17 of the
21 complaints about the 1992 Mercedes Benz 400E are about the
electrical system — 81% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
125,000 miles.
F
17
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Front Underhood
741.2%
Electrical System
635.3%
Wiring
423.5%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 135,905 milesStewartstown, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY WAS MELTED THROUGH AND SOME FLAME WAS STILL GLOWING IN THE DRIVER SIDE AIR FILTER. THE UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS CHARRED ALONG THE DRIVER SIDE AND THE CONNECTOR TO THE CAM ACTUATOR HAD DISINTEGRATED. AFTER GETTING THE CAR TOWED HOME I FOLLOWED THE HARNESS BACK TO THE AMP CONNECTOR AND ALL OF THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES HAD COMPLETELY DEGRADED TO A POWDER. I ALSO CHECKED THE WIRES ON THE MAF SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY AND FOUND THE SAME CONDITION. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE: SUBSTANDARD WIRING INSULATION ON ALL WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10604618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Herriman, UT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE WIRING HARNESS ON THIS VEHICLE. INSULATION ON WIRES IS CRACKING AND PEELING OFF EXPOSING WIRES TO OTHER WIRES AND THE ENGINE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CAUSING A FIRE. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS COMMON TO THIS MODEL BECAUSE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE INSULATION MATERIAL. I DO NOT WANT INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS WHILE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE.
NHTSA complaint #10247345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MB WIRING HARNESS FAILURE 1992 400SE.
NHTSA complaint #10245281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 145,000 milesBloomington, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400E (145,000 MILES), HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10233679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilson, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A MERCEDES BENZ 400E AND THE WIRING HARNESS EVENTUALLY WITHERED AND DETERIORATED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING.
NHTSA complaint #10231493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesPlano, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 400E WIRING HARNESS MULTIPLE FAILURES. REPLACED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS CAR (USED) IN 2005 DUE TO DETERIORATION OF INSULATION FROM THE WIRES. I WAS TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ERA OF MB DUE TO SOME PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE OR TARGETED SELF-DESTRUCTION BY THE MANUFACTURER. TODAY I AM TOLD THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO THE STARTER MOTOR FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PARTS, ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND REQUIRE EXTENSIVE LABOR TO REPLACE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY A COMPANY THAT CLEARLY ADVERTISES A "LONG-LIFE" PRODUCT.
NHTSA complaint #10230774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 95,000 milesMontville, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1992 400E HAS DISINTEGRATED, AS I'VE READ TO BE COMMON OF THE MERCEDES OF THE EARLY 1990'S. MY CAR SHUDDERS DRAMATICALLY WHEN IDLING, AND ALTERNATES BETWEEN PERIODS OF SLOW/NO ACCELERATION TO UNEXPECTED LURCHING FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #10222346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesZebulon, NCCrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1992 MERCEDES E 400 MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. HARNESS FRIED DUE TO POOR WIRING INSULATION. I OWN TWO MERCEDES AND BOTH ARE FOR SALE. WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM MERCEDES EVER AGAIN. TOO MUCH MONEY AND TOO MANT PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10206299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 165,000 milesMesquite, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. THE WIRING HARNESS WIRES WERE FRIED AND BECAME BRITTLE.
NHTSA complaint #10194117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 13,000 milesBowling Green, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS, AND AN AIT TEMP SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARING HARNESS WAS DEFECTED AND METAL WAS VISIBLE. THE WIRES INSIDE WERE DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 6TH, 8TH, 9TH, AND 18TH, AND THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 132,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
NHTSA complaint #10188457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesSAN Antonio, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1992 MERCEDES 400E HAS DETERIORATED AND IS CAUSING SHORTS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS FAILING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE REPAIR IS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPLACED DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10167735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 162,000 milesOAK Park, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I WAS DRIVING 80 GOING ON HIGHWAY 696 WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 3 LANE FREEWAY. I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE ALONG WITH A FEW ANGRY DRIVERS. IT APPEARS THE WIRE HARNESS WAS TOAST. IT SHORT CIRCUITED AND FRIED THE LH MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10166483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,226 milesColumbia, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CRACKED, REPLACED AT COST OF $728 @ MILEAGE OF 86,226 ON 10/21/03. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED AS MB STARMARK VEHICLE AT ~45,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10156015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockville, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10152151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING ,TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10018929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,239 milesSAN Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10005286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CONSUMER STATES IN 08/02 EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS W/AIR CONDITIONING CUTTING OFF. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO DIAGNOSED THAT INSULATION ON FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF BIO-DEGRADABLE MATERIAL RESULTING IN EARY DETERIORATION. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8019881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.