Quote:
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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!
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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