Mercedes Benz 400E problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
130,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 1993 model years. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 36 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 88.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 13.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.8% |
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 | 12 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 10 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 9 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Electrical System: 12; Electrical System:Wiring: 10; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 9; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 10; 2007: 4; 2008: 7; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10005286 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018929 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167735 · 2006-09-09 (September 9, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134065 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
DT: THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. THEY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION, REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES INTO THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THIS IT WOULD NOT REALLY GO ANYWHERE. HE TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, TWO DISTRIBUTORS, TWO FILTER ELEMENTS, FUEL FILTER, ADDED BRAKE FLUID, FUEL INJECTION KIT, AND THEY FLUSHED THE FUEL. THE VEHICLE IS STILL NOT DRIVABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163905 · 2006-07-30 (July 30, 2006)
I AM WRITING ABOUT A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1993 400E (E420 BADGE). THIS PAST MAY, MY CAR HAD A CHECK ENGINE LAMP PROBLEM SYMPTOM. AFTER BEING WITHOUT MY CAR FOR THE MORE THAN 2 WEEKS THAT IT TOOK MY MECHANIC (DIETSCH WERKS IN SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA) TO INVESTIGATE MULTIPLE ERRONEOUS DIAGNOSTIC FAULT CODES, I FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK AFTER SPENDING ABOUT $500 PARTIALLY FOR ELUSIVE DIAGNOSTIC TIME. ON THE EVENING OF 30 JUNE, THE CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE BUSY US 101 FREEWAY IN SAN JOSE, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE FU…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163905 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 | 2 |
| 1993 | 1 |
1992: 2; 1993: 1