1994 Mercedes-Benz E420 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Mercedes-Benz E420, 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
- Electrical266.7%
- Engine133.3%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E420. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND WAS TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,732.
THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING VERY RAPIDLY (BETTER THAN 1600 RPM) AND I LOST CONTROL ON THE ICY ROADS. I WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FAST IDLE WITH THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRAGGING THE FRONT TIRES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FAULTY, DETERIORATING WIRING PROBLEM THAT TENS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED TO THIS SITE. EXACTLY HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE NECESSARY BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER? I HAVE BEEN IN THE ELECTRICAL TRADES ALL OF MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH DEFECTIVE, DETERIORATED WIRING AS UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS MERCEDES. THE MERCEDES IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING VERY RAPIDLY (BETTER THAN 1600 RPM) AND I LOST CONTROL ON THE ICY ROADS. I WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FAST IDLE WITH THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRAGGING THE FRONT TIRES. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME FAULTY, DETERIORATING WIRING PROBLEM THAT TENS OF HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED TO THIS SITE. EXACTLY HOW MANY COMPLAINTS ARE NECESSARY BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER? I HAVE BEEN IN THE ELECTRICAL TRADES ALL OF MY LIFE AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH DEFECTIVE, DETERIORATED WIRING AS UNDER THE HOOD OF THIS MERCEDES. THE MERCEDES IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .