, DRIVER'S DOOR RATTLED, ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND BOTH FRONT TIRES LOST AIR AND WERE FILLED EVERY TWO WEEKS(FIVE SETS OF TIRE). THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO SUMMERS, THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT COMING ON BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS CRACKED AND COMING APART AND THE EVAPORATOR LEAKS, ALL OF THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO BLOW WARM AIR. NLM

FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONER, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, RADIO ANTENNA, AND OIL LEAK. *LA THE A/C FAILED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE PURCHASED, THE FRONT WINDOWS HAD BROKEN MOTORS THE WATER PUMP BLEW, OIL LEAKED INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WAS REPLACED(WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED), TWO ENGINE MOUNTS COLLAPSED, DRIVER'S DOOR RATTLED, ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND BOTH FRONT TIRES LOST AIR AND WERE FILLED EVERY TWO WEEKS(FIVE SETS OF TIRE). THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO SUMMERS, THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT COMING ON BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS CRACKED AND COMING APART AND THE EVAPORATOR LEAKS, ALL OF THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO BLOW WARM AIR. NLM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT FILED A POLICE REPORT AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 307,000.

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. *NLM

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND EA/CC/ISC(PART M16/1,ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR/CRUISE CONTROL/IDLE SPEED CONTROL) WIRING INSULATION HAS BADLY DETERIORATED ON MY 1995 E320 CABRIOLET DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE FROM POOR MANUFACTURING. THIS CAR HAS 92000 MILES. THE DECAY HAS REACHED THE POINT OF LEAVING BARE EXPOSED WIRE WITHIN THE HARNESS. THESE WIRES MAKE CONTACT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, SURGE AND SET MISC. ENGINE CODES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL...WHO KNOWS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AS EVIDENCED BY CONVERSATION THREADS ON SEVERAL WELL REGARDED FORUMS. THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MERCEDES WAS ATTEMPTING TO CREATE ECO-FRIENDLY WIRE INSULATION THAT WOULD DEGRADE IN THE LANDFILL. IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, BUT HAS FAILED MISERABLY. IN MY OPINION SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED WITH A RECALL. NOW. THIS IS NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION A PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. MY FEELING IS THAT BY WAITING IT OUT MERCEDES IS HOPING THESE CARS WILL JUST GO AWAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE HARNESS CLEARLY SHOWING THE DECAY. QUITE FRANKLY IT IS OUTRAGEOUS. I ALSO DO HAVE A BAD HARNESS THAT I KEPT. I HESITATE TO SEND IT AS I MAY BE FORCED TO TRY AND RECONDITION IT SOMEHOW. THE COST OF A NEW HARNESS IS RIDICULOUS NOT TO MENTION I WOULD END UP WITH A HARNESS THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING UNLESS THEY HAVE CHANGED THERE WAYS FOR THIS PART! HERE ARE THE FORUMS I MENTIONED ABOVE. HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESSHOP.COM/SHOPFORUM HTTP://WWW.BENZWORLD.ORG/FORUMS HTTP://FORUMS.MBWORLD.ORG/FORUM. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT A COMPANY KNOWN FOR A HIGH QUALITY LONG LASTING PRODUCT WOULD DUCK OUT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS ISSUE. *NM

THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO SUMMERS, THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT COMING ON BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS CRACKED AND COMING APART AND THE EVAPORATOR LEAKS, ALL OF THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO BLOW WARM AIR. NLM

FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONER, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, RADIO ANTENNA, AND OIL LEAK. *LA THE A/C FAILED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE PURCHASED, THE FRONT WINDOWS HAD BROKEN MOTORS THE WATER PUMP BLEW, OIL LEAKED INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WAS REPLACED(WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED), TWO ENGINE MOUNTS COLLAPSED, DRIVER'S DOOR RATTLED, ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND BOTH FRONT TIRES LOST AIR AND WERE FILLED EVERY TWO WEEKS(FIVE SETS OF TIRE). THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC