IllustrationTHE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS MADE WITH BIODEGRADABLE INSULATION THAT HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN OFF THE THE WIRES CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE GLOW PLUG SYSTEM.
1995 Mercedes Benz E300
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all E300 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 3 of 6 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 →
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
5 reportsTHE COPPER CORE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRE ARE EXPOSED CAN EASILY CAUSE SHORTING OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A DAILY DRIVING VEHICLE SINCE 1995 SPENDING THE WHOLE LIFETIME IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL MODEL LINE 1995 MERCEDES E300 DIESEL, BUILT IN THOSE PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR. THESE WIRES ARE …
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THE COPPER CORE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRE ARE EXPOSED CAN EASILY CAUSE SHORTING OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A DAILY DRIVING VEHICLE SINCE 1995 SPENDING THE WHOLE LIFETIME IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL MODEL LINE 1995 MERCEDES E300 DIESEL, BUILT IN THOSE PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR. THESE WIRES ARE CONSIDERED LIFETIME AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT CONSIDERED BE REPLACED AFTER 10 OR 15 OR EVEN 20+ YEARS IN USE.
ALL OF THE WIRE INSULATION ON THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD DECAYED. SEVERE RISK OF FIRE. APPARENTLY MERCEDES-BENZ USED BIO-DEGRADABLE WIRE INSULATION. WHEN EXPOSED TO THE HEAT THAT IS IN THE ENGINE BAY, THE COATING COVERING THE WIRES DISINTEGRATES. VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER, NO ACCIDENTS.
THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE GLOWPLUG WIRING HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED LEAVING THE COVERING IN DUST EXPOSING BARE WIRES THAT SHORT OUT AND CAUSE MALFUNCTIONS. MBUSA WAS CONTACTED AND THE ONLY RESPONSE WAS TO GET A LOCATION. I INQUIRED A SECOND TIME BUT GOT NO RESPONSE EXCEPT A NEW HARNESS WAS $565 AT LOCAL DEALER. *TR
WIRE INSULATION COVERING HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO HEAT AND AGE LEAVING POWDER OF INSULATION AND BARE WIRES CAUSING MALFUNCTION. MBNA WAS CONTACTED BUT NEVER ANSWERED EXCEPT TO GET MY COUNTRY. SECOND ATTEMPT AT COMMUNICATING WITH THEM GOT NO RESPONSE. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.