Mercedes Benz 129 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
67,928 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 57.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 28.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Visibility: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2006: 1; 2009: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10433620 · 2011-10-30 (October 30, 2011)
1993 MERCEDES BENZ SL600 WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. INSULATION ON WIRING BECAME BRITTLE AND TURNED TO DUST. SHORTS IN WIRING LEAD TO TROUBLE LIGHTS COMING ON. ENGINE MISFIRES AND SHUTS OFF. ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459356 · 2012-05-23 (May 23, 2012)
THE WIRING HARNESS, OF WHICH THERE ARE THREE, WAS CONSTRUCTED OF AN INSULATION CASE THAT IS BY DESIGN BIODEGRADABLE. THIS WAS A MATERIAL SELECTION DEFECT AND IS CAUSING GREAT EXPENSE AND PAIN TO OWNERS OF THESE CARS. IT IS ALSO DRASTICALLY AFFECTING RESALE VALUE OF THE CARS. UNUSUAL FOR A CAR THAT COST OVER $100K NEW. THEREFORE, THE OUTER CASE OF THE THREE HARNESSES DISINTEGRATES OVER TIME, AND EXPOSES THE INDIVIDUAL WIRES TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE 12 CYLINER MOTOR - THIS CAUSES THE INSULATION AROUND THOSE INNER WIRES TO CRACK AND DISINTEGR…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150787 · 2006-02-21 (February 21, 2006)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD,IDLE ROUGH,STALLING OF CAR. I CHECKED THE ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE AIR MASS METER AND GENTLY MOVED THE WIRES. THE OUTSIDE INSULATION BEGAN TO SMOKE, THEN MELTED FROM THE HEAT. I QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE CAR'S ENGINE AND CHECKED THE DAMAGE. THE INSULATION COVERING THE 4 WIRES INSIDE OF THE HARNESS HAD TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED, THUS CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITS IN THE HARNESS. THE HEAT GENERATED ACTUALLY MELTED THE OUTSIDE COVERING OF THE WIRES BOTH AT THE AIR MASS METER CONNECTOR AND UNDERNEATH THE MAIN ENGINE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282983 · 2009-09-06 (September 6, 2009)
MY 1999 MERCESDES BENZ ENGINE STALLED WHILE I AM DRIVING. IF I WAIT FOR A WHILE , THE ENGINE WOULD START AGAIN. AFTER READING SOME COMPLAINTS IN THE MBWORLD.ORG FORUM, I THINK THAT MY CAR HAS PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CPS). THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AS MY CAR ENGINE CAN BE STALLED WHILE I AM DRIVING, ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY. DO YOU KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HA BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE RECALLED? THANKS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10282983 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1991: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1997: 0; 1999: 0