Office of Defects Investigation



Complaints - Search Results
4 Records Displayed.


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Report Date : September 13, 2005 at 06:58 PM
SEARCH TYPE : VEHICLE
YEAR : 1994
Make : MERCEDES BENZ
Model : E CLASS
Type : PASSENGER CAR


Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : E CLASS Year : 1994
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0
ODI ID Number : 10025241 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: July 1, 2003
VIN : Not Available
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary:
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




Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : E CLASS Year : 1994
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0
ODI ID Number : 10025560 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: July 7, 2003
VIN : WDBEA32E5RC...
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary:
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 VEHICLES, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER STILL APPEARS TO BE IGNORANT TO THE FACT. THERE IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.*AK




Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : E CLASS Year : 1994
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0
ODI ID Number : 10074886 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: April 7, 2004
VIN : WDBEA34E7RC...
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary:
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




Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : E CLASS Year : 1994
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Crash : No Fire : Yes Number of Injuries: 0
ODI ID Number : 10128437 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: August 22, 2000
VIN : WDBEA32E8RC...
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Summary:
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 HOWEVER I HAD TO INSTALL IT WHICH TOOK ABOUT 8 HOURS. THE FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPEND AROUND 125K MILES HOWEVER IT WAS MANY MONTHS AND MILES LATER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED.

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94 E320 with:
18" ///AMG Monoblock II's,AMG Gen II front bumper, H&R spings,500E sway bar, Bilstein sports, Eisemann Exhst, K&N,E500 Headlamps, Crystal Clear Corners, Avantgard Grill ...and more stuff to come! oh yeah 241k miles!!


My Car WOO HOO...... Now SOLD
New car.... 2001 Jaguar XJR!!!!

Thanks BadBenz94,

As you note, the NHTSA website/search is a mess. I forwarded your complaint, as well as the others I missed, to the engineers at NHTSA. In addition, I included some remakable pix from gerryvz at 500ecstasy.com (thanks Gerry).

hi-res:
http://sites.google.com/site/infoage1/mercedes-benz-1991-1996-engine-wiring-harness-defect

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

looks like we lost a page of posts on this one...I continue to find it amusing that MB denies any knowledge of the problem when I speak to them...considering they did offer a goodwill recall in prior years and auto.consumerguide lists the harness issue as a common problem...

auto.consumerguide

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2004 Chrysler Crossfire

The ASR on my '93 S500 comes on first thing in the morning intermitantly when I start the car. If I pump the gas pedal before I turn the key it starts fine. My mechanic that has worked on all of my Mercedes says that he doesn't even want to look at it because he says he KNOWS it's wiring related (either the harness or the throttle actuator) and he says that either one is a pain and very pricey.

I have filed a report with NHTSA and hope that we can get MBUSA to cough up the dough for a recall, but I'm not optimistic.

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Old age and treachery will allways overcome youth and skill!

1993 S500
1984 380SL

Just received a letter from one of Paul Halata's cronies...dismissing my issue b/c my car is 12 years old and has 165k miles and therefore, they have no responsibility. I know for a fact that the wiring problem dated back to a fairly early period in my car's life based on the "repairs" done to it. Some wires were resoldered together and many of the bundles were bound by electrical tape. It is my own fault for purchasing this car, I knew the harness would need to be done at some point but for the price I paid and the condition the car is in, I'm satisfied with the deal. It is the principle of the harness being a safety issue that causes me so much concern. They did tell me to have my car checked over by the dealership so that they can assess the problem, but it is too late for that one (besides my car is not in mint condition and they wouldn't give me a new harness anyway). That's fine. I replaced the harness a few weeks ago and it fixed my car's ailments. I plan on practicing some harness rewiring if I can get a hold of someone's old harness (I threw mine out in disgust). Then maybe I'll work something out where for a few bucks I'll rewire harnesses for people on here and see how that goes (I have a good bit of experience in soldering/rewiring).

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2004 Chrysler Crossfire

You brought up a good point - is there an expiration date for the manufacturer's responsibility to satisfy a recall campaign? What if somebody drives their long neglected, but good running condition, Pinto into a Ford dealer?.... is Ford still resposible for installing the shield to protect the gas tank from rupture, to satisfy a recall that was mandated by NHTSA?

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Absolutely if the problems involves a known defect. MB knew after about a year that the wiring harnesses were a problem. They should have replaced them then and there wouldn't be a problem today.

If you think that MB will replace them...think about the infamous 350SD

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Old age and treachery will allways overcome youth and skill!

1993 S500
1984 380SL

The short answer is NO.

I have been told several times by the NHTSA that time does not insulate (small pun) Mercedes, or any auto manufacturer, from being forced to issue a recall if the NHTSA mandates it as being necessary.

Witness the recalls of millions of older Ford and Toyota vehicles issued just last month. In Ford's case, there were many fires. In Toyota's, just seven confirmed cases. Certainly much less than problems we are suffering with the MB wiring harness issue.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9241475/


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

Anything new with this recall effort?

My car is just now having starting and stalling issues, and I can't find a record of the PO replacing the harness.

So far, no news for ya. We shall fight the good fight, until I win the lottery and move onto an Aston Martin.

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2004 Chrysler Crossfire

That shouldn't be a problem. Just peel back the wire bundle armoring and inspect the wire insulation. If it looks 200 years old the engine wiring harness needs to be replaced.

Keep in mind that this problem is generally confined to model years 93-95. I suggest you list your car in your signature for the benefit of others helping you.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

Does anyone know who made these defective wire harnesses? Was it MB themselves or was it outsourced to another company who used inferior wire? I just replaced mine on my '95 C280. The old wire harness was in unbelievably bad shape. Visible copper and insulation that would just snap in your hands like a toothpick.

I understand this wiring was outsourced to another company, who also made the same problem wiring for other european makes at the time.

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95 E320 Cabriolet, 169K

MB should make good on all the wire harnesses and then sue or get reimbursed for the faulty wire harnesses (which most likely or clearly should have not passed minimal specifications). I would assume that every part that goes into an automobile has specific performance criteria that it must pass. Did they just pass on a bogus 'approved' spec sheet to MB? Sounds like a viable law suit to me.

I have seen the Delphi label on a new OEM replacment harness being sold by a German eBayer. My Bablefish translation said something to the effect, "new harness. not from old stock, will not have the problems of the old harnesses."

I have no idea who the original OEM harness maker was, or why MB chooses not to go after them.

Artikelbeschreibung, Gegenstand dieser Auktion:

Original Mercedes-Benz Motorleitungssatz für den 500E Motor, Typ M119.974 LH

passend für alle W124 500E bis Fahrgestellnummer WDB1240361B840526 (siehe Fahrzeugschein)

Zustand:

NEU !!! OVP und aus aktueller Produktion !!

(die Problematik ist allgemein bekannt, dass sich der alte Motorleitungssatz zerbröselt/hart wird und somit die Gefahr besteht Steuergeräte zu beschädigen)

Dieser angebotene Motorleitungssatz ist erst kürzlich produziert worden (siehe auch Produktionsdatum), also noch absolut weich von der Isolierung. Dies ist kein alter Lagerbestand !





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