Owners have filed 23 complaints
about the 1993 Mercedes Benz 500 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2012.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 74
Against the median year of the Mercedes Benz 500. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 67
13% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1993 compares with every other Mercedes Benz 500
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
426.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
320.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
426.7%
150,000+ miles
426.7%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Apr 1995peak 2Jan 2012
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 116,000 milesLOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10403595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesSAN Jose, CA1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN MY 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500 SEL WARMS TO ITS NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. IT BEGINS TO ACT AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. IT CUTS OUT INTENSELY AND THEN DIES OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT ANYWHERE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY QUITS COMPLETELY, YOU ARE STRANDED ROADSIDE OF AT LEAST 15 MIN. UNTIL IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED FIRES WHICH HAVE DESTROYED OTHERS WITH THIS SAME DEFECTIVE WIRE COATING. PLEASE HELP US MAKE MERCEDES DO A RECALL, THEY ARE RISKING OUR LIVES! I WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER WHEN HAVING TO PUSH MY CAR TO THE CURB WHEN STALLING FROM THIS WIRE HARNESS PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT HIT AT A FASTER SPEED. ALL I RECEIVED WAS SOME MAJOR BRUISING ON MY HIP FROM THE CARS BUMPER. I SUFFERED WITH PAIN FOR OVER A WEEK. I AM NOT FILING FOR GETTING HURT, ONLY TO FIX THIS WELL KNOWN DEFECTIVE COATING ON THE MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE HELP US WITH OBTAINING A RECALL ON THIS VERY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU! P.S SEPT 1 IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND HAPPENS EVERY DAY NOW WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. THEY WANT 1400 DOLLARS FOR A NEW HARNESS WHEN THE 1ST ONE WAS MADE D E F E C T I V E L Y !
NHTSA complaint #10210291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boco Raton, FL1 killed
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A STORE WINDOW, KILLING A BYSTANDER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #852487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 89,000 milesVallejo, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INSULATION CRACKED ALL THROUGHOUT HARNESS. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT!!
NHTSA complaint #10443206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 116,000 milesLOS Angeles, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10403595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 175,000 milesCampbell, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
" EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENGINE WIRE HARNESS " I BELIEVE THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS COATING WAS MANUFACTURED FROM 1991 TO 1996 BY MERCEDES BENZ. THE PLASTIC COATING THAT PROTECT THE WIRES FROM TOUCHING AS THEY GO TO EIGHT FUEL INJECTORS, COMPLETELY DISSOLVE IN MANY AREAS.....CAUSING A MULTITUDE OF EVENTS: 1) SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE 2) ENGINE FIRES 3) EXTREME LOSS OF POWER, CAUSING CAR TO JERK INTENSELY WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING IN AND OUT MAKING IT "ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE" TO CONTROL CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE "ENGINE WIRE HARNESS" ONCE, & NOW NEEDS ANOTHER ON MY 93 MERCEDES 500 SEL WITH 170,000 MILES (THIS WILL BE THE 3RD WIRE HARNESS). (M.B.U..S..A.) IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THEIR "FAULTY HARNESS" AND HAVE BEEN SENT PICTURES OF CARS BURNED TO THE GROUND, THOUSANDS OF LETTERS AND PICTURES CONSUMERS CONSUMERS, BUT REFUSE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS "DEFECTIVE-PART" ((THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY HARNESS)) THIS PROBLEM IS SO INTENSELY DANGEROUS TO EVERYONE ON A ROAD WAY, BECAUSE THE REACTIONS WHEN THESE WIRES TOUCH ARE "COMPLETELY UNPRODICAB E". MAKE MERCEDES STAND UP TO THE PLATE AND "R E C A L L " THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS E N G I N E W I R E H A R N E S S ! WITH MANUFACTURE DATES 1991 THROUGH 1996. (NOT POSITIVE OF EXACT YEARS, BUT SOMEWHAT ACCURATE) MY 1993 500 SEL STALLED IN MIDDLE LN. ON HWY. 280 IN SAN JOSE CA. ON 11-29-2007 @ 5:15 P.M. (NEAR 7TH STREET EXIT) NEARLY RESULTING IN MY DEATH. CARS TRYING TO AVOID ME DURING THEIR UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN STOP AND/OR LANE CHANGES. CARS SKIDDING, SLIDING, LOSING CONTROL....IT WAS A NIGHTMARE!!!. IT'S A WONDER NO ONE INCLUDING MYSELF WAS K I L L E D. I'M 46 YRS OLD, & THAT WAS "THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION, & CLOSEST TO MY BEING KILLED THAT I 'VE EXPERIENCED!" THERE'S NO WARNING TO THE SIDE EFFECTS WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS WARMS UP AND THE UNPROTECTED WIRES BEGIN TO CROSS CURRENT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
NHTSA complaint #10211224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesSAN Jose, CA1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN MY 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500 SEL WARMS TO ITS NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. IT BEGINS TO ACT AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. IT CUTS OUT INTENSELY AND THEN DIES OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT ANYWHERE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY QUITS COMPLETELY, YOU ARE STRANDED ROADSIDE OF AT LEAST 15 MIN. UNTIL IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED FIRES WHICH HAVE DESTROYED OTHERS WITH THIS SAME DEFECTIVE WIRE COATING. PLEASE HELP US MAKE MERCEDES DO A RECALL, THEY ARE RISKING OUR LIVES! I WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER WHEN HAVING TO PUSH MY CAR TO THE CURB WHEN STALLING FROM THIS WIRE HARNESS PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT HIT AT A FASTER SPEED. ALL I RECEIVED WAS SOME MAJOR BRUISING ON MY HIP FROM THE CARS BUMPER. I SUFFERED WITH PAIN FOR OVER A WEEK. I AM NOT FILING FOR GETTING HURT, ONLY TO FIX THIS WELL KNOWN DEFECTIVE COATING ON THE MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE HELP US WITH OBTAINING A RECALL ON THIS VERY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU! P.S SEPT 1 IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND HAPPENS EVERY DAY NOW WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. THEY WANT 1400 DOLLARS FOR A NEW HARNESS WHEN THE 1ST ONE WAS MADE D E F E C T I V E L Y !
