1995 Mercedes Benz S CLASS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
130,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 27 complaints (37.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 63.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 22.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 14.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.7% |
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:Front Underhood | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 10; Electrical System: 9; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 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 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10112214 · 2005-02-26 (February 26, 2005)
EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE CHECK ENGINE FAULTS IN MY 1995 MERCEDES BENZ S600. SURGING ENGINE, INTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE. INSPECTION OF WIRING HARNESS CONTROLLING ENGINE SHOWS DEGRADING WIRING INSULATION. MANY CRACKS IN INSULATION ARE CAUSING SHORT CIRCUITS WHICH CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING, SURGING, AND IS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS WILL REQUIRE THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE REPLACED. THE WORK HAS NOT YET BEEN PERFORMED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136000 · 2005-09-09 (September 9, 2005)
4 UNITS OF S600 (V12) AND 1 UNIT S500 ALL SUFFERED DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I AM NOT THE FIRST VICTIM, AND MERCEDES BENZ AS A COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PLEASE STOP PRETENDING YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE CAUSE THE TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING DIVISION OF DAIMLER CHRYSLER WAS WELL INFORMED AND IT WAS ALSO DOCUMENTED, AND YET TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY, THEY WILL KEEP ALL THEIR EYES CLOSE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172649 · 2006-11-05 (November 5, 2006)
MY 1995 MERCEDES S320 HAS BEEN STALLING AND MISFIRING AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T START UP. I TOOK IT FOR TUNE UP, BUT THE MECHANIC SAID HE CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE FAULT WIRING HARNESS INSULATION FROM FACTORY IS PEELING OFF AND MAKING THE WIRES SHORT-CIRCUIT AND IF HE TRIES TO DO ANYTHING IT WILL MAKE IT WORSE,I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL MERCEDES OWNERS WITH EARLIER AND MID 90S WHO HAVE SAME PROBLEM AND I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND YOU SHOULD PETITION THE MANUFACTURER ON OUR BEHALF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289906 · 2009-10-26 (October 26, 2009)
1995 MERCEDES S420 ASR COME ON WHILE DRIVING CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO STIFFEN AND DRIVING DIFFICULT IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT WHILE DRIVING. WHILE ASR LIGHT IS ON WHILE DRIVING EASING UP OFF GAS PEDAL CAUSES CAR TO JERK FORWARD WHILE BRAKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323643 · 2010-04-04 (April 4, 2010)
MY ASR LIGHT IS ON IN MY CAR WHICH IS A MERCEDES BENZ S600 DO TO A BAD WIRING HARNESS ON THE CAR,AND IT PUTS OUT A BIG BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE WHILE DRIVING,I TOOK THE ASR FUSE OUT AND IT STOPS BUT I HAVE TO PUT IT BACK IN BECAUSE THE ABS/AND THE SRS LIGHT COME ON ALSO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 898594 · 2001-10-31 (October 31, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 70 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT IT DID NOT SLOW VEHICLE. VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT, ENGINE ROARING AND RPMS IN RED. CONSUMER STEERED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND APPLIED PARK BRAKE, PULLED KEY FROM IGNITION AND JUMPED OUT OF VEHICLE. ENGINE CONTINUED TO ROAR FOR 2-3 MINUTES THEN STALLED, BLACK SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS DEALER DID $ 7200.00 OF ENGINE WORK. DEALER DETERMINED THE ACCELERATION WAS CAUSED BY A JAMMED FUEL INJECTOR PUMP.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898594 at NHTSA ↗