99 of the
412 complaints filed about the Mercedes Benz E Class
are about the electrical system —
24% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
I REITERATE ....THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP! MERCEDES BENZ INSTALLED POWER SEAT CONTROLLERS IN THIS CAR THAT FAIL VERY FREQUENTLY. THIS DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE UNIT TO RUN POWER SEAT COMPONENTS CONSTANTLY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, KEY REMOVED AND THE CAR IS LOCKED. WITHIN 2-11 HOURS, THE ACTIVITY OF THIS FAULT SEAT CONTROLLER UNIT DRAINS THE CAR BATTERY! WHEN YOU TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR AS PER MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS, THE PROCESS CAUSES THE REAR LEFT SAM (SIGNAL ACQUISITION AND ACTUATOR MODULE DRIVER SIDE) TO LOSE PARTIAL OR FULL MEMORY. THIS AFFECTS A WHOLE HOST OF SYSTEMS INCLUDING FUEL DELIVERY, TAIL & HEAD LIGHTS. ITEMS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OPERATING A VEHICLE ON THE PUBLIC ROADS SAFELY! THE OTHER DAY, APRIL 25TH, 2014, THE FUEL DELIVERY ON MY 2002 MB C32 AMG FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY! THE LOSS OF POWER WAS SO SUDDEN THAT I HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO THE SHOULDER; HITTING MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW IN THE PROCESS! HAVING RESEARCHED THIS EXTENSIVELY AND HAVE FOUND THAT THESE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CAR IN 2002. INSTEAD OF A VOLUNTARY RECALL, MERCEDES BENZ DID A PATCH JOB OF REPLACING FAULTY SAMS FOR OWNERS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND ONLY IN CASES WHERE THE OWNERS COMPLAINED OR HAD THREE OR MORE VISITS TO A MERCEDES BENZ DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UPDATED 05/05/14 UPDATED 10/27/2014
NHTSA complaint #10585495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WIRING HARNESS HAS SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS-STARTED WITH WIRING TO MAS MELTING. I REWIRED THAT-DROVE CAR ANOTHER YEAR WITH SMALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BLOWING FUSES WITHOUT FINDING CAUSE-DROVE CAR TO WORK ONE DAY,RAN FINE,CAME OUT TO GO HOME AND IT HAD A MISS. REMOVED COVER OVER INJECTORS AND FOUND ALL THE WIRING WAS BARE.THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MBS AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10520698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE MAIN ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. THE INSULATION ON INDIVIDUAL WIRES HAD ROTTED OFF, LEAVING EXPOSED WIRING. I NOTICED ARCHING WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10465991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE MULTIPLE WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. FAULTY TACHOMETER GOES ON AND OFF BY IT SELF. FAULTY AC WIRES ISOLATION IS DESTROYED, FAULTY GLOW PLUG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF BY IT SELF. THIS CAR HAS WIRING PROBLEMS LIKE MANY OTHER W124.
NHTSA complaint #10464333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ABNORMALITIES, I EXAMINED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, LOOKS AS NEW. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE WIRING AT THE GLOW PLUG RELAY WAS DETERIORATED AND BARE. I ALSO NOTED THAT ALL THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS BRITTLE TO THE POINT THAT ANY MANIPULATION, NO MATTER HOW SLIGHT,. WOULD CAUSE THE INSULATION TO FALL AWAY. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE PARKED THE CAR, AND REMOVED THE BATTERY, SINCE I FEEL IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO EVEN PARK IN THE YARD.
NHTSA complaint #10453136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING, AND IT GAVE ME A MALFUNCTION MESSAGE STATING THAT THE DISPLAY IS DEFECTIVE. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAY DOESN'T READ THE PROPER LEVEL, THE BACKUP LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THE SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE, THE WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE FEATURES OF AUTO ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL TILT, THE MIRRORS, AND THE SEATS ARE NOT WORKING. CHECKED FOR RECALLS, FOUND A SIMILAR RECALL IN JULY OF 2008, BUT THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED!
