Mercedes Benz 420 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
57 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
109,375 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 1999 model years. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 57 complaints (8.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 22.8% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
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 | 5 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 3 |
Electrical System: 5; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 3
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 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 33 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 | 8 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 2; 2000: 6; 2001: 4; 2002: 4; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10157901 · 2006-05-19 (May 19, 2006)
5/18/2006. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MBZ REPAIR SHOP AND FOUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS'S WIRE INSULATION BREAKING APART AND EXPOSING THE BARE WIRING. COST OF REPAIR +$900.00. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169170 · 2006-09-25 (September 25, 2006)
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 THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE CAN STALL OR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED. REPLACE OF WIRE HARNESS AT A COST OF$1500 WAS NEEDED TO FIX. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963593 · 1995-04-10 (April 10, 1995)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRYING TO TURN A CURB THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAIL LOST CONTROL WAS IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTALED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 477769 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
FRONT BRAKE PADS SQUEAK, CAUSING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 477769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194198 · 2007-06-25 (June 25, 2007)
1995 E420 MERCEDES BENZ: WIRE HARNESS HAS PREMATURELY DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING UNSAFE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS TO APPEAR IN VEHICLE SUCH AS: SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND UNRESPONSIVENESS TO ACCELERATOR INPUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 108,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033790 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, FIRE CAME THROUGH THE FIREWALL. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD FILLED WITH BLACK SMOKE WITH THE IGNITION OFF AND THE VEHICLE PARKED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080293 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING HARD. THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRAME WELL WAS BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB METAL ON FRAME WELL WAS REPLACED DUE TO FATIGUE. ALSO, FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY CONSUMER IN AN AUCTION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452795 · 2012-03-23 (March 23, 2012)
CAR STOPPED SHIFTING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ASR LIGHT APPEARED WHILE DRIVING. TOOK CAR INTO AUTO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD WIRING HARNESS WOULD NEED TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED AND WOULD COST MORE THAN AUTO'S WORTH. SAID THESE CARS WERE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING WIRING HARNESS PROBLEMS AND CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133880 · 2005-08-23 (August 23, 2005)
I RECENTLY HAD A GAS TANK PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 1997 E MODEL MERCEDES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE INTERIOR OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE RETURN LINES INSIDE THE TANK HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TANK PRESSURE, LEAKAGE, AND /OR IMPROPER EMISSION SYSTEM SENSOR READOUTS. THE TANK HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MPACT SO THE DISCONNECTED LINE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN OR ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE RETURN LINE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE GAS TANK HAS A MAJOR IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133880 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 |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 1; 1991: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1997: 0; 1999: 0