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1993 Mercedes Benz 500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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

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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: 15 of 22 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 1 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 reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

16 reports
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89,000 miles · Jan 9, 2012
Electrical System

ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INSULATION CRACKED ALL THROUGHOUT HARNESS. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443206

116,000 miles · May 27, 2011
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10403595

175,000 miles · Dec 8, 2007
Electrical System

" EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENGINE WIRE HARNESS " I BELIEVE THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS COATING WAS MANUFACTURED FROM 1991 TO 1996 BY MERCEDES BENZ. THE PLASTIC COATING THAT PROTECT THE WIRES FROM TOUCHING AS THEY GO TO EIGHT FUEL INJECTORS, COMPLETELY DISSOLVE IN MANY AREAS.....CAUSING A MULTITUDE OF EVENTS: 1) SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE…

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" EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ENGINE WIRE HARNESS " I BELIEVE THE FAULTY WIRE HARNESS COATING WAS MANUFACTURED FROM 1991 TO 1996 BY MERCEDES BENZ. THE PLASTIC COATING THAT PROTECT THE WIRES FROM TOUCHING AS THEY GO TO EIGHT FUEL INJECTORS, COMPLETELY DISSOLVE IN MANY AREAS.....CAUSING A MULTITUDE OF EVENTS: 1) SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE 2) ENGINE FIRES 3) EXTREME LOSS OF POWER, CAUSING CAR TO JERK INTENSELY WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING IN AND OUT MAKING IT "ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE" TO CONTROL CAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE "ENGINE WIRE HARNESS" ONCE, & NOW NEEDS ANOTHER ON MY 93 MERCEDES 500 SEL WITH 170,000 MILES (THIS WILL BE THE 3RD WIRE HARNESS). (M.B.U..S..A.) IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THEIR "FAULTY HARNESS" AND HAVE BEEN SENT PICTURES OF CARS BURNED TO THE GROUND, THOUSANDS OF LETTERS AND PICTURES CONSUMERS CONSUMERS, BUT REFUSE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS "DEFECTIVE-PART" ((THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY HARNESS)) THIS PROBLEM IS SO INTENSELY DANGEROUS TO EVERYONE ON A ROAD WAY, BECAUSE THE REACTIONS WHEN THESE WIRES TOUCH ARE "COMPLETELY UNPRODICAB E". MAKE MERCEDES STAND UP TO THE PLATE AND "R E C A L L " THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS E N G I N E W I R E H A R N E S S ! WITH MANUFACTURE DATES 1991 THROUGH 1996. (NOT POSITIVE OF EXACT YEARS, BUT SOMEWHAT ACCURATE) MY 1993 500 SEL STALLED IN MIDDLE LN. ON HWY. 280 IN SAN JOSE CA. ON 11-29-2007 @ 5:15 P.M. (NEAR 7TH STREET EXIT) NEARLY RESULTING IN MY DEATH. CARS TRYING TO AVOID ME DURING THEIR UNEXPECTED AND SUDDEN STOP AND/OR LANE CHANGES. CARS SKIDDING, SLIDING, LOSING CONTROL....IT WAS A NIGHTMARE!!!. IT'S A WONDER NO ONE INCLUDING MYSELF WAS K I L L E D. I'M 46 YRS OLD, & THAT WAS "THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION, & CLOSEST TO MY BEING KILLED THAT I 'VE EXPERIENCED!" THERE'S NO WARNING TO THE SIDE EFFECTS WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS WARMS UP AND THE UNPROTECTED WIRES BEGIN TO CROSS CURRENT WITH ONE ANOTHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211224

170,000 miles · Nov 29, 2007
Electrical SystemInjury

WHEN MY 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500 SEL WARMS TO ITS NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. IT BEGINS TO ACT AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. IT CUTS OUT INTENSELY AND THEN DIES OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT ANYWHERE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY QUITS COMPLETELY, YOU ARE STRA…

