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1994 Mercedes Benz 420

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 6 of 16 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Child Seat. Review the 3 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL TRY TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. HAS REPLACED SEVERAL BRAKE PARTS BUT FOUND NOTHING.*AK. CONSUMER STATED INCIDENT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AN HOUR OR MORE, T…

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AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE WILL TRY TO SURGE FORWARD WHILE CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. HAS REPLACED SEVERAL BRAKE PARTS BUT FOUND NOTHING.*AK. CONSUMER STATED INCIDENT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AN HOUR OR MORE, THERE IS USUALLY A SOUND, CONSUMER ALSO STATED ALL 4 ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8012437

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2002
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST AUGUST. IT OCCURRS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DUPLICATED WHEN AT A DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT, THE CAR THEN STOPS. HOWEVER, ON APRIL 7TH WHEN THIS OCCURRED REA…

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THE PROBLEM STARTED LAST AUGUST. IT OCCURRS ONLY OCCASIONALLY AND HAS NEVER BEEN DUPLICATED WHEN AT A DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR STARTS TO ROLL FORWARD. WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT, THE CAR THEN STOPS. HOWEVER, ON APRIL 7TH WHEN THIS OCCURRED REAPPLYING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR AND I ROLLED INTO THE REAR END OF A TRATOR TRAILER TRUCK WHO WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2001 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MERCEDES DEALERSHIP IN HAVERHILL, MA SMITH MOTORS. THEY PUT IN A NEW MASTER CYCLINDER. ON DECEMBER 24TH I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. SMITH MOTORS SAW THE CAR ON JAN 2, 2002 AND SAID UNTIL NEW ROTORS WERE PUT IN THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IN FEB I WAS IN DEVON, PA AND STOPPED IN THE MERCEDES DEALERAHIP THERE. THEY SAID WHEN A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES THE PROBLEM I WAS HAVING THEY PUT IN NEW BRAKE SENSORS. (SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS INCLUDING THE DEVON DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THINNING ROTORS WOULD NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM.) I HAD NEW ROTORS PUT IN, BUT EXPPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON APRIL 7TH. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO SMITH MOTORS AND THE REGIONAL MERCEDES REPAIR EXPERT EXAMED AND TESTED THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 3 HOURS AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM EXCEPT I NEEDED NEW ROTORS. THEY TOLD MY INSURANCE COMPANY EITHER I DIDN'T HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR THAT THE CAR IS OLD! I HAVE HAD NEW ROTORS PUT IN THE CAR BUT AM TERRIFIED OF DRIVING IT. PLEASE ADVISE. I CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER USING MY REGISTRATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761678

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 5 MILES, VEHICLE IS ABS SYSTEM. TT

NHTSA ODI #974006

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE PADS SQUEAK, CAUSING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #477769

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.