NHTSA complaint #10436746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2000 E320. I HAVE BEEN HAVING CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH HEADLAMPS, FOG LIGHTS, AND BRAKE LAMPS GOING OUT VERY FREQUENTLY. OFTEN, I RECEIVE AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THE "LAMPS ARE INOPERABLE", AFTER CHECKING ALL BULBS, I FIND THIS IS NOT THE CASE, MERCEDES MAY NOT ADMIT TO THIS, BUT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR CARS. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY (TWO DAYS AGO) HAD MY PASSENGER SIDE BULB HOUSING MELT AWAY. DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT BEEN HAPPENING. I BELIEVE I AM LUCKY THAT THE CAR HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE AS OF YET WITH ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE ONLY GOOD NEWS I HAVE ABOUT THESE CONSTANT PROBLEMS IS, THE BODY REPAIR COMPANY FOR MERCEDES-BENZ OF SOUTH ATLANTA (GA), WILL SEE ME ON MONDAY TO SEE IF THEY CAN REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS HOUSING, PROVIDED THEY HAVE ONE IN STOCK. SO, "WISH ME LUCK" AND PRAY FOR MERCEDES TO DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO ONE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS......
NHTSA complaint #10392173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECENTLY MY 53K MILE (VERY LOW MILEAGE) 1993 MERCEDES 300E 2.8 SUDDENLY STALLED (WITHOUT ANY WARNING) ON A LOCAL EXPRESSWAY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT (THE CAR FROM BEHIND ALMOST HIT ME). AFTER I HIRED A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK, HE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE STALL WAS CAUSED BY BIO-DEGRADABLE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED IN THIS CAR (ALSO SEE HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESDEFECTS.COM/2008/04/WIRE-HARNESS-DEFECT.HTML#COMMENT-FORM). I CALLED MERCEDES CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR. THIS ENGINE STALL ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN FEW DAYS AGO, AND IT'S MAKING SUCH A WELL-MAINTAINED LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I URGE THE NHTSA SHOULD CONTACT MERCEDES AND ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THANKS!
NHTSA complaint #10365668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY & LOST POWER, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I ALMOST GOT KILLED, I FINALLY PULLED ON THE SHOULDER& EASED TO SERVICE ROAD & I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED, THE A/C WAS RUNNING ALL THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED TO REV ENGINE UP BY MOVING THE CABLE LEVER MANUALLY; THE ENGINE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE IDLE, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO EWING MERCEDES BENZ THEY HAD TO ORDER THE WHOLE ENGINE HARNESS. IT WILL COST ME $1100 OR MORE TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THIS WIRING HARNESS IS IN POOR SHAPE ON THESE CAR THE INSULATION BECOME BRITTLE AND FALLS APART.
NHTSA complaint #10350841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TURNED ON THE SWITCH OF MY 1994 E320 MERCEDES NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. OPENED HOOD IT WAS ON FIRE. AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED WIRING HARNESS, PLUGS, BUT CAR IS STILL SURGING NOT IDLING PROPERLY. REPLACED INTAKE AIR SENSOR, PLANNING TO REPLACE IDLE ACTUATOR, AND OVP RELAY. 153,000 MILES I HAVE SPENT 3000.00. MY SON WAS PRESENT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. I HAVE ALL OLD PARTS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10339207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MERCEDES BENZ 2006 E350. THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRICAL HARNESS IS TO SHORT AND COMES APART DISABLING ALL AIRBAGS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THE COMPANY WON'T PAY TO CORRECT IT. THE REPAIR IS PROHIBITIVE AT $715.00 THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY DEFECT!!
NHTSA complaint #10297534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
90K MILES GAUGE CLUSTER LED CLOCK AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAYS FAILING. CAN NOT READ NUMBER. NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM, BUT IT HAS LESS THAN 100K MILES AND IT'S A 2000 I HAD A 1996 AND NOW A 1993 WITH ALMOST TWICE THE MILEAGE AND ALL THE DISPLAYS WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10295926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR IS A 2000 MERCEDES E320 WITH ONLY 43,000 MILES AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST 10,000 MILES. THE BENZ WON'T REPLACE IT OR FIX IT. THE DISPLAYS DON'T WORK!!!
