1994 Mercedes-Benz Sl

THERE ARE MULTIPLE INHERANT FLAWS WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE THAT AFFECT THE SAFETY AND ROADWORTHINESS OF THIS AUTOMOBILE INCLUDED HERIN AS ABSERVED BY ME IN MY OWNERSHIP. I HAD REPLACED THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD INSULATION ON THE WIRES THAT LITTERALLY TURNED TO DUST! THESE WIRES WERE FREE TO ARC ON EACHOTHER CAUSING SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION(THIS CAR IS EQUIPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER IMPUT), FINALLY FAILED THROTTLE RESPONSE! ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN, AND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY ISSUES IN THE FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST, I CAN'T BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW LUCKY I AM TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THESE ISSUES HAVING NARROWLY ESCAPED MANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS (THANKFULLY OTHER CARS HAVE RELIABLE BRAKING SYSTEMS). (THAT WAS THE FIRST HARNESS REPLACED). THE SECOND HARNESS TO FAIL ON ME WAS THE STARTER HARNESS, AGAIN ALL OF THE INSULATION LITERALLY CRUMBLED TO DUST AND LEFT BARE UNFUSED HOT WIRES EXPOSED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A BATTERY EXPLOSION, ARCING ETC... THE THIRD HARNESS THAT I HAVE JUST BEEN MADE AWARE IS YET AGAIN FAILED IS THE AIR FLOW METER HARNESS AS DIAGNOSED BY MERCEDES BENZ OF CINCINNATI. AGAIN THESE WIRES ARE BARE AND I COULD PHYSICALLY SEE THE WIRES ARCING, WHICH RESULTED IN MANY DRIVEABILITY ISSUES, INCLUDING LOSS OF ACCELERATION. I REALLY TRUELY AM AMAZED THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET! THE FINAL FLAW IS THE STARTER IS LOCATED LITERALLY INCHES FROM THE FUEL VAPOR CHARCOAL CANISTER, IT LITERALLY PURGES FUEL VAPOR DIRECTLY ONTO THE STARTER! ON MANY CASES THE CAR HAD A FUEL SMELL WHILE WALKING TO THE CAR, I WOULD THEN TURN THE KEY WITH A HUGE BRIEF EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY SMOKE ROLLING OUT OF THE ENGINE BAY. IT PUZZLES ME HOW MERCEDES HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH A SAFE AUTOMOBILE. I WOULD BE HAPPIER WITH A BLOWN ENGINE!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10456069

Incident

Jun 15, 2010

Mileage

155,244 mi

FAULTY BIODEGRADABLE WIRING IN CAR CAUSING A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TO ERRATIC ENGINE FUNCTION 3 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10308472

Incident

Nov 16, 2009

Mileage

118,170 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE COMPLETE ENGINE HARNESS IS BEING REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262159

Incident

Feb 20, 2009

Mileage

69,358 mi

INTERMITTENT IDLE CHANGE AND IDLE SURGES DURING DRIVING. ALSO WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE CAR CUTS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235877

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

157,000 mi

I HAVE A 1994 600SL MERCEDES (35,000 MILES) WITH COMPLETE BREAK DOWN OF ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRE INSULATION. UPON MY INVESTIGATION I FIND THAT EVERY SL HAS THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE MERCEDES TO REPLACE ALL THE WIRING HARNESSES INCLUDING THE HARNESS TO THE THROTTLE BODIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232050

Incident

Jun 23, 2008

Mileage

34,500 mi

ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR 1994 BENZ SL 320 STOPPED RUNNING AND DEALER REPLACED BURNED OUT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT COST ME $1500 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224981

Incident

May 15, 2004

I OWN A 1994 SL 600 MERCEDES BENZ. AFTER PAYING 17,000 DOLLARS FOR THE CAR, I RECENTLY NOTICED THE CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN TRAFFIC. MAJOR CONCERN WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLS WITH EVERYONE BLOWING THEIR HORNS AND I AM DRIVING A 135K DOLLAR CAR. IT FINALLY BREAKS DOWN AND I HAVE IT TOWED TO TONY'S FOREIGN CAR IN WILMINGTON, NC FOR ASSESSMENT. THEY INFORM ME THAT IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AND SHOWED ME THE DECOMPOSITION OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING. THEY TELL ME IT IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE 94 TO 97 YEAR MODELS OF MERCEDES AND ALSO LET ME KNOW THAT I WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS WIRING TO WIRING CONTACT (FIRE HAZARD). THEY ALSO INFORM ME THAT I AM LOOKING AT A LARGE BILL TO REPAIR ($3000.00) BECAUSE SOME OTHER WIRING IS DISINTEGRATED. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. MERCEDES SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A FACTORY RECALL AND NOT ASKED BECAUSE OF THE COMMON FAILURE, SAFETY AND EXPENSE TO OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218634

Incident

Feb 19, 2008

Mileage

93,289 mi

WIRING HARNESS ON 1994 MERCEDES BENZ SL600, WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES . MY MECHANIC ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST THE COSUMER BETWEEN $7,000 TO $10,000 TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT BY MERCEDES BENZ RESULTING IN A PREMATURE CORROSION OF THE WIRING HARNESS RUNNING ALONG THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. MERCEDES IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS A LARGE STOCK TO MEET THE DEMAND. THE CAR GO INTO THE UNSAFE MODE DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10202961

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

Mileage

80,763 mi

MERCEDES: CRACKING NOISE FROM THE AREA OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL/FIREWALL WHEN CORNERING, DURING THROTTLE LIFT OFF AND ON UNEVEN ROADS. STRESS AT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE FIREWALL TO THE RIGHT OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER CAN RESULT IN CRACKING NOISES. NO RIGHT HAND DRIVE. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

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

MERCEDES: THE LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR MODELS 211, MODEL 219 AND MODELS 230 WAS EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL 4 YEARS/50,000 MILES TO 10 YEARS WITH NO MILEAGE LIMITATION. THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY APPLIES TO ALL CONDITIONS THAT JUSTIFY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SBC HYDRAULIC UNIT UNDER THE STANDARD WARRANTY TERMS AND CONDITIONS. *PE

UPDATED INFORMATION TO REFLECT ADDITON OF APPROVED TIRES. *YC