recall question 400E - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ThillyGooth · #1 10-24-2005, 11:28 PM

Does anyone know what the recalls are for a 1993 400E concerning the engine harness? I had some work done on something I think might have been recalled, plus I need to find out if the other recalls have been addressed. Does anyone know how I would go about doing this?

infoage1 · #2 10-25-2005, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThillyGooth

Does anyone know what the recalls are for a 1993 400E concerning the engine harness? I had some work done on something I think might have been recalled, plus I need to find out if the other recalls have been addressed. Does anyone know how I would go about doing this?

No recall----yet.

MB Wiring Harness Failure

.

mbdoc · #3 10-25-2005, 08:11 AM

Any MB dealer can do a VMI (vehicle master inquiry) for your VIN & see if there are any outstanding recalls for that car!

Really doubt if any recall happens for the wiring harness problems on the 1992-96 cars as recalls happen for SAFETY related problems! Never seen or heard of any of those cars having under hood fires!

infoage1 · #4 10-25-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.B.DOC

Really doubt if any recall happens for the wiring harness problems on the 1992-96 cars as recalls happen for SAFETY related problems! Never seen or heard of any of those cars having under hood fires!

There have been enough fire complaints that could be related to the bad harnesses, that the NHTSA is now interested in this issue. Plus, I really don't think it would take too much imagination to see how suddenly losing power (can you say "merging") might constitue a SAFETY issue. The NHTSA was quite taken by the sheer number of complaints compiled.

Even given, as it sounds, like you've never considered this issue serious enough to file a complaint of your own. Is that right Doc?

Tell me, as a "27 YEARS DEALER M.B. Shopforeman," how many complaints could you alone have added to the NHTSA's database?

http://users.adelphia.net/~infoage1/complaints_nhtsa_mercedes_wiring_harness_failures_1992_1995.html

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: E CLASS

Type: ANY

Year: 1994

Complaint Number: 10128437

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.

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: 300

Type: ANY

Year: 1991

Complaint Number: 511109

Summary:

ELECTRICAL WIRING OVERHEATED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: 300SE

Type: ANY

Year: 1991

Complaint Number: 10011882

Summary:

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: 300SE

Type: ANY

Year: 1991

Complaint Number: 10040933

Summary:

UNDER-HOOD FIRE TOTALED CAR. FIRE DEPT. REQUIRED TO EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE STARTED WHILE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN. CAUSE UNDETERMINED.

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: 420

Type: ANY

Year: 1991

Complaint Number: 706220

Summary:

Crash: NO Fire: YES
No Summary

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: 320

Type: ANY

Year: 1995

Complaint Number: 898986

Summary:

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THERE WAS A POWER SURGE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CAUSED A FIRE TO START. *AK *YH

NHTSA Complaint Summary

Make: MERCEDES BENZ

Model: SL

Type: PASSENGER CAR

Year: 1994

Complaint Number: 10074940

Summary:

THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM DEVELOPED SEVERE SHORTS, STALLED THE ENGINE, DISABLED THE ABS, ASR,SRS SYSTEMS. WITH ENGINE STALLED, STEERING AND BRAKING WERE DIFFICULT AND RESULTED IN FRONT END DAMAGE FROM IMPACT TO ROADSIDE BRUSH AND DIRT. WIRING INSULATION INSIDE THE WIRING BUNDLES HAD CRUMBLED TO DUST IN MANY PLACES FAR REMOVED FROM THE SHORT/MINOR FIRE. CAR STILL NOT OPERABLE DUE TO OTHER MAJOR WIRING HARNESS SHORTS DUE TO CRUMBLING INSULATION ON THE WIRES (HIDDEN BY THE BUNDLE JACKET) DEALER RESPONSE TOUGH IF YOU HAD BOUGHT IT FROM US, AND IT WAS NEW, MAYBE, OTHERWISE GOOD BYE!*AK

ThillyGooth · #5 10-25-2005, 12:33 PM

Safety Recalls
TSB Number & Issue Date TSB Title
95-0223 MAR 95 Recall - Wiring Harness Chafing/Shorting
95V031000 FEB 95 Recall 95V031000: Wire Harness Protecter Installation
CMP94-0123 FEB 94 Recall - Canister Vent Line Rerouting
94V004000 JAN 94 Recall 94V004000: Canister Vent Line Rerouting
93V108000 JUN 93 Recall 93V108000: Air Bag Non-Compliance

I found this on alldata.com.

Is this something else, or am I just crazy?

http://www.alldata.com/TSB/35/93355320.html

Let me know what you guys think. Thanks.

mbdoc · #6 10-25-2005, 12:33 PM

Are you asking should there be a safety recall for DEFECTIVE wiring harnesses?

My answer is NO!

Should there have been a service campaign due to MB using defective wiring? YES.
MB is a BIG boy & they should stand behind their product for the 15 years.
They offered a "goodwill" replacement up until 2001.

croftynsteph · #7 10-25-2005, 05:51 PM

Thilly...

That recall is for a totally unrelated component. It is for a harness located in the passenger compartment, I believe in the driver's footwell. It wasn't properly protected and abrasion could occur. It is not for the engine wiring harness. They're replace the the harness if needed and add the require protection. But for the engine harness, you're up the creek...

Haven't you posted this question before? I suppose it was lost in the data fiasco. But this post seems very familiar.

ThillyGooth · #8 10-26-2005, 04:18 AM

apparently questioning a recall is like questioning God. I had posted it and the thread was totally removed. What does that mean a "goodwill" recall? Aside from "questioning god", I was trying to find out how to check to see if any other recalls had been performed on my car and how to get them done if they haven't been performed. Thanks.