1994 Mercedes Benz E Class electrical problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1. POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, UNSAFE DRIVABILITY, HESITATION AND STALLING. 2. FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM IS VERY OFTEN. QUALIFIED MERCEDES-BENZ REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DEGRADATION. THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE HARNESSES FAIL, ACCORDING TO THEIR HEAD MECHANICS. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER MECHANICS, THEY, TOO, HAVE WITNESSED AN EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATE. 3. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,210.00.

NHTSA complaint #10264371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CRUMBLING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY CAR. I'VE COLLECTED AND RESTORED CARS FOR MANY YEARS, AND FIND THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO BE UNBELIEVABLE - ESPECIALLY FROM MERCEDES BENZ. FURTHERMORE THE LACK OF RESPONSE OR RECALL IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT MB IS INDIFFERENT ABOUT EXISTING OWNER SATISFACTION, CUSTOMER SAFETY AND THE QUALITY OF THE BRAND THEY SO PROUDLY PRODUCE. THE REPAIR IS A $900+ EXPENSE TO ME, AND THERE'S NO ASSISTANCE FROM MB.

NHTSA complaint #10241399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 1994 MB E320,MY ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS,TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM I ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE INTO TANK BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY SEEMED LIKE A FUEL PROBLEM. THE CAR DID RUN OK .A COUPLE OF WEEKS WENT BY AND SEEMED FINE, BUT THE CAR SLOWLY STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN AND CAUGHT US ALL BY SURPRISE WHEN THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID LIMP HOME MODE, WE WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT TWICE AND NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BE SHUTTING OFF MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE, AND NOW THE ASR DOES NOT TURN OFF AND IS STILL IN LIMP MODE. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO ALOT OF MERCEDES BENZ OWNER'S IN THIS CLASS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED MB MECHANIC AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP,THIS ALL WAS WORTHLESS AND A WAIST OF MONEY AS IT SEEMS NEITHER NEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE, SO I HAVE TO DEPEND ON IT EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT RELIABLE ANY MORE. MY FAMILY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME BUT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MERCEDES BENZ? I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR JUST NOW OR TO BE TAKING IT BACK AND FORTH TO BE SERVICED AND BE ADDING NEW PARTS TO IT, BEING THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ONES BEING REPLACED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT,AND THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO IT. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM TO IGNORE OR SWEEP UNDER THE RUG. MY CAR IS THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND SO ARE SOME OF MY PROBLEMS, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID BEFORE THIS VEHICLE IS THE SOURCE OF INCOME AS IT IS THE TRANSPORTATION OF 3CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOL AND MY NEWBORN BABY TO DR.VISITS. MERCEDES BENZ IF YOU READ THIS COMPLAINT AND I KNOW YOU WILL, PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS,IF YOU WISH NOT TO BE, COME PICK UP YOUR CAR AND PAY BACK WHAT I PAID FOR IT SO I CAN BUY ME A RELIABLE CAR OR JUST MAKE IT RIGHT !!

NHTSA complaint #10235778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WAGON AND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS COMPLETELY FAILING. THIS RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO REPLACE IT FOR $1100.

NHTSA complaint #10235431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FAILURE. WIRES HAVE DISINTEGRATED IN THE MAIN HARNESS RUN FOR THE ENGINE. SAME IS TRUE WITH WIRE HARNESS THAT RUNS DIRECT TO THE M/16 THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THROWING CODES AND ENGINE SURGES AND WILL CUT OUT. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND THEY VERIFIED WHAT WAS A KNOWN FACT. THE WIRE SHEATHING HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND HAD EXPOSED WIRES IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

NHTSA complaint #10222457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FAILURE. WIRES HAVE DISINTEGRATED IN THE MAIN HARNESS RUN FOR THE ENGINE. SAME IS TRUE WITH WIRE HARNESS THAT RUNS DIRECT TO THE M/16 THROTTLE ACTUATOR. THROWING CODES AND ENGINE SURGES AND WILL CUT OUT. TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE AND THEY VERIFIED WHAT WAS A KNOWN FACT. THE WIRE SHEATHING HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND HAD EXPOSED WIRES IN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

NHTSA complaint #10222457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1994 MERCEDES E320 WAS INVOLVED IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS FAILURE - INSULATION WAS CRACKING AND PEELING OFF AND SHORTED OUT - THIS CAUSED THE THROTTLE BODY AND TRACTION CONTROL TO SHORT OUT THE MAIN COMPUTER OF THE CAR. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS TELLING ME THAT MERCEDES DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL. THIS COST ME OVER $3,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND USAGE LOSS. NOW, I AM STILL CHASING MORE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM THE WIRING HARNESS DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #10222079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE WIRING HARNESS IS DETERIORATING , THE INSULATION IS COMING OFF , PEELING ,AND I GUESS THIS IS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BROKE DOWN ON THE ROAD THREE TIMES AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO BE FIXED , BUT THE WHOLE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLVED UNTIL THE WIRING HARNESS IS REPLACED I HAVE HEARD THAT THE COMPANT HAS IN THE PAST REPLACED SOME OF THE HARNESSES BUT I AM UNABE TO GET THE LOCAL DEALER TO RESPOND.

NHTSA complaint #10213779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING HARNESS PREMATURE WEAR DRAMATICALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10212672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1994 E320 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED. ALL INSULATION ON WIRES CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF. THE WIRE FUSED TOGETHER.

NHTSA complaint #10194719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1993 400E MERCEDES BENZ - ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS CRACKING, CAUSING FALSE ENGINE LIGHT CODES. WIRING HARNESS ON TOP OF ENGINE. COST TO REPLACE (PART ONLY) WIRING HARNESS IS APPROXIMATELY $575.00.

