Mercedes Benz 500 electrical problems
33 complaint narratives mention electrical terms.
Key facts
73 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Electrical and battery issues evidence
33 of 73 complaints match this topic (45.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10000365 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
FAULTY WIRING IN THE ENGINE BAY. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS DISENTIGRATING FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN AGE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO EXIBIT STALLING ISSUES AND ROUGH RUNNING, ALSO FAULT CODES ARE PRODUCED ON THE CAR COMPUTER.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136413 · 2005-09-13 (September 13, 2005)
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, DROVE HOME AT VERY REDUCED SPEED. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, A COMMON DEFECT ON THIS MODEL CAR 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 500E. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156868 · 2006-05-05 (May 5, 2006)
UPPER AND LOWER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED TO POINT WHERE CAR WOULD NOT RUN. INSULATION ALL DRIED UP AND CRUMBLED AWAY...I UNDERSTAND MANY 500E OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM...MERCEDES ACKNOWLEDGES USING INFERIOR 'BIO-DEGRADABLE' MATERIALS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157480 · 2006-05-13 (May 13, 2006)
THE ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 SEL WAS REPLACED ONCE AND NOW HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT, I MIGHT ADD, THIS NEW HARNESS IS "SUPPOSED" TO BE THE NEW AND IMPROVED UPGRADED VERSION. IT DOES HAVE A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER THAN THE ORIGINAL. THE WIRES ARE ALL EXPOSED BECAUSE OF THE CRACKED INSULATION. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A RARE WIRE, ALL OF THEM ARE CRACKED AND DAMAGED AND EXPOSED!!! BECAUSE OF THE OUTSIDE RUBBER CASING WHICH HOLDS ALL OF THE WIRES, I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL IT…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158452 · 2006-05-28 (May 28, 2006)
UPPER ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IN MY 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 500E (81,000 MILES) HAS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED. THE INSULATION HAS BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACKED AND FLAKED OF THE HARNESS CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORTS WITHIN THE IGNITION SYSTEM CAUSING FAILURE TO START OR RUN CONDITIONS. THROUGH RESEARCH ON THE WEB I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION WITH THE W124 CHASSIS CARS. SINCE IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM I FEEL THAT MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA IS OBLIGATED TO INITIATE A RECALL OR VOLUNTARILY REPLACE THIS KNOWN FAULTY ITEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 81,872 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158452 at NHTSA ↗