1993 Mercedes Benz 500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 20 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 70.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 30.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.0% |
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 | 8 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 8; Electrical System:Wiring: 5; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 1; Seat Belts:Rear/Other: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10025163 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
POSSIBLE ODOMETER TAMPERING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118292 · 2005-12-02 (December 2, 2005)
THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESS OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (64,000 MILES), HAS CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT AND IS BEGINNING TO SHORT OUT, WITH THE RISK OF CAUSING DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND EVEN FIRE INSIDE MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAVE READ MANY REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ CARS OF THE SAME AGE RANGE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH MERCEDES THAT THEY REFUSE TO RECALL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130247 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)
MERCEDES BENZ WIRING HARNESS DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. *JB UPDATED 08/22/06. *JB UPDATED 12/07/15.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136633 · 2005-09-15 (September 15, 2005)
1993 MERCEDES BENZ 500E - STALLS, ROUGH IDLE AND HESITATION. THE CAR DUE TO WIRING DEFECT SHUTS DOWN DURING DRIVING ACTIVITIES IE. PULLING INTO TRAFFIC AND ALMOST IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO MERCEDES USA AND REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED UNAWARE OF PROBLEM BUT WOULD REPLACE FOR $1200. PER CLUBS AND USER GROUPS (WWW.500ECSTASY.COM) ALL OWNERS HAVE REPLACED OR EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155987 · 2006-04-24 (April 24, 2006)
BOTH ENGINE / FUEL INJECTION WIRING HARNESSES OF MY 1993 MERCEDES-BENZ 500E (115,000 MILES), HAVE CRACKED INSULATION THROUGHOUT. THEY ARE SHORTING OUT, CAUSING STALLING AND THE IMPOSITION OF (INVOLUNTARY/UNACCEPTABLE) RISKS OF DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR FIRES INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF OTHER MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES OF THE SAME AGE DOCUMENT SAID (IDENTICAL) DEFECTS. ALTHOUGH THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN TO MERCEDES-BENZ, A RECALL HAS BEEN REFUSED, OUTRIGHT/HAS YET TO TRANSPIRE. PLEASE ADVISE, ASAP; THANK YOU. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158632 · 2006-05-31 (May 31, 2006)
ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED AND STARTED BECOMING BRITTLE RESULTING IN WARNING LIGHTS, FAILED WATER TEMPERATURE SENSING AND ULTIMATELY POOR RUNNING OF ENGINE AND WIRING HARNESS CRUMBLING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158632 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160120 · 2006-06-19 (June 19, 2006)
CAR WILL QUIT ALL OF A SUDDEN AND LEAVE ME WITH NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. THIS IS DUE TO A BRAKE DOWN IN THE ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND OR A FIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 134,465 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166495 · 2006-08-25 (August 25, 2006)
SHORTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS CAUSING FAILURES OF IGNITION AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS INTERMITTENTLY. ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS SHOW THAT FAILURE OF THE SHEATHING AND MATERIALS OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CAUSE CORRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND REQUIRE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF HARNESSES DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIALS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 230,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166495 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 ↗