1994 Mercedes Benz 320: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
136,202 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 44 complaints (34.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 33 | 75.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 11.4% |
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 | 15 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 15 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 11 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Electrical System: 15; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 15; Electrical System:Wiring: 11; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2; Air Bags: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 9; 2007: 7; 2008: 11; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 33 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10082647 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45-50 MPH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 137,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082647 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086612 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNES HAS FAILED. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR ALL 92-95 E-320 CARS. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AS THE ENGINE CAN JUST QUIT WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116522 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THROTTLE ACTUATOR WIRING . THE WIRE INSULATION USED ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR IN MY CAR HAS BADLY DEGRADED! THIS CAUSES ALL KINDS OF SHORTS WITHIN THE ELECTRONICS OF THE VEHICLE AND PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE SYSTEM IN THIS CAR. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR CAUSED MY CAR TO GO IN AND OUT OF LIMP MODE(REDUCED POWER) WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO ACCELLERATE VERY QUICKLY AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT!. MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALER DENIES …
Owner-reported narrative. 151,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129101 · 2005-07-18 (July 18, 2005)
SEVERAL YEAR HISTORY OF INTERMITTANT ENGINE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FOUND INSULATION ON ENGINE WIRING HARNESS BADLY CRACKED, DECAYED, DRIED OUT, ETC. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED LOTS OF EXPOSED COPPER WIRE. REPLACED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WITH NEW PART, PROBLEM SOLVED. MERCEDES BENZ IS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. PROBLEM RESULTED FROM MB'S EXPERIMENTATION WITH BIODEGRADEABLE WIRE INSULATION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131814 · 2005-08-06 (August 6, 2005)
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR AWHILE, BUT NONE OF THEM VERY SERIOUS. FOLLOWING RECENT SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A FAILED SPARK PROBLEM. AFTER REPLACING PLUG WIRES AND CONNECTORS AND A COIL ASSEMBLY ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE WIRING FEEDING THE FRONT COIL ASSEMBLY HAD LOST THE INSULATION AND WAS SHORTED OUT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE WIRING TO THE OTHER COIL ASSEMBLIES ALSO EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WIRING WAS TRACED BACK TO WHERE IT JOINED UP WITH THE REST OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 191,067 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148105 · 2006-01-19 (January 19, 2006)
94 MERCEDES BENZ E320 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY DESINTEGRATED EXPOSING ALL WIRING IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS THE ENGINE RUNS AND MISFIRES IT SPARKS AND SHORTS TO GROUND. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148631 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WIRING HARNESS. *TS THE MERCEDES BENZ M-104 ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED FROM BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALS. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS BEGAN TO DETERIORATE AND FAIL. THIS LEAD TO A CYCLE OF INCREASINGLY SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158228 · 2006-05-24 (May 24, 2006)
1994 E320 WIRE HARNESS CRACK PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158228 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V175000 · Visibility
Reported: 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)
IF ONE OF THE HEADLAMP WIPER ARMS BECOMES MISALIGNED, THE WIPER BALDE CAN LODGE IN THE GROOVE UNDER THE HEADLAMP. IF THE WASHERS ARE ACTIVATED WITH THE WIPER BLADE IN THE MISALIGNED AND LODGED POSITION, THE WASHER PUMP WILL RUN CONTINUOUSLY EXPELLING ALL AVAILABLE FLUID.
Consequence: PUMP OPERATION IN THE ABSENCE OF FLUID CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP WASHER PUMP ON THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