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1993 Mercedes Benz 400E

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
19Owner complaints

Model-year median: 19

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
19
199219
1993
Compare all 400E years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
14Engine
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
1
All reported categories
Fuel/propulsion System
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 15 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine complaints

2 reports
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180,000 miles · Mar 4, 2015
Engine

THE FUEL INJECTION ENGINE HARNESS WIRING HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED DUE TO THE USE OF A BIO DEGRADABLE MATERIAL BY MERCEDES BENZ. HAS RESULTED IN A LOT OF SHORTING ISSUES, WHICH RESULTED IN AIR CONDITIONING TURNING OFF, FAN CONTROL OFF, ENGINE HEATING UP, BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE, AND NOW SMOG FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO …

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THE FUEL INJECTION ENGINE HARNESS WIRING HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED DUE TO THE USE OF A BIO DEGRADABLE MATERIAL BY MERCEDES BENZ. HAS RESULTED IN A LOT OF SHORTING ISSUES, WHICH RESULTED IN AIR CONDITIONING TURNING OFF, FAN CONTROL OFF, ENGINE HEATING UP, BLUE AND BLACK SMOKE, AND NOW SMOG FAILURE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MERCEDES AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT. I HAVE HAD OVER $4000 REPAIRS AND STILL NEED TO GET THE ENGINE HARNESS CHANGED, WHICH IS A CUSTOM PAR AND MERCEDES WILL TAKE 2 MONTHS TO BUILD AND THE REPAIR ESTIMATE ON MY CAR IS OVER $8000 BY MERCEDES STEVEN CREEK. THESE PROBLEMS GOT ME 2 TRAFFIC TICKETS FOR NO REASON. DISGUSTING. MERCEDES NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE, AND PROVIDE EXCELLENT SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE, TO PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR CAR. I REQUEST MBUSA PRESIDENT TO KINDLY LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692130

278,000 miles · Nov 12, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

FAULTY WIRING IN ENGINE HARNESS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER AT SPEED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, LUCKILY AT THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR'S CHARGING SYSTEM HAD BEEN SHORTED OUT. STILL WAITING ON OTHER SYSTEM TESTS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MERCEDES. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING D…

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FAULTY WIRING IN ENGINE HARNESS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER AT SPEED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, LUCKILY AT THE TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAR'S CHARGING SYSTEM HAD BEEN SHORTED OUT. STILL WAITING ON OTHER SYSTEM TESTS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MERCEDES. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484072

Official recalls

1

94V004000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System

Jan 6, 1994

HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.

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.