NHTSA complaint #10193093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

FAILURE OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10190976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY OTHER CARS WHEN TRYING TO QUICKLY EXIT BUSY FREEWAY. TOOK CAR TO MERCEDES MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE CAR NEEDED A NEW $600.00 ENGINE HARNESS. WE ASKED IF THIS IS A RARE PROBLEM AND HE SAID ALL 1993 AND 1994 E420 MERCEDES NEED THE HARNESS AT ABOUT 100 THOUSAND MILES AND THEY USED A BIODEGRADEABLE COVER ON THE HARNESS AND IT FAILS FROM ENGINE HEAT. HE ALSO SAID IF WE DON'T REPLACE IT, THE ENGINE WILL STOP WHEN DRIVING, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL MERCEDES MECHANICS. THESE CARS NEED TO BE RECALLED!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10178717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HI, I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 COUPE. I WAS IN THE SEARCH OF REPAIR ON MY RADIO PROBLEM,THEN I FOUND OUT FROM THE OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM WITH THEIR MERCEDES. I CHECKED THE WIRING HARNESS WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION ON MY CAR, I FOUND THAT THE SAME PROBLEM JUST LIKE THE OTHER OWNER SAY, A LOT OF CRACK ON THE WIRES. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR, BECAUSE OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBE THAT IT MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CAUGHT ON FIRE, SUDDENLY LOST POWER, SHORT OUT THE COMPUTER UNIT ON THE VEHICLE. MERCEDES HAVE NOT DO A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVE FILED THE COMPLAINT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOUR PEOPLE CAN HELP. I JUST NOT DRIVING MY CAR NOW, THE SHOP WANT ABOUT $1000.00 TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS, THAT'S SOME THING YOU DON'T EXPECT WHEN YOU PURCHASE A USE CAR. THANKS...

NHTSA complaint #10172413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS SCANNER INDICATED A WIRING PROBLEM. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 95V031000 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS SUGGESTED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA.

NHTSA complaint #10172162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MY 1994 MERCEDES E420 WAS NOT STARTING PROPERLY (ASR LIGHT COMING ON, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS). TOOK IT TO MECHANIC WHO NOTICED ELECTRIC TAPE ON SOME CONNECTIONS, THEN LATER FOUND OUT WHY. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD DETERIORATED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AT A MEETING IN THE POURING RAIN AND COULD NOT GET BACK TO THE HOSPITAL ONE EVENING.

NHTSA complaint #10169654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

MB USA REFUSES TO REPLACE FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE. DISINTEGRATES WITH AGE DO TO USE OF SUB-STANDARD HARNESS COVERS.

NHTSA complaint #10158491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ENGINE WIRING LOOM HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON CONCERN ON THE MERCEDES BENZ 300 FROM 1993 THROUGH 1995.

NHTSA complaint #10156597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MY MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATING BADLY AND THE INSULATION HAD DISINTEGRATED COMPLETELY , EXPOSING BARE WIRE AT NUMEROUS SPOTS. I HAD THIS WIRING HARNESS REPLACED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE LED TO EXPENSIVE DAMAGE TO ELECTRONIC PARTS AND / OR A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10156025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET TO REPAIR AN OIL LEAK. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO THE OIL LEAK HE HAD TO TAKE OFF THE WIRING HARNESS UPON WHICH THE HARNESS DISINTEGRATED IN HIS HAND. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE MB WOULD YOU BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL TO MANUFACTURER AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS $1,000 AND NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW SINCE THE REPAIRING THE EXISTING HARNESS COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10155874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE MATERIAL AROUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER PROTECTING THE WIRING ITSELF CAUSING IT TO MELT AND DAMAGE THE WIRES INSIDE. THIS LED TO THE CAR ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER CASES OF THIS HAPPENING AMONG OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND MANY HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS. THE P[ARTS WERE REPLACED OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MB USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS INSTEAD OF TELLING OWNERS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT DATE OF THE FAILURE AS IT HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE BEING PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, I ALSO DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATE BECAUSE I JUST RECENTLY FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A WHILE AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10143626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. AS MANY ENTHUSIASTS AND OWNERS KNOW, THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS MOST 1992 TO 1995 MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES SUFFERS DETERIORATION AND PREMATURE FAILURE. THE RESULT IS POOR RUNNING CONDITION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. MY OWN HARNESS SHOWED SIGNS OF DETERIORATION AT THE 7 YEAR MARK AND MERCEDES BENZ WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER GOODWILL, HOWEVER, BECAUSE I WAS HAVING OTHER WORK DONE, THEY REPLACED IT FOR THE PART COST ONLY WAIVING LABOR CHARGES.

NHTSA complaint #10136387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420- WIRING HARNESS IS DECAYING. THE WIRES ARE BRITTLE AND MELTING TOGETHER. THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRE IS GONE; AS A RESULT, THE WIRE IS BARE AND UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE SUFFER FROM ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS; SUCH AS, STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, SURGING IN TRAFFIC JAMS, AND GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY GO HAYWIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10074886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420- WIRING HARNESS IS DECAYING. THE WIRES ARE BRITTLE AND MELTING TOGETHER. THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRE IS GONE; AS A RESULT, THE WIRE IS BARE AND UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE SUFFER FROM ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS; SUCH AS, STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, SURGING IN TRAFFIC JAMS, AND GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY GO HAYWIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10074886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, ALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER, RESULTING IS POOR BRAKING AND STEERING. ON A PREVIOUS DEALER VISIT, THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND SERVICED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER HAVING THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AS A COST OF $1500 WITHOUT ANY GOOD WILL FROM MERCEDES BENZ. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STILL APPEARS TO BE IGNORANT TO THE FACT. THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10025560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.