NHTSA complaint #10210291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesSAN Jose, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ON 11/3/2007 THAT THE WIRE HARNESS ON MY 1993 MERCEDES 500 SEL COULD CAUSE FIRE OR DEATH TO MY FAMILY AND THAT MERCEDES BENZ U.S.A. KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULTS IN THE WIRE HARNESS AND KNOWS THE PEOPLE ARE IN DANGER AND HAVE YET TO DO A RECALL ON YEARS (1992 THROUGH 1996) PLEASE HELP US GET A RECALL IN THE WIRE HARNESS BEFORE PEOPLE GET BURNT OR DIE THESE WIRES JUST FALL APART AND THEN TOUCH EACH OTHER AND THAT IS WHEN THE DANGER STARTS, THIS REALLY IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. THANK YOU!
NHTSA complaint #10208221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesAuburn, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500SEL WIRING HARNESS FAILURE- INSULATION ON WIRING BECAME BRITTLE AND BEGAN TO FALL OFF. SHORTS IN WIRING LEAD TO TROUBLE LIGHTS COMING ON AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10201073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 500E SEDAN WAS EXPERIENCING ERRATIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND INTERMITTENT STALLING WHILE DRIVING, THUS PLACING ME AT RISK OF NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR AN EXAMINATION OF BOTH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE-BODY SHOWED DISINTEGRATION OF THE WIRES PROTECTIVE INSULATION. BOTH ITEMS WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROX. $1,900.
NHTSA complaint #10200980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 91,000 milesLindenhurst, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500E ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION CANNOT STAND UP TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND LOSES ITS INSULATION, CREATING AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10187000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1993 MERCEDES 500E WIRING HARNESS DISINTEGRATED. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE *TS THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE HAS CUT SPARK TO HALF THE CYLINDERS IN THE ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10167967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 230,040 milesLexington, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SHORTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAUSING FAILURES OF IGNITION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SHOW THAT FAILURE OF THE SHEATHING AND MATERIALS OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CAUSE CORRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARNESSES DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS.
NHTSA complaint #10166495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 198,788 milesLexington, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SHORTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAUSING FAILURES OF IGNITION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SHOW THAT FAILURE OF THE SHEATHING AND MATERIALS OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CAUSE CORRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARNESSES DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESSES WAS COMPLETED IN JULY OF 2005.
NHTSA complaint #10166496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 134,465 milesGarden Grove, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR WILL QUIT ALL OF A SUDDEN AND LEAVE ME WITH NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. THIS IS DUE TO A BRAKE DOWN IN THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OR A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10160120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesSAN Jose, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED AND STARTED BECOMING BRITTLE RESULTING IN WARNING LIGHTS, FAILED WATER TEMPERATURE SENSING AND ULTIMATELY POOR RUNNING OF ENGINE AND WIRING HARNESS CRUMBLING.
NHTSA complaint #10158632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesSAN Francisco, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
BOTH ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESSES OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (115,000 MILES), HAVE CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. THEY ARE SHORTING OUT, CAUSING STALLING AND THE IMPOSITION OF (INVOLUNTARY/UNACCEPTABLE) RISKS OF DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FIRES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES OF THE SAME AGE DOCUMENT SAID (IDENTICAL) DEFECTS. ALTHOUGH THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO MERCEDES-BENZ, A RECALL HAS BEEN REFUSED, OUTRIGHT/HAS YET TO TRANSPIRE. PLEASE ADVISE, ASAP; THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10155987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesLake Forest, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500E - STALLS, ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. THE CAR DUE TO WIRING DEFECT SHUTS DOWN DURING DRIVING ACTIVITIES IE. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES USA AND REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED UNAWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WOULD REPLACE FOR $1200. PER CLUBS AND USER GROUPS (WWW.500ECSTASY.COM) ALL OWNERS HAVE REPLACED OR EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10136633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newport Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *JB UPDATED 08/22/06. *JB UPDATED 12/07/15.
NHTSA complaint #10130247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesNewport Beach, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (64,000 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. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10118292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,455 milesSouth Pasadena, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
POSSIBLE ODOMETER TAMPERING.
NHTSA complaint #10025163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SO. Lake Tahoe, CA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT FUNCTION SINCE PURCHASE.
NHTSA complaint #9003474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boco Raton, FL1 killed
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A STORE WINDOW, KILLING A BYSTANDER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #852487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saratoga, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN BRAKES FADING/EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #523016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saratoga, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
ABS BRAKES FAILED, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN BRAKES FADING/EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS.
NHTSA complaint #523016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Massapequa, NY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM MOVING THE VEHICLE WHEN ANY PORTION OF VEHICLE IS ON ICE/SNOW ON AMAIN HIGHWAY OR IN DRIVEWAY.
NHTSA complaint #964294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.