RoadVitals

1994 Mercedes-Benz S Class

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
12
Latest Jan 17, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 7, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Mercedes-Benz S Class, most frequently naming the electrical and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09E012000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 7, 2009
16,270 units potentially affected
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
SABERSPORTView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 12
Electrical
Filed Jan 17, 2010

MERCEDES-BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT CONCERNING THE CHRONIC ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS FAILURE SUFFERED BY (AT LEAST) 1992 THROUGH 1995 MERCEDES BENZ AUTOMOBILES. I AM OUTRAGED AT MERCEDES-BENZ' REFUSAL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN DEFECT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NHTSA HAS NOT INVESTIGATED THIS DANGEROUS FAULT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HUGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. ONE STARTS TO WONDER IF NHTSA HAS BEEN PAID TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10300109
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 17, 2010

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DOSE NOT FULLY WORK. THE TEMP GAUGE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WORKS ALL THE TIME. THE REST OF THE TIME, THE CLUSTER MAY WORK FOR A TIME THEM STOP FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10300045
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalSuspension
Filed Jun 28, 2009

MERCEDES DEALER REPAIR SHOP REPORTED TO ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS MADE OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAULTY HARNESS CAUSED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE, INCLUDING ACCELERATION. I HAD THE PART REPLACED IN 2000 AND DO NOT HAVE THE ORIGINAL. BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WENT BAD AT 100,000 MILES FOR NO REASON. MAKES CAR RUN ROUGH, ESPECIALLY ON ACCELERATION. MERCEDES MECHANIC STATES IT IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND COST TO REPLACE EXCEEDS $2200. SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR LATER MODELS. SUSPENSION IS BAD IN THE REAR EVEN AFTER PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275126
Incident
Jun 4, 2000
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 25, 2009

I PURCHASED A CLASSIC 1994 S320 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND AFTER FINDING OUT I HAD A OIL LEAK I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE GASKET REPLACED THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL ALSO I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE WIRE HARNESS REPLACED BE CAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THE HARNESS WAS MADE FROM BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE I THINK THIS WAS A MAJOR DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED YEARS AGO MY ENGINE#003388 IF YOU BUY NEW OR OLD MERCEDES-BENZ IS THE BEST CAR IN THE WORLD AND THE COMPANY SHOULD ADDRESS ALL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10266725
Incident
Apr 17, 2009
Electrical
Filed Nov 16, 2008

I OWN A 1994 MERCEDES S600 WITH V12 ENGINE. THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE ENGINE HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY NOT ONLY FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY BUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IT IS A FIRE READY TO BURN AT ANY MOMENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT MERCEDES WILL NOT ADMIT THE PROBLEM AND HAS REFUSED TO CORRECT EVEN THOUGH OVER 500 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON '94 THROUGH '96 S MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10248926
Incident
Nov 15, 2008
Electrical
Filed Jul 31, 2008

TWO REPUTABLE INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IN MY 1994 S420 IS DECAYING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED MY LH CONTROL UNIT, AND M.A.F TO FAIL 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 *TR

NHTSA ID
10236564
Incident
Jul 31, 2008
Mileage
96,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 29, 2008

ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IS CORRODED CAUSING SEVERE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236311
Incident
Jul 25, 2008
Mileage
359,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 20, 2008

I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ S600 THE CAR IS IN GOOD SHAPE BUT IT START STALLING ONCE I WAS PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC I WAS ALMOST A GONER AND THE PROBLEM KEPT OCCURRING AND THEN I TOOK IT IN TO A MB MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND IT HAD MANY TROUBLE CODES BUT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE WIRE HARNESS IT WAS COMING A PART AND CAUSING SHORTS IN FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL WHEN I FOUND OUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235044
Incident
Jun 15, 2007
Mileage
155,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

LI82.30-P-059239

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Complaints about poor wiping effect of winshield wiper

SB-P-047527

PARKING BRAKE

MERCEDES: PARKTRONIC INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. THE FUNCTION WORKS AGAIN AFTER A SHORT TIME OR DISTANCE. WHEN THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE PARKTRONIC SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED. IF THE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE IS ON AT THE FIRST NOTCH, THE CONTACT SWITCH MAY REACT WITH A CONSIDERATION DELAY WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

TSB-42-10-109

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

MERCEDES: CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HARDWARE MAY BE DAMAGED AND OR STRIPPED AWAY IF HIGHLY CONCENTRATED ACID BASED CLEANERS ARE USED. ONCE THE CORROSION PROTECTION IS DAMAGED OR REMOVED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND OR HARDWARE CAN BEGIN TO CORRODE. INCLUDE ALL MODELS AND MODEL YEARS. *PE

887039

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

SEAL BETWEEN EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR HOUSING AND DOOR. *TT

PSIMBNA4020M

TIRES

UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz S Class by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012110—
2011000—
2009210—
2005210—
2004154154.2
2003282148.1
2002482144.1
2001365150.2
2000815359.9
1999910—
1998210—
1997210—
1996620—
1995271039.4
1994Viewing121038.8
1993110—
1992010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.