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: 11 of 19 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 17 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.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
19 reports
13,000 miles · Apr 20, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS, AND AN AIT TEMP SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARING HARNESS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS, AND AN AIT TEMP SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARING HARNESS WAS DEFECTED AND METAL WAS VISIBLE. THE WIRES INSIDE WERE DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 6TH, 8TH, 9TH, AND 18TH, AND THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 132,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10188457
100,000 miles · Sep 9, 2006
Electrical System
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1992 MERCEDES 400E HAS DETERIORATED AND IS CAUSING SHORTS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS FAILING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE REPAIR IS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPLACED DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. MY…
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THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1992 MERCEDES 400E HAS DETERIORATED AND IS CAUSING SHORTS THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THE GAUGES DO NOT WORK AND THE THROTTLE BODY IS FAILING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR TOWED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE REPAIR IS IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPLACED DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10167735
162,000 miles · Aug 24, 2006
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING 80 GOING ON HIGHWAY 696 WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 3 LANE FREEWAY. I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE ALONG WITH A FEW ANGRY DRIVERS. IT APPEARS THE WIRE HARNESS WAS TOAST. IT SHORT CIRCUITED AND FRIED THE LH MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166483
86,226 miles · Apr 24, 2006
Electrical System
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CRACKED, REPLACED AT COST OF $728 @ MILEAGE OF 86,226 ON 10/21/03. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED AS MB STARMARK VEHICLE AT ~45,000 MILES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10156015
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2006
Electrical System
VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE H…
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VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING, TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10152151
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2003
Electrical System
VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING ,TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE H…
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VEHICLE CHECKED AND FOUND THAT INSULATION ON ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRING ,TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND FAN THERMAL SWITCH HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF VERY POOR MATERIAL .THE INSULATION BREAKS VERY EASY AT THE TOUCH AND TURNS INTO DUST. THE WHOLE WIRE HARNESS IS IN THE SAME SITUATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10018929
120,239 miles · Feb 4, 2003
Electrical System
MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT.
NHTSA ODI #10005286
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES IN 08/02 EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS W/AIR CONDITIONING CUTTING OFF. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DLR WHO DIAGNOSED THAT INSULATION ON FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS DETERIORATED CAUSING WIRES TO RUB TOGETHER. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT HARNESS INSULATION IS MADE OF BIO-DEGRADABLE MATERIAL RESULTING IN EARY DETERIORATION. NLM
NHTSA ODI #8019881
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control
ACCELERATION SLIP CONTROL UNIT FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL.
HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.
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.
1992 Mercedes Benz 400E Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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