Hi, we have the disintegrating wiring harness problem with our 95 E320 too, and do I just want to add my name to any list that might be forming. We just spent more than 2000.00 to fix the airconditioning, so we are really not happy now! We did a lot of research before buying this car a year ago because we couldn't afford a new car. I think we will just bring the car home and let it sit until some kind of answer emerges. I anyone wants to call us, we'd be delighted.

Pamela and Kenneth McCall
(mod edit, don't post your phone number on an open forum!)

Have you seen how old this thread is??? Your car may wind up sitting around 'til hell freezes over! I'd suggest having the car fixed and saving the receipts. If and when, MB decides to act (not likely IMHO) maybe you'll be reimbursed. At least this way, you'll have the use of the car.

Its an old car just fix it, or sell it. MB certianly doesn't care at this point.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You can add my 95 E300D to the list. I called MBUSA and had the problem logged there and will file with the NTSB tomorrow

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1960 190D (college car), gone
1995 E300D, 325 k
2019 LEXUS UX 250h (spouse mobile)
2003 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab, 125K
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 3.0L MB diesel, 200K
1978 GMC Classic Motor Home

The ineptitude of this once mighty company is only matched by their arrogance and disdain for customers in handling this issue with the defective wire harnesses. Over 1.5 million vehicles are estimated to be affected and it's not a matter of IF but of WHEN your harness will fail.

Safety Defects have no statute of limitations. This has nothing to do with warranty, it's an engineering error that creates a potentially hazardous condition (engine fires, sudden stoppage in traffic, stranding in dangerous locales, etc). Mercedes is well aware of the problem they created and refuses to do the right thing which is recall all vehicles affected, not wait for the NHTSA to do it, nor count on naive customer/victims not to do anything about it erroneously thinking that the age of the vehicles is a factor.

I am collecting a list of like affected owners to pursue action against Mercedes for this safety defect.

Contact me at flyer_boy@hotmail.com

This harness is the reason my next car will most likely not, be another MB. Not because I had to replace it...but because they tried to weasel out of it, pretending that there is no problem, when they damned well knew there was. Integrity? not anymore...they whored themselves out like so many other car companies.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I am trying to judge the condition of the engine wiring harness on my car (94 E320 wagon), which I bought used about three years ago. There is no mention in the service record of a replacement of the harness, but that my not mean anything since nothing is mentioned in the record except for routine oil and filter changes.

I have cut through the cloth wrapping on the harness in eight or so places around the engine, particularly near the block, where, presumably, heat would be most likely to have caused the insulation to fail. Everything looks fine. And there is no sign of bad insulation where wires emerge from sheathing at connectors.

With one exception -- three wires at the back of the engine, right above the oil filter housing: one thickish wire with pink/mauve insulation, and two thinner ones that are brown. All three show the classic failure: insulation hardening, cracking, and falling off the conductor. The wires emerge from a black plastic outer cover, which is also pretty hard.

Can someone tell me if these three wires are part of the main engine harness -- and also what they do and where they go?

Any help much appreciated. pjbakewell

i have a E320 1996 and also has a bad harness...add me to u list or keep my posted if their is anything needed from me to do...

The wires above the oil filter housing are not part of the engine wire harness.

When changing oil, be very carefull not to allow bits of insulation from these wires to fall into the filter housing.

If you are handy with a solder iron, you can replace these wires fairly easily. See this link for more info.

1995 E320 fault codes - throttle actuator?


J. M. van Swaay

I'll post more details as I get them, but it looks as though we have a class-action lawsuit against MBUSA concerning The MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1996 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT starting up....

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MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1997 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINTS

btw, I haven't updated the NHTSA complaint count lately due to ISP problems, but based on the numerous emails I've received, there have been many additional complaints filed with the NHTSA.

Keep them coming....

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MERCEDES-BENZ 1991-1997 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS DEFECT NHTSA COMPLAINTS

Tom, I'm not a lawyer, but I am an automotive engineer. As I understand it, to win a lawsuit, one must prove negligence on the part of the defendant, which resuts in damages to the plaintiff. The negligence in this case is that MB did not thoroughly test a new product before putting it into production.

Back in the old days, when my dad was an automotive engineer, parts went through thorough testing before they were put into production. With our product, if we so much as change a forging source (or heat treater, or steel supplier) on an existing design, we must notify the automaker and put the parts through thorough metallurgical evaluation and thorough life testing. This is involved and expensive. It is also what is reasonably expected for automotive design.

I really doubt that the defective wiring saw proper and thorough testing.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

As KESTAS stated, and I agree completely with his statements.

This is ancient history for Daimler-Benz, aka Daimler-Chrysler, aka Mercedes-Benz AG. I wouldn't hold my breath on a recall. They have done all they are going to do to satisfy their obligatons, to their customers and the law.

This is why they build new cars, to improve the design and engineering and safety, too. In the days of Rudi Uhlenhaut, they may have squarely dealt with this and other problems. That company does not exist today.

If you like the car, repair it and enjoy the car, as it is a Mercedes-Benz. It is just one of the costs of ownership, in today's times.

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SONNY was right...Nobody Cares.
Calogero, from the movie, "A BRONX TALE."

If someone knows of a MB dealership who will give you a free wiring harness or even admit that there is a problem with the wiring harness(es),please give me their names.When I asked the 2 dealersips in Dallas and Plano,Texas they politely told me that MB would not give any assistance to 2nd owners,only to original purchasers.In other words,if you didn't buy it new from us then good luck.Oh and by the way,what wiring harness problem? I ended up replacing 2 main harnesses and 2 small harnesses in the engine compartment at my expense.I still haven't tackled the throttle body unit.The only way to handle this is for everyone to show up one day at the dealers in mass and demand some action or have a 1960's style sit in.I did report the defects to the NHSB but never heard anything back from them

The issue isn't with the dealers, it's with the manufacturer. Most MB dealers are privately owned. Only a handful are owned by MB.