Illustration1993 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
1993 Mercedes Benz 500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →22Owner complaints
Model-year median: 6
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1993 Mercedes Benz 500
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 22 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Electrical System: 16 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 1 reports
- Power Train: 1 reports
- Seat Belts: 1 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 500 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
What owners actually said
22 reportsCAR WILL QUIT ALL OF A SUDDEN AND LEAVE ME WITH NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. THIS IS DUE TO A BRAKE DOWN IN THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OR A FIRE. *NM
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED AND STARTED BECOMING BRITTLE RESULTING IN WARNING LIGHTS, FAILED WATER TEMPERATURE SENSING AND ULTIMATELY POOR RUNNING OF ENGINE AND WIRING HARNESS CRUMBLING. *NM
BOTH ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESSES OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (115,000 MILES), HAVE CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. THEY ARE SHORTING OUT, CAUSING STALLING AND THE IMPOSITION OF (INVOLUNTARY/UNACCEPTABLE) RISKS OF DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FIRES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER ME…
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BOTH ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESSES OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (115,000 MILES), HAVE CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. THEY ARE SHORTING OUT, CAUSING STALLING AND THE IMPOSITION OF (INVOLUNTARY/UNACCEPTABLE) RISKS OF DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FIRES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES OF THE SAME AGE DOCUMENT SAID (IDENTICAL) DEFECTS. ALTHOUGH THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO MERCEDES-BENZ, A RECALL HAS BEEN REFUSED, OUTRIGHT/HAS YET TO TRANSPIRE. PLEASE ADVISE, ASAP; THANK YOU. *NM
THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (64,000 MILES), HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT, WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVI…
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THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (64,000 MILES), HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT, WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL. *NM
1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500E - STALLS, ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. THE CAR DUE TO WIRING DEFECT SHUTS DOWN DURING DRIVING ACTIVITIES IE. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES USA AND REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED UNAWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WOULD REPLACE FOR $1200. PER CLUBS AND USER …
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1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500E - STALLS, ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. THE CAR DUE TO WIRING DEFECT SHUTS DOWN DURING DRIVING ACTIVITIES IE. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES USA AND REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED UNAWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WOULD REPLACE FOR $1200. PER CLUBS AND USER GROUPS (WWW.500ECSTASY.COM) ALL OWNERS HAVE REPLACED OR EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *JB UPDATED 08/22/06. *JB UPDATED 12/07/15.*JB
POSSIBLE ODOMETER TAMPERING. *AK
REAR SEAT BELT DOES NOT FUNCTION SINCE PURCHASE.
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A STORE WINDOW, KILLING A BYSTANDER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Recall campaigns
196V175000 · 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.