NHTSA complaint #10294681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR HARNESS. ALTERNATOR HARNESS OVERHEATED DUE TO INSULATION ON WIRES COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED. HARNESS WAS REPLACED BY EUROPEAN SERVICE AND TRANSMISSION, IN CUMMINGS, GEORGIA ON OCTOBER 22ND 2009.
NHTSA complaint #10291334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE STOP LAMP SWITCH, WHICH ACTIVATES THE STOP LAMPS, ANT-LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL MECHANISMS, ON MY 2001 MERCEDES BENZ E320 HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES IN THE PAST 5 YEARS. THE PART NUMBER THAT CONTINUALLY GOES BAD IS 001-545-64-09. THE MOST RECENT REPLACEMENT WAS 09-12-09.
NHTSA complaint #10283940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTING IS DIMMING TO THE POINT YOU HAVE TO SQUINT TO SEE THE INFORMATION. THIS REQUIRES FOCUSING ON THE DISPLAY FOR LONGER THAN A SAFE AMOUNT OF TIME ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10275001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MAIN AND AUXILIARY WIRING HARNESSES PLASTIC WIRE COATING IS CRUMBLING OFF LEAVING THE COPPER WIRES EXPOSED AND PRONE TO SHORTS..MY VEHICLE GAUGES FOR THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE, ABS, AIR BAGS, TRACTION, AND THE LESSER IMPORTANT GAUGES ARE WORKING ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL. MERCEDES USA DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY WIRING RELATED PROBLEMS (OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS) FOR THE E SERIES 124 TYPE BODY VEHICLES BUT IT HAS AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF NEW AND IMPROVED HARNESSES THAT VARY IN PRICE FROM A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE THOUSANDS.
NHTSA complaint #10267079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR I SMELT PLASTIC BURNING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE END CLOSE TO THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THAT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED, BECAUSE OF INSULATION COVER FOR WIRING. WHEN I START TO INVESTIGATE FOR THE PART,THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MERCEDES BENZ E 320 CLASS. I CHECK WITH INTERNET, MERCEDES BENZ CLUB I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS RECALL FOR 1992-1995 E CLASS, FOR:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING.WITH CAMPAIGN#95V031000. WHEN I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ U.S.A(1-800-367-6372. EXT:4620 AND EXT:7810 ). PERSON AT EXT:7810 TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL WITH CAMPAIGN# EXIST AND NHTSA OFFICE, GAVE ME A WRONG INFORMATION AND COMPLETELY FALSE. AND WHAT I GOT FROM THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ,THEY COMPLETELY DENY IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ISSUED AND JUST WISHED ME LUCK !
NHTSA complaint #10264268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR I SMELT PLASTIC BURNING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE END CLOSE TO THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THAT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNED, BECAUSE OF INSULATION COVER FOR WIRING. WHEN I START TO INVESTIGATE FOR THE PART,THEY TOLD ME THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MERCEDES BENZ E 320 CLASS. I CHECK WITH INTERNET, MERCEDES BENZ CLUB I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS RECALL FOR 1992-1995 E CLASS, FOR:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING.WITH CAMPAIGN#95V031000. WHEN I CALLED MERCEDES BENZ U.S.A(1-800-367-6372. EXT:4620 AND EXT:7810 ). PERSON AT EXT:7810 TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL WITH CAMPAIGN# EXIST AND NHTSA OFFICE, GAVE ME A WRONG INFORMATION AND COMPLETELY FALSE. AND WHAT I GOT FROM THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ,THEY COMPLETELY DENY IF THERE IS ANY RECALL ISSUED AND JUST WISHED ME LUCK !
NHTSA complaint #10264268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.