Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
025–50K
450–75K
275–100K
12100–150K
12150K+
32 reports with mileage · 17 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
49 reports
72,500 miles · Sep 8, 2008
Electrical System
CRUMBLING FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING, MISFIRING, EXPOSED WIRES A FIRE HAZARD AND A "NO SPARK CONDITION" CAUSING DEAD CYLINDERS TO POUR RAW FUEL INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER RESULTING IN HEAVY SMOKE AND AN EMANATE SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THIS CONDITION DESTROYED THE $1200 CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABL…
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CRUMBLING FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS CAUSING STALLING, MISFIRING, EXPOSED WIRES A FIRE HAZARD AND A "NO SPARK CONDITION" CAUSING DEAD CYLINDERS TO POUR RAW FUEL INTO CATALYTIC CONVERTER RESULTING IN HEAVY SMOKE AND AN EMANATE SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. THIS CONDITION DESTROYED THE $1200 CATALYTIC CONVERTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO PASS STATE EMISSIONS TESTING. MERCEDES-BENZ REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AN OFFERS NO REMEDY. MAYBE AFTER SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED , THERE WILL BE SOME ACTION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10241290
125,000 miles · Sep 3, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS CHANGING SPARK PLUGS AND SAW THE BAD WIRES IN THE HARNESS. I TAPED UP WHERE I COULD BUT WHEN I TOUCHED THE WIRE THE INSULATION JUST FELL OFF THE WIRES. I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR RUNNING FOR AWHILE BUT NOW IT RUNS BAD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REPLACE HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY A MFG. DEFECT AND A POTENTIALLY…
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I WAS CHANGING SPARK PLUGS AND SAW THE BAD WIRES IN THE HARNESS. I TAPED UP WHERE I COULD BUT WHEN I TOUCHED THE WIRE THE INSULATION JUST FELL OFF THE WIRES. I WAS ABLE TO GET CAR RUNNING FOR AWHILE BUT NOW IT RUNS BAD. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REPLACE HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY A MFG. DEFECT AND A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240735
159,000 miles · Jul 21, 2008
Electrical System
MY 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ S320 HAS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. IT IS FALLING APART BEING THAT IT WAS CONSTRUCTED USING BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS. IT IS CAUSING MANY, MANY, PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE MISFIRING, SMOKING / BARE WIRES, ETC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235207
161,960 miles · Jul 4, 2008
Electrical SystemEquipment
A/C AND ALL ITEMS ON FUSE #7 QUIT WORKING. CAR SKIPPED AND WOULD JUST DIE. CHECKED WIRING AND FOUND WIRES CRACKED. ALL WIRES IN HARNESS CRACKED AND LOOKED OVERHEATED. WIRING HARNESS REPLACED BY NEW OWNER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233196
132,000 miles · May 8, 2008
Electrical System
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS MADE OF BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL THAT HAS CAUSED MASSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHEN IT DISINTEGRATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227110
150,000 miles · Apr 7, 2008
Electrical System
1994 MERCEDES E320 WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATION, CRACKING REPLACEMENT WILL BE $2,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10223561
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2008
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO BECK MERCEDES BENZ, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS CONDUCTED, I WAS TO THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY INTO. THE HARNESS WIRES WERE QUOTED AS BEING ROTTED. COST IS OVER $2,000.00 TO REPAIR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. AFTER QUESTIONING HOW COULD TH…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO BECK MERCEDES BENZ, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS CONDUCTED, I WAS TO THE WIRING HARNESS HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY INTO. THE HARNESS WIRES WERE QUOTED AS BEING ROTTED. COST IS OVER $2,000.00 TO REPAIR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. AFTER QUESTIONING HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN I WAS GIVEN NO ANSWERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10223063
122,000 miles · Mar 31, 2008
Electrical System
WIRE HARNESS FAILURE OUTER SHEATH IS MISSING AND EXPOSED INSULATION IS BRITTLE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES BETWEEN '93 - '95. WHEN WILL THE COMPANY STAND UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I GUESS SOMETIMES IT TAKES A ACCIDENT WITH LIVES LOST AND LAWSUIT BEFORE ANYONE WILL ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. …
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WIRE HARNESS FAILURE OUTER SHEATH IS MISSING AND EXPOSED INSULATION IS BRITTLE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS COMMON WITH THE MERCEDES VEHICLES BETWEEN '93 - '95. WHEN WILL THE COMPANY STAND UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. I GUESS SOMETIMES IT TAKES A ACCIDENT WITH LIVES LOST AND LAWSUIT BEFORE ANYONE WILL ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222948
179,000 miles · Feb 10, 2008
Electrical System
THE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. ALL THE INSULATION AROUND EACH WIRE HAS DISINTEGRATED. THE CAR DIED AS I PULLED INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. I AM TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR MERCEDES AND THAT THE MFGR. WILL NOT ADMIT THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRE INSULATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217590
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2007
Electrical System
MY WIFE OWNS A 1994 E320 THAT HAS ONLY 19,000 MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 91-96 MERCEDES BENZ ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND MY CAR ONLY HAS 19,000 MILES. *TR
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1994 Mercedes Benz 320 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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