1993 Mercedes Benz 400E

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1993 MERCEDES 400E THE LOWER WIRING HARNESS ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE USE OF BIODEGRADEABLE MATERIALS USED BY MERCEDES BENZ BECAUSE THE COMPANY WAS THE LOW BIDDER AND NOW THE UPPER WIRING HARNESS IS CAUSING ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH OUT THE CAR MERCEDES BENZ HAS NOT CLAIMED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH ALMOST ALL OF THEIR CARS FROM 1992 TO 1995 BESIDES BEING SO DANGEROUS IT IS VERY COSTLY TO THE VEHICLE OWNERS MERCEDES BENZ SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS ABLE TO RESTART A FEW TIMES. IT EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WITH NO PHONE SERVICE, AND HAD A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FINDING HELP AFTER HAVING TO PUSH MY CAR OFF THE ROAD. TURNS OUT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILED, BIG SURPRISE!!! THIS WHOLE ORDEAL COST ME 1800 DOLLARS ON SOMETHING THAT MB USED TO REPLACE FOR FREE. *NM

THE ELECTRICAL INSULATION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAS VIRTUALLY DISINTEGRATED, APPARENTLY FROM THE (NORMAL) HEAT OF THE ENGINE. THE INSULATION LITERALLY FLAKES AWAY IN MY HAND WHEN BEING HANDLED EVEN WITH THE MOST GENTLE TOUCH. THE MANUFACTURER (MERCEDES) CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM DESPITE THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE COST TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS IS $500+ FOR ONLY THE PART; THE COST OF INSTALLATION IS ALSO IN EXCESS OF $500, THUS COSTING OVER $1,000. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE! THE DETERIORATED INSULATION CAUSES INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL SHORT-CIRCUITS, CAUSING MY CAR TO SUDDENLY LOSE ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. JUST AS SUDDENLY, THE CAR REGAINS POWER AND LURCHES AHEAD, THEN LOSES POWER, LURCHES AHEAD, ETC. THE CYCLE OF LURCHING/LOSING POWER HAPPENS IN RAPID SUCCESSION -- FOUR OR FIVE TIMES INSIDE OF A MINUTE -- MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO "CONTROL." ALL OF THIS ON THE 405N FREEWAY IN LOS ANGELES ON THE CUSP OF RUSH-HOUR. *NLM