1995 Mercedes Benz E CLASS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
170,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 21 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 61.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 6; Electrical System:Wiring: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Seats: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 14
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 2 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 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10007091 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007091 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136061 · 2005-09-10 (September 10, 2005)
MAIN ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS CURRENTLY DETERIORATING CAUSING THE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INTENSE AMOUNT OF HEAT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165159 · 2006-08-10 (August 10, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM. THE PLASTIC HARNESS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEED CONTROL AS WELL. THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AT 65 MPH AND THE DEALER DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR TWO YEARS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168421 · 2006-09-16 (September 16, 2006)
SEAT FRAME FAILURE. THE LEFT FRAME RAIL OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED CAUSING THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TILT TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR AND IMPACT THE DOOR AND B-PILLAR. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS DRIVING POSITION. IF THIS HAPPENED DURING A COLLISION DRIVER WOULD'VE SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA AND SPINAL CORD INJURY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 125,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171241 · 2006-10-18 (October 18, 2006)
DURING ENGINE WORK MY MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD DEGRADED AND EXPOSED BARE WIRES IN SOME AREAS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDED FANS RUNNING CONSTANTLY AND INTERMITTENT AC OPERATION. MY RESEARCH INDICATED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ W124 BODY STYLE WIRING HARNESS, INCLUDING ASSOCIATED DAMAGE TO OTHER COMPONENTS, SMOKE AND IN SOME CASES FIRES. APPARENTLY THE HARNESS HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO DEGRADE EASILY UPON THE END OF ITS LIFE IN A LANDFILL, BUT THE HARNESSES ARE DEGRADING WHILE …
Owner-reported narrative. 216,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185688 · 2007-03-20 (March 20, 2007)
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION ON MY E300D DIESEL MERCEDES BENZ WAS SEVERELY CRACKED TO THE POINT THAT IS CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSORY FAILED, THE GLOW PLUG RELAY FAILED, AND THE EXTERNAL AIR TEMPERATURE SENSORY FAILED. THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED BY A AUTO REPAIR SHOP AT SIGNIFICANT COST.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186106 · 2007-03-25 (March 25, 2007)
TWO REPUTABLE INDEPENDENT MERCEDES MECHANICS INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IN MY 1995 E300 DIESEL IS DECAYING WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED MY GLOW PLUGS TO MALFUNCTION AND THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN MERCEDES VEHICLES MADE FROM 1991-1996. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PART BEFORE MORE SERIOUS EVENTS OCCUR DUE TO THE FLAW IN MERCEDES MANUFACTURING PROCESS FROM 1991-1996 . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 130,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200354 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
NOTICEABLE HESITATION AND ROUGH IDLE ON MY MERCEDES E320 1994 WAGON. MY MECHANIC TELLS ME THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS IS CRUMBLING AND WAS WELL KNOW FOR CARS 1991-1996 FOR THIS MODEL AND DEALERS HAVE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS PART WILL NEED REPLACING AT A COST OF APPROX. $1600.00 AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 1995. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE HARNESS IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPAIR INVOICE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 112,153 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200354 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 ↗