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WHEN MY 1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500 SEL WARMS TO ITS NORMAL RUNNING TEMP. IT BEGINS TO ACT AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL. IT CUTS OUT INTENSELY AND THEN DIES OUT COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PULLING OUT ANYWHERE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY QUITS COMPLETELY, YOU ARE STRANDED ROADSIDE OF AT LEAST 15 MIN. UNTIL IT WILL START AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS WIRE HARNESS HAS CAUSED FIRES WHICH HAVE DESTROYED OTHERS WITH THIS SAME DEFECTIVE WIRE COATING. PLEASE HELP US MAKE MERCEDES DO A RECALL, THEY ARE RISKING OUR LIVES! I WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER WHEN HAVING TO PUSH MY CAR TO THE CURB WHEN STALLING FROM THIS WIRE HARNESS PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT HIT AT A FASTER SPEED. ALL I RECEIVED WAS SOME MAJOR BRUISING ON MY HIP FROM THE CARS BUMPER. I SUFFERED WITH PAIN FOR OVER A WEEK. I AM NOT FILING FOR GETTING HURT, ONLY TO FIX THIS WELL KNOWN DEFECTIVE COATING ON THE MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS. PLEASE HELP US WITH OBTAINING A RECALL ON THIS VERY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU! P.S SEPT 1 IS WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED AND HAPPENS EVERY DAY NOW WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP. THEY WANT 1400 DOLLARS FOR A NEW HARNESS WHEN THE 1ST ONE WAS MADE D E F E C T I V E L Y ! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210291

100,000 miles · Nov 7, 2007
Electrical System

MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ON 11/3/2007 THAT THE WIRE HARNESS ON MY 1993 MERCEDES 500 SEL COULD CAUSE FIRE OR DEATH TO MY FAMILY AND THAT MERCEDES BENZ U.S.A. KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULTS IN THE WIRE HARNESS AND KNOWS THE PEOPLE ARE IN DANGER AND HAVE YET TO DO A RECALL ON YEARS (1992 THROUGH 1996) PLEASE HELP US GET A RECALL IN THE WIRE HA…

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MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ON 11/3/2007 THAT THE WIRE HARNESS ON MY 1993 MERCEDES 500 SEL COULD CAUSE FIRE OR DEATH TO MY FAMILY AND THAT MERCEDES BENZ U.S.A. KNOWS ABOUT THE FAULTS IN THE WIRE HARNESS AND KNOWS THE PEOPLE ARE IN DANGER AND HAVE YET TO DO A RECALL ON YEARS (1992 THROUGH 1996) PLEASE HELP US GET A RECALL IN THE WIRE HARNESS BEFORE PEOPLE GET BURNT OR DIE THESE WIRES JUST FALL APART AND THEN TOUCH EACH OTHER AND THAT IS WHEN THE DANGER STARTS, THIS REALLY IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10208221

100,000 miles · Aug 28, 2007
Electrical System

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500SEL WIRING HARNESS FAILURE- INSULATION ON WIRING BECAME BRITTLE AND BEGAN TO FALL OFF. SHORTS IN WIRING LEAD TO TROUBLE LIGHTS COMING ON AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10201073

91,000 miles · Apr 4, 2007
Electrical System

1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500E ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION CANNOT STAND UP TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND LOSES ITS INSULATION, CREATING AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187000

198,788 miles · Aug 25, 2006
Electrical System

SHORTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAUSING FAILURES OF IGNITION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SHOW THAT FAILURE OF THE SHEATHING AND MATERIALS OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CAUSE CORRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARNESSES DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. COMPLETE REPLACEMEN…

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SHORTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAUSING FAILURES OF IGNITION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SHOW THAT FAILURE OF THE SHEATHING AND MATERIALS OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CAUSE CORRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARNESSES DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING HARNESSES WAS COMPLETED IN JULY OF 2005. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166496

230,040 miles · Aug 25, 2006
Electrical System

SHORTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAUSING FAILURES OF IGNITION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SHOW THAT FAILURE OF THE SHEATHING AND MATERIALS OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CAUSE CORRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARNESSES DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166495

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2006
Electrical System

1993 MERCEDES 500E WIRING HARNESS DISINTEGRATED. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE *TS THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE HAS CUT SPARK TO HALF THE CYLINDERS IN THE ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167967

Official recalls

1

96V175000 · Visibility

Sep 19, 1996

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.