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1994 Mercedes Benz E Class

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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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

30 reports with mileage · 8 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 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. 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 reports5 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

31 reports
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100,000 miles · May 2, 2006
Electrical System

ENGINE WIRING LOOM HAS DISINTEGRATED CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON CONCERN ON THE MERCEDES BENZ 300 FROM 1993 THROUGH 1995. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156597

64,500 miles · Apr 25, 2006
Electrical System

MY MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE UPPER WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATING BADLY AND THE INSULATION HAD DISINTEGRATED COMPLETELY , EXPOSING BARE WIRE AT NUMEROUS SPOTS. I HAD THIS WIRING HARNESS REPLACED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE LED TO EXPENSIVE DAMAGE TO ELECTRONIC PARTS AND / OR A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156025

108,000 miles · Apr 22, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET TO REPAIR AN OIL LEAK. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO THE OIL LEAK HE HAD TO TAKE OFF THE WIRING HARNESS UPON WHICH THE HARNESS DISINTEGRATED IN HIS HAND. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE MB WOULD YOU BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL TO MANUFACTURER AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMEN…

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I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET TO REPAIR AN OIL LEAK. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO THE OIL LEAK HE HAD TO TAKE OFF THE WIRING HARNESS UPON WHICH THE HARNESS DISINTEGRATED IN HIS HAND. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE MB WOULD YOU BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL TO MANUFACTURER AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS $1,000 AND NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW SINCE THE REPAIRING THE EXISTING HARNESS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155874

170,000 miles · Nov 24, 2005
Electrical System

THE MATERIAL AROUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER PROTECTING THE WIRING ITSELF CAUSING IT TO MELT AND DAMAGE THE WIRES INSIDE. THIS LED TO THE CAR ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER CASES OF THIS HAPPENING AMONG …

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THE MATERIAL AROUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER PROTECTING THE WIRING ITSELF CAUSING IT TO MELT AND DAMAGE THE WIRES INSIDE. THIS LED TO THE CAR ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER CASES OF THIS HAPPENING AMONG OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND MANY HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS. THE P[ARTS WERE REPLACED OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MB USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS INSTEAD OF TELLING OWNERS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT DATE OF THE FAILURE AS IT HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE BEING PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, I ALSO DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATE BECAUSE I JUST RECENTLY FOUND THIS WEBSITE AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED A WHILE AGO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10143626

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2005
Electrical System

MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. AS MANY ENTHUSIASTS AND OWNERS KNOW, THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS MOST 1992 TO 1995 MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES SUFFERS DETERIORATION AND PREMATURE FAILURE. THE RESULT IS POOR RUNNING CONDITION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. MY OWN HARNESS SHOWED SIGNS OF DETERIORATION AT THE 7 YEAR MAR…

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MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. AS MANY ENTHUSIASTS AND OWNERS KNOW, THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS MOST 1992 TO 1995 MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES SUFFERS DETERIORATION AND PREMATURE FAILURE. THE RESULT IS POOR RUNNING CONDITION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. MY OWN HARNESS SHOWED SIGNS OF DETERIORATION AT THE 7 YEAR MARK AND MERCEDES BENZ WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER GOODWILL, HOWEVER, BECAUSE I WAS HAVING OTHER WORK DONE, THEY REPLACED IT FOR THE PART COST ONLY WAIVING LABOR CHARGES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136387

125,000 miles · Jul 12, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

1994 E320 HAD INTERMINTENT RUNNING PROBLEMS. CAR WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING A RAIN OR AFTER WASHING THE CAR. REPLACED MANY PARTS(MASS AIR METER, TUNE UP, OVP RELAY, FUEL PUMP RELAY, ETC) TO CHASE THE PROBLEM, NONE OF WHICH SOLVED IT. BEGAN TO LOOK ON MERCEDES FORUMS AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. BEFO…

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1994 E320 HAD INTERMINTENT RUNNING PROBLEMS. CAR WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING A RAIN OR AFTER WASHING THE CAR. REPLACED MANY PARTS(MASS AIR METER, TUNE UP, OVP RELAY, FUEL PUMP RELAY, ETC) TO CHASE THE PROBLEM, NONE OF WHICH SOLVED IT. BEGAN TO LOOK ON MERCEDES FORUMS AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. BEFORE I REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IT BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD AN EXTINGUSIHER WITH ME AND STOPPED IT FROM CATCHING FIRE. MERCEDES COVERED PART OF THE COST UNDER THEIR "GOODWILL" PROGRAM HOWEVER I HAD TO INSTALL IT WHICH TOOK ABOUT 8 HOURS. THE FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPEND AROUND 125K MILES HOWEVER IT WAS MANY MONTHS AND MILES LATER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED.

NHTSA ODI #10128437

112,000 miles · Jun 6, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420- WIRING HARNESS IS DECAYING. THE WIRES ARE BRITTLE AND MELTING TOGETHER. THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRE IS GONE; AS A RESULT, THE WIRE IS BARE AND UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE SUFFER FROM ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS; SUCH AS, STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, SURGING IN TRAFFIC JAMS, AND GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY GO HAYWIRE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10074886

96,000 miles · Jul 7, 2003
Electrical System

ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, ALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER, RESULTING IS POOR BRAKING AND STEERING. ON A PREVIOUS DEALER VISIT, THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND SERVI…

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ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, ALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER, RESULTING IS POOR BRAKING AND STEERING. ON A PREVIOUS DEALER VISIT, THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND SERVICED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER HAVING THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AS A COST OF $1500 WITHOUT ANY GOOD WILL FROM MERCEDES BENZ. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STILL APPEARS TO BE IGNORANT TO THE FACT. THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025560

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 2003
Electrical System

THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL TO ENGAGE. THIS REDUCED THE ENGINE'S POWER TO APPROXIMATELY 20%, SLOWING THE CAR DOWN, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. 1994, MERCEDES BENZ, 320.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026308

40,000 miles · Jul 1, 2003
Electrical System

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 IS CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE USE OF POOR WIRING INSULATION CAUSING MY CAR TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. TO RESTART IT, I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE SHIFTER GATE TO P, TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY BACK, AND FINALLY RESTART IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER…

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THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 IS CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE USE OF POOR WIRING INSULATION CAUSING MY CAR TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. TO RESTART IT, I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE SHIFTER GATE TO P, TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY BACK, AND FINALLY RESTART IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN MANY ACCIDENTS BECUASE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE BENZ TECHS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT MERCEDES-BENZ REFUSES TO MAKE IT A RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025241

Official recalls

1

95V031000 · Electrical System:wiring

Feb 21, 1995

THE FRONT PASSENGER METAL FOOT REST CAN, OVER TIME, ABRADE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE FOOT REST CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT, STALL THE ENGINE, OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY AN AIRBAG, ANY OF THESE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL WIRING HARNESS CABLE FASTENER TIES AND EDGE PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SHARP EDGES OF THE METAL FOOT REST.

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.