1992 Mercedes Benz 400E: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
125,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 18 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 88.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 7; Electrical System: 6; Electrical System:Wiring: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
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 10152151 · 2006-03-07 (March 7, 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. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10152151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156015 · 2006-04-24 (April 24, 2006)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CRACKED, REPLACED AT COST OF $728 @ MILEAGE OF 86,226 ON 10/21/03. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED AS MB STARMARK VEHICLE AT ~45,000 MILES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 86,226 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166483 · 2006-08-24 (August 24, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING 80 GOING ON HIGHWAY 696 WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY DIED. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 3 LANE FREEWAY. I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE ALONG WITH A FEW ANGRY DRIVERS. IT APPEARS THE WIRE HARNESS WAS TOAST. IT SHORT CIRCUITED AND FRIED THE LH MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166483 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 10188457 · 2007-04-20 (April 20, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MERCEDES BENZ 400E. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WIRING HARNESS, AND AN AIT TEMP SENSOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BEARING HARNESS WAS DEFECTED AND METAL WAS VISIBLE. THE WIRES INSIDE WERE DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON APRIL 6TH, 8TH, 9TH, AND 18TH, AND THE FAILURE REMAINED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 132,000, AND FAILURE MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194117 · 2007-06-25 (June 25, 2007)
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SHOP SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. THE WIRING HARNESS WIRES WERE FRIED AND BECAME BRITTLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 165,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10194117 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
92V083000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1992-06-11 (June 11, 1992)
THE PLASTIC BRAKE HYDRAULIC HOSE FROM THE AUTOMATIC SLIP CONTROL UNIT WAS MISROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE PRE-RESISTOR FOR THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY ENGINE COOLING FAN WHICH BECOMES HOT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE HOSE TO MELT AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE HOT PRE-RESISTOR.
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID CAN CATCH ON FIRE WHEN IT CONTACTS THE HOTPRE-RESISTOR, POSING THE RISK OF INJURY TO ANYONE IN OR NEAR THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: REPLACE AND REROUTE ANY HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISROUTED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V004000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
Reported: 1994-01-06 (January 6, 1994)
HIGH AMBIENT ENGINE COMPARTMENT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPERIENCED AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AND THEN PARKED. IF THE VEHICLE IS RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER AND THE CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SATURATED WITH FUEL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT FUEL VAPOR MAY BE EXPELLED THROUGH THE INLET VENT LINE OF THE CANISTER ONTO THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR.
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY RADIATOR FAN PRERESISTOR BECOMES HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FUEL EXPELLED FROM THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE FUEL VAPOR CANISTER VENT LINE AWAY FROM THE ELECTRIC FAN PRERESISTOR. IN ADDITION, THE PRERESISTOR WILL HAVE A LARGER HEAT SHIELD AND A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WILL BE INSTALLED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