1995 Mercedes Benz E320 complaints

MERCEDES E320 1995 WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WOULD KEEP COMING ON. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX THE CAR WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS (WHICH SEEMED LUDICROUS AT THE TIME SINCE NO AMERICAN CAR I'D EVER OWNED NEEDED SUCH A DRASTIC FIX) OTHER DEALERS TOOK THE CAR FOR REPAIR BUT ALL CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION ABOUT THE HOPELESSNESS PROBLEM OF THE HARNESS. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE HARNESS IS ABOUT 1,000.00 DOLLARS UN-INSTALLED...*JB NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED TO VIRTUALLY ALL MERCEDES E320 OF THAT 5 YR. PERIOD BUT THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL TO PROTECT ALL OF THE OWNERS. I'VE NEVER LEFT TOWN WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT ALWAYS ENDS UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS ITS' SO UNDEPENDABLE. SO MUCH FOR MY FIRST AND LAST MERCEDES...

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1995 MERCEDES 320E, SHOULD BE PART OF RECALL 95V031000 FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING THAT HE FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. HE STATED THAT ON 02/15/07 HE BEGAN TO NOTICE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON, AND HE OPENED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WIRES IN THE VEHICLE WERE FRAYED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT NOTICE. HE HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURN THE POWER OFF AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE FELT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL DUE TO THE WIRING BURNING OUT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT APART OF THE RECALL AND HE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 203971.*AK UPDATE 4/23/07*TR

I HAVE CHANGED THE PLUGS IN MY 1995 MERCEDES 3 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE LAST TIME BY THE DEALERSHIP IN HUNTSVILLE, AL. THEY SAID THE PLUGS I HAS PUT IN NEW A MONTH BEFORE WERE BAD AND REPLACED THEM AGAIN. THIS DID NOT FIX MY PROBLEM AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY BECOME WORSE. THIS PAST WEEK END I CHECKED THE PLUGS AGAIN AND WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE IT WAS MISSING ON AT LEAST TWO CYLINDERS. TWO PLUGS WERE NOT EVEN FIRING. AFTER INSPECTING THE WIRES GOING TO THE MAGNETOS I DISCOVERED THEY WERE ALL BARE WIRES ON THE HARNESS GOING TO THE ENGINE. THE PLASTIC COVER ON ALL THE WIRES WOULD JUST FALL OFF THE WIRE. I CUT THE RUBBER INSERT INSIDE WHERE THE PLUGS ARE LOCATED AND THE WIRES WERE OF THE SAME CONDITION AND HAD ACTUALLY TURNED GREEN AND BROWN WITH CORROSION. SINCE MY CAR WAS DOWN AND I NEEDED IT ON MONDAY TO GO TO WORK, I CUT THE BAD WIRES OFF AND SOLDERED THE NEW WIRE TO THE PLUG ENDS THAT GO TO THE MAGNETOS. THIS HELPED TO GET THE CAR RUNNING BUT I ALSO DISCOVERED THE WIRES GOING TO THE INJECTORS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE PRICED THE NEW WIRING HARNESS AND IT WOULD COST OVER A 1000.00 FOR JUST THE HARNESS. THIS IS WITHOUT THE LABOR INVOLVED. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 110,000 MILES AND IS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MERCEDES HASN'T RECALLED THIS WIRING HAZARD. IF IT WERE TO SHORT OUT IT COULD BURN UP THE WHOLE CAR OR INJURE MY FAMILY. I PLAN ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. *NM

WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 E320 HAS DETERIORATED TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL UNUSUAL CHECK ENGINE INDICATIONS WHICH HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE ALARMS. IN ONE CASE IT CAUSED A PROBLEM FOR ME IN GETTING MY CALIFORNIA SMOG CERTIFICATION BECAUSE OF A FALSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER CONSULTING WITH SEVERAL MERCEDES AUTHORIZED MECHANICS I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS WIRING HARNESS CONDITION IS A KNOW PROBLEM AFFECTING SEVERAL MODELS OVER SEVERAL YEARS. I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE WIRES AND CAN SEE THE INSULATION CRACKING AND CRUMBLING BEFORE MY EYES. I CONTACTED MERCEDES BENZ USA IN NJ AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL AND WAS 12 YEARS OLD WITH HIGH MILEAGE (105000 MILES). AS A RESULT I AM FORCED TO REPLACE WIRING HARNESS AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO RECTIFY AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT RESULTING IN SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. *NM

I TOOK MY 1995 E320 MERCEDES INTO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER SMELLING BURNT OIL. THE REPAIR SHOP ADVISED ME THAT I HAD A HEAD GASKET LEAK AND THAT THE HARNESS WIRING SYSTEM IS DEGRADED. ADDITIONALLY, THE TIMING COVER LEAKS OIL AND THE THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR WIRING IS ALSO DEGRADED. THE AFTER MARKET BENTLEY REPAIR MANUAL CITES THE HEAD GASKET AND WIRING HARNESS ARE BEING A COMMON PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 91K MILES. THESE TYPES OF PROBLEMS REFLECT A POOR DESIGN AND I POSTULATE A BUILT IN OBSOLESCENCE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MERCEDES FOR RECALL; INSTEAD MERCEDES IS PROFITING FROM THESE PROBLEMS. FOR INSTANCE, THE WIRE HARNESS FOR MY AUTO CAN ONLY BE PROCURED FROM MERCEDES AT A COST OF 1200$. *NM

I HAVE SURGE ISSUES WITH MY MERCEDES BENZ E320. I HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE CAR. A/C BLOWING COLD // HOT IN DIFFERENT VENTS. FUEL INJECTION SURGES WHEN I HIT THE GAS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO SEVERRAL IMPORT AND MERCEDES BENZ DEALERSHIPS WHICH ALL SAY STIM FROM A BAD WIRING HARNESS.

WIRING HARNESS ON 1995 MERCEDES E320 FAILS AND CAUSES CAR TO STOP WHILE DRIVING DOWN BUSY CITY STREETS. WIRING INSULATