ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DETERIORATED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING CAUSING FORCED LIMP MODE AND OTHER GREMLINS.
NHTSA complaint #10509193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mercedes Benz 500 electrical problems
44 of the 122 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz 500 are about the electrical system — 36% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1993.
44
Complaints
36%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
Electrical System complaints by model year
What owners said
1995 Mercedes Benz 500
Dallas, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A BEAUTIFUL BLACK 1995 S500 MERCEDES BENZ WITH 142,000 MILES. AS YOU KNOW, THE MERCEDES BENZ CORPORATION KNOWINGLY INSTALLED A BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS IN MODELS '91-'96. THESE ENGINE WIRE HARNESSES, WERE PURPOSELY INSTALLED AND DESIGNED TO BREAKDOWN AND DISINTEGRATE. BECAUSE OF THIS FLAWED DECISION, I NOW FACE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR COSTS. AFTER RESEARCHING MY VEHICLE'S DIAGNOSIS, I DISCOVERED THAT MERCEDES CORPORATION KNEW THE HORRIFIC, DETRIMENTAL HAZARDS AND IMMENSE FINANCIAL COSTS OWNERS INHERITED DUE TO THE BIO-DEGRADABLE MATERIAL IN THEIR VEHICLES. I FIND IT TO BE CRIMINAL AND SHAMEFUL THAT MERCEDES HAS NEVER TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND HAVE NEVER NOTIFIED POTENTIAL BUYERS OR OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES OF THE HAZARDS AND EXPENSE. THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. THE ENTIRE CAR IS AT RISK AND SO IS MY LIFE. I AM EXPERIENCING ALL KINDS OF MALFUNCTIONS IN MY VEHICLE. WHEN I WENT INTO MERCEDES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THE WIRE HARNESS AND ACTUATOR WERE GIVEN AS THE CAUSE AND IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE OF REPLACEMENT. NEVER ONCE DID MERCEDES INFORM ME WHY THE HARNESS HAD FAILED. THE WIRES HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE, CAUSING SHORTS, MALFUNCTIONS, SMOKE, AND UNRELIABLE STARTUP. MERCEDES BENZ KNEW IT FROM THE START, AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ALSO KNOWS. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY MERCEDES BENZ HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH THIS OBVIOUS SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE UNNECESSARY HARM AND DEATH? AFTER RESEARCHING RECALLS, WHAT I FOUND LEFT ME DISGUSTED AND OUTRAGED. I AM UNDERTAKING A CAMPAIGN TO GET THIS OUT TO THE CONSUMER. I WONDER HOW MANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, INJURIES EVEN DEATHS HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THIS SILENCE. HAS NHTSA RESEARCHED THIS? RECALL..IT?S THE RIGHT THING TO DO! *TR UPDATED 10/04/12
NHTSA complaint #10475240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MERCEDES BENZ S 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS ABLE TO BE INSERTED IN THE IGNITION BUT COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #10453566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON FEB 18, I DROVE MY MB S500, 1995 WITH MY FAMILY ON ORANGE HIGHWAY 5 AT 70M/H AND SUDDENLY MY CAR ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE, I WAS ALMOST GET HIT BY THE TRUCK IN MY BACK. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT STILL WORKED BUT WITH A RED SIGNAL "CHECK THE ENGINE". I DROVE TO THE NEARBY MB REPAIR STORE AND IT IS A PROBLEM CALLED " ENGINE WIRE HARNESS" DEFECT. THE PROBLEM ALMOST GET ME AND BROTHER KILLED. I AM STILL TERRIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10312384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MAIN ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS, HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND IS DISINTEGRATING CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER AND BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS TO INCLUDE FIRE INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I'VE DISCOVERED FROM DLR HARDNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL RESULTING IN EARLY DETERIORATION. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO EXHIBIT STALLING ISSUES, ROUGH RUNNING, AND INCORRECT FAULT CODES ARE PRODUCED ON THE CAR COMPUTER.
NHTSA complaint #10250193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DISENTIGRATING.
NHTSA complaint #10240051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE CUTTING OUT . ALL WIRES IN THE ENGINE HARNESS AND ELECTRIC CABLE CRACKED AND EXPOSED.
NHTSA complaint #10233263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE MY CAR (1994 MERCEDES S500)STARTED TO SMOKE A GREAT DEAL. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF I WAS STRANDED FOR 6 HOURS UNTIL I COULD GET A TOW TRUCK. AFTER SPENDING $2000.00 DOLLARS TO GET FIXED IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED ALL OF THIS TO HAPPEN WAS AN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND I WOULD NEED ANOTHER. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FROM SHOP BUT CAR CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT HOME. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND LOOK AT THIS: HTTP://USERS.ADELPHIA.NET/~INFOAGE1/COMPLAINTS_NHTSA_MERCEDES_WIRING_HARNESS_FAILURES_1991_1996.HTML I AM OUTRAGED! THIS IS CAUSING MANY PEOPLE AND CHILDREN TO BE PUT IN LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS WITHOUT ANY ANSWER OR HELP FROM YOU ALL. DO NOT WAIT TILL SOMEBODY DIES BECAUSE IT WILL HAPPEN. YOU HAVE THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED! I TRIED CONTACTING MERCEDES AND THEY WERE AS WORTHLESS AS THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT.
NHTSA complaint #10230080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 Mercedes Benz 500
Petaluma, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1995 S500 MERCEDES-BENZ HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND THE COST IS OVERWHELMING TO REPAIR. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MUCH IN OTHER UNNECESSARILY REPAIRS. MERC-BENZ SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH POOR MATERIALS.
NHTSA complaint #10216864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1995 Mercedes Benz 500
Petaluma, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1995 S500 MERCEDES-BENZ HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. WIRES ARE EXPOSED. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND THE COST IS OVERWHELMING TO REPAIR. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT MUCH IN OTHER UNNECESSARILY REPAIRS. MERC-BENZ SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH POOR MATERIALS.
NHTSA complaint #10216864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PN 124-543-95-26; WIRING INSULATION COMPLETELY ERODES OVER TIME WITH NORMAL USE, RESULTING IN NUMEROUS SHORT CIRCUITS.
NHTSA complaint #10212589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COVERING MATERIAL ON BOTH MY 1994 MB E500'S HAS DETERIORATED CAUSING SHORTS BETWEEN WIRES, ENGINE MISS-FIRING, HABITUAL "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BEING ON, ETC. HAVE DISCUSSED ISSUE WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE MB MECHANICS AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 1991 --> 1996 MB'S. OBVIOUSLY THE WIRE COVERING MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE AS THIS HARNESS SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. MB AT THE VERY LEAST SHOULD PROVIDE REPLACEMENT HARNESSES AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMERS THAT PURCHASES THEIR AUTOMOBILES. FOR MB TO RESPOND THAT THIS CONDITION IS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR IS NOT FACTUAL!
NHTSA complaint #10206785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS COVERING MATERIAL ON BOTH MY 1994 MB E500'S HAS DETERIORATED CAUSING SHORTS BETWEEN WIRES, ENGINE MISS-FIRING, HABITUAL "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT BEING ON, ETC. HAVE DISCUSSED ISSUE WITH KNOWLEDGEABLE MB MECHANICS AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 1991 --> 1996 MB'S. OBVIOUSLY THE WIRE COVERING MATERIAL IS DEFECTIVE AS THIS HARNESS SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. MB AT THE VERY LEAST SHOULD PROVIDE REPLACEMENT HARNESSES AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMERS THAT PURCHASES THEIR AUTOMOBILES. FOR MB TO RESPOND THAT THIS CONDITION IS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR IS NOT FACTUAL!
NHTSA complaint #10206785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
1994 Mercedes Benz 500
Charlotte, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10188610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.