Mercedes Benz 400 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
142,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 11 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:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 43.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 13.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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:Wiring | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 6; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 3; 2000: 3; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2006: 6; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10152570 · 2006-03-13 (March 13, 2006)
REMOVED AND REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS WIRING,(1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400SE)BASE CONTROL MODULE, CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 198,456 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164376 · 2006-08-03 (August 3, 2006)
1992 MERCEDES 400E WITH ABOUT 140,000 MI. HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS WHICH HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ALREADY POSTED AND MANY ENGINE FIRES. THE WIRES IN THE HARNESS HAVE NO PROTECTION AGAINST HEAT AND LAY RIGHT ABOVE THE ENGINE. THE HARNESS CONTAINS SEVERAL WIRES, ALL OF WHICH SHOW DIRECT METAL TO METAL CONTACT THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE. AFTER CALLING ED AT THE MERCEDES DIRECT HELP LINE, HE DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OR RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT. ALL OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH THIS WIRING HARNESS SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168621 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADING, THIS ISSUE HAS EFFECTED ENGINE PERFORMANCE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER TO CAR. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY COST ME AND MY FAMILY THEIR LIFE. DUE TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADING MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND DIED (ELECTRICALLY) ON THE FREEWAY. THIS ISSUE IS SERIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233466 · 2008-07-07 (July 7, 2008)
MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD IS ROTTING AWAY. I HAVE A/C PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRES AND HAVE HAD LOSS OF POWER AT THE MOST INCONVENIENT TIMES. I'M STARTING TO HAVE DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THIS WIRING HARNESS AND AM VERY NERVOUS OF A POSSIBLE FIRE AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS USUALLY IN THE CAR. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM OTHER MERCEDES OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY MERCEDES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 172,103 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959124 · 1995-01-25 (January 25, 1995)
BRAKE AND ROTOR WEAR OUT AT 4,000 MILES. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 753422 · 2001-10-19 (October 19, 2001)
WHILE ENGAGING TO A COMPLETE STOP, BRAKE ENGAGED- AT THE RATE OF 5 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD BECOMING AIRBORNE THROUGH A STORE WINDOW, LANDING HALFWAY INTO THE STORE AND THE REAR OF THE CAR HANGING IN THE AIR OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FOREWARNING, SUCH AS A JOLT OR A FEELING OF ACCELERATIONS TO THE OCCUPANTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719069 · 2000-02-21 (February 21, 2000)
SINCE JANUARY 25,1999, MY ML430 HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPT. A TOTAL OF 18 DAYS. ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS, MY VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35MPH. AFTER TWO ATTEMPTS, DEALER FINALLY FOUND DEFECT AND REPLACED PARTS OF TRANSMISSION. NOW IN FEBRUARY 2000, MY TRANSMISSION IS HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS TIME A MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HOPE THESE DEFECTS WILL END SOON. I FEEL THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON. THANK YOU . RACHEL HARRIS ([email removed]). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 753414 · 2001-10-19 (October 19, 2001)
ON FILLING THE FUEL TANK WITH GASOLINE, THE GASOLINE SPEWS OUT OF THE FILLER FITTING AS THE TANK FILLS BEYOND 3/4 FULL. THIS OCCURS WHETHER FILLING THE VEHICLE USING THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF FROM THE PUMP OR WHETHER VERY SLOWLY FILLING THE VEHICLE MANUALLY. THIS IS A NEW PHENOMENON INSOFAR AS IT HAS OCCURRED DURING THE LAST THREE FUELINGS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS DID OCCUR ONE TIME ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. WHEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH THE GASOLINE PUMP PUMPING TOO VIGOROUSLY. WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753414 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 |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1995: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0