1994 Mercedes Benz E CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
111,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 38 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 68.4% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 23.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 12 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 11 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Electrical System:Software | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 12; Electrical System:Wiring: 11; Electrical System: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Electrical System:Software: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Fuel System, 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 8 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 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 7; 2007: 8; 2008: 9; 2009: 2; 2010: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 26 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10025241 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1994 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 IS CRACKED BECAUSE OF THE USE OF POOR WIRING INSULATION CAUSING MY CAR TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. TO RESTART IT, I HAVE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, PUT THE SHIFTER GATE TO P, TURN THE KEY ALL THE WAY BACK, AND FINALLY RESTART IT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN MANY ACCIDENTS BECUASE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE BENZ TECHS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT MERCEDES-BENZ REFUSES TO MAKE IT A RECALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025560 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS, ALL WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL POWER, RESULTING IS POOR BRAKING AND STEERING. ON A PREVIOUS DEALER VISIT, THE CAR WAS INSPECTED AND SERVICED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER HAVING THE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED AS A COST OF $1500 WITHOUT ANY GOOD WILL FROM MERCEDES BENZ. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AFFECTING A LARGE NUMBER OF V…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026308 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED WHILE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A HIGH SPEED MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY CAUSING THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL TO ENGAGE. THIS REDUCED THE ENGINE'S POWER TO APPROXIMATELY 20%, SLOWING THE CAR DOWN, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. 1994, MERCEDES BENZ, 320.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074886 · 2004-06-06 (June 6, 2004)
1994 MERCEDES BENZ E420- WIRING HARNESS IS DECAYING. THE WIRES ARE BRITTLE AND MELTING TOGETHER. THE INSULATION AROUND THE WIRE IS GONE; AS A RESULT, THE WIRE IS BARE AND UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE SUFFER FROM ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS; SUCH AS, STALL ON THE HIGHWAY, SURGING IN TRAFFIC JAMS, AND GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY GO HAYWIRE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128437 · 2005-07-12 (July 12, 2005)
1994 E320 HAD INTERMINTENT RUNNING PROBLEMS. CAR WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING, ESPECIALLY DURING A RAIN OR AFTER WASHING THE CAR. REPLACED MANY PARTS(MASS AIR METER, TUNE UP, OVP RELAY, FUEL PUMP RELAY, ETC) TO CHASE THE PROBLEM, NONE OF WHICH SOLVED IT. BEGAN TO LOOK ON MERCEDES FORUMS AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. BEFORE I REPLACED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IT BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD AN EXTINGUSIHER WITH ME AND STOPPED IT FROM CATCHING FIRE. MERCEDES COVERED PART OF THE COST UNDER THEIR "GOODWILL" PROGRAM HOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136387 · 2005-09-13 (September 13, 2005)
MERCEDES BENZ ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. AS MANY ENTHUSIASTS AND OWNERS KNOW, THE MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS MOST 1992 TO 1995 MERCEDES BENZ VEHICLES SUFFERS DETERIORATION AND PREMATURE FAILURE. THE RESULT IS POOR RUNNING CONDITION AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. MY OWN HARNESS SHOWED SIGNS OF DETERIORATION AT THE 7 YEAR MARK AND MERCEDES BENZ WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER GOODWILL, HOWEVER, BECAUSE I WAS HAVING OTHER WORK DONE, THEY REPLACED IT FOR THE PART COST ONLY WAIVING LABOR CHARGES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143626 · 2005-11-24 (November 24, 2005)
THE MATERIAL AROUND THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEGRADED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER PROTECTING THE WIRING ITSELF CAUSING IT TO MELT AND DAMAGE THE WIRES INSIDE. THIS LED TO THE CAR ONLY RUNNING ON 5 OUT OF 6 CYLINDERS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL AS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER CASES OF THIS HAPPENING AMONG OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AND MANY HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS. THE P[ARTS WERE REPLACED OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MB USA NEEDS TO ADDRESS INSTEAD OF TELLING OWNERS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155874 · 2006-04-22 (April 22, 2006)
I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET TO REPAIR AN OIL LEAK. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING TO THE OIL LEAK HE HAD TO TAKE OFF THE WIRING HARNESS UPON WHICH THE HARNESS DISINTEGRATED IN HIS HAND. I AM VERY CONCERNED THE MB WOULD YOU BIODEGRADABLE MATERIAL TO MANUFACTURER AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPLACEMENT PART IS $1,000 AND NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW SINCE THE REPAIRING THE EXISTING HARNESS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155874 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.
95V031000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)
THE FRONT PASSENGER METAL FOOT REST CAN, OVER TIME, ABRADE THROUGH THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE FOOT REST CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT, STALL THE ENGINE, OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY AN AIRBAG, ANY OF THESE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL WIRING HARNESS CABLE FASTENER TIES AND EDGE PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR SHARP EDGES OF THE METAL FOOT REST.
NHTSA campaign record ↗