WIRE HARNESS DECAY, DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *TR
1994 Mercedes Benz E Class
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 E Class years →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.
What owners actually said
38 reportsI TURNED ON THE SWITCH OF MY 1994 E320 MERCEDES NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. OPENED HOOD IT WAS ON FIRE. AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED WIRING HARNESS, PLUGS, BUT CAR IS STILL SURGING NOT IDLING PROPERLY. REPLACED INTAKE AIR SENSOR, PLANNING TO REPLACE IDLE ACTUATOR, AND…
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I TURNED ON THE SWITCH OF MY 1994 E320 MERCEDES NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. OPENED HOOD IT WAS ON FIRE. AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED WIRING HARNESS, PLUGS, BUT CAR IS STILL SURGING NOT IDLING PROPERLY. REPLACED INTAKE AIR SENSOR, PLANNING TO REPLACE IDLE ACTUATOR, AND OVP RELAY. 153,000 MILES I HAVE SPENT 3000.00. MY SON WAS PRESENT AND PUT OUT THE FIRE AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. I HAVE ALL OLD PARTS REPLACED. *TR
ENGINE OCCASIONALLY STALLING AT ANY SPEED INCLUDING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. MECHANIC TRACED TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SHORTING. THE DRIVING IS UNSAFE AS THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE WITH MANY FIRES REPORTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS WERE CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE STA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS WERE CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE STABILIZER BAR WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY IS ONLY VALID IN CANADA AND NOT THE UNITED STATES. THEREFORE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000. UPDATED 06/09/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SPRING HOUSING SHROUD WAS CORRODED. THE WHEEL DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUSPENSION COLLAPSED AND THE WHEEL BUCKLED UNDER THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT TO BE A STRUCTURAL FAILURE. UPDATED 06/10/09.*JB
1. POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, UNSAFE DRIVABILITY, HESITATION AND STALLING. 2. FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM IS VERY OFTEN. QUALIFIED MERCEDES-BENZ REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DEGRADATION. THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE HARNESSES FAIL, ACCORDING TO THEIR HEAD MECHANICS. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MERCEDES-B…
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1. POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, UNSAFE DRIVABILITY, HESITATION AND STALLING. 2. FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM IS VERY OFTEN. QUALIFIED MERCEDES-BENZ REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DEGRADATION. THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE HARNESSES FAIL, ACCORDING TO THEIR HEAD MECHANICS. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER MECHANICS, THEY, TOO, HAVE WITNESSED AN EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATE. 3. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,210.00. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,800. THE T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E-320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WHEN APPROACHING A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,800. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADDED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURS AT A HIGH FREQUENCY WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
IN MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY DEGRADED IN SOME PARTS, CAUSING THE INDIVIDUALLY INSULATED WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, CAUSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. MY CAR HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES, NEARLY KILLING MYSELF AND ENDANGERING OTHERS. MY FRIEND'S 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAS CAUGHT O…
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IN MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY DEGRADED IN SOME PARTS, CAUSING THE INDIVIDUALLY INSULATED WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, CAUSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. MY CAR HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES, NEARLY KILLING MYSELF AND ENDANGERING OTHERS. MY FRIEND'S 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E420 HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE WITH THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHILE WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, CAUSING SEVERE BURNS ON HIS UPPER ARMS AND SMOKE INHALATION INJURIES BETWEEN ME, HIM, AND SEVERAL PEDESTRIANS. THIS IS A CRUCIAL SAFETY DEFECT AND I CANNOT FIND ANY RECOURSE VIA MERCEDES BENZ TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I AM A DANGER TO THE SAFETY OF OTHERS AND TO MYSELF. *TR
CRUMBLING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY CAR. I'VE COLLECTED AND RESTORED CARS FOR MANY YEARS, AND FIND THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO BE UNBELIEVABLE - ESPECIALLY FROM MERCEDES BENZ. FURTHERMORE THE LACK OF RESPONSE OR RECALL IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT MB IS INDIFFERENT ABOUT EXISTING OWNER SATISFACTION, CUSTOMER SAFETY AND THE QUALIT…
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CRUMBLING ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY CAR. I'VE COLLECTED AND RESTORED CARS FOR MANY YEARS, AND FIND THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT TO BE UNBELIEVABLE - ESPECIALLY FROM MERCEDES BENZ. FURTHERMORE THE LACK OF RESPONSE OR RECALL IS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT MB IS INDIFFERENT ABOUT EXISTING OWNER SATISFACTION, CUSTOMER SAFETY AND THE QUALITY OF THE BRAND THEY SO PROUDLY PRODUCE. THE REPAIR IS A $900+ EXPENSE TO ME, AND THERE'S NO ASSISTANCE FROM MB. *TR
I OWN A 1994 MB E320,MY ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS,TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM I ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE INTO TANK BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY SEEMED LIKE A FUEL PROBLEM. THE CAR DID RUN OK .A COUPLE OF WEEKS WENT BY AND SEEMED FINE, BUT THE CAR SLOWLY STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN AND CAUGHT US ALL BY SURPRISE WHEN THE ASR LIG…
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I OWN A 1994 MB E320,MY ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS,TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM I ADDED A FUEL ADDITIVE INTO TANK BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY SEEMED LIKE A FUEL PROBLEM. THE CAR DID RUN OK .A COUPLE OF WEEKS WENT BY AND SEEMED FINE, BUT THE CAR SLOWLY STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN AND CAUGHT US ALL BY SURPRISE WHEN THE ASR LIGHT CAME ON AND SO DID LIMP HOME MODE, WE WERE ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT TWICE AND NOW THE CAR SEEMS TO BE SHUTTING OFF MORE OFTEN THAN BEFORE, AND NOW THE ASR DOES NOT TURN OFF AND IS STILL IN LIMP MODE. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING TO ALOT OF MERCEDES BENZ OWNER'S IN THIS CLASS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED MB MECHANIC AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP,THIS ALL WAS WORTHLESS AND A WAIST OF MONEY AS IT SEEMS NEITHER NEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE, SO I HAVE TO DEPEND ON IT EVEN THOUGH ITS NOT RELIABLE ANY MORE. MY FAMILY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME BUT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MERCEDES BENZ? I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR JUST NOW OR TO BE TAKING IT BACK AND FORTH TO BE SERVICED AND BE ADDING NEW PARTS TO IT, BEING THERE IS REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ONES BEING REPLACED, THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT,AND THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO IT. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM TO IGNORE OR SWEEP UNDER THE RUG. MY CAR IS THE WAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND SO ARE SOME OF MY PROBLEMS, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID BEFORE THIS VEHICLE IS THE SOURCE OF INCOME AS IT IS THE TRANSPORTATION OF 3CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOL AND MY NEWBORN BABY TO DR.VISITS. MERCEDES BENZ IF YOU READ THIS COMPLAINT AND I KNOW YOU WILL, PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME OR MY FAMILY BECAUSE YOU WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS,IF YOU WISH NOT TO BE, COME PICK UP YOUR CAR AND PAY BACK WHAT I PAID FOR IT SO I CAN BUY ME A RELIABLE CAR OR JUST MAKE IT RIGHT !! *TR
I HAVE A 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WAGON AND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS COMPLETELY FAILING. THIS RESULTED IN ME HAVING TO REPLACE IT FOR $1100. *TR
Official recalls
195V031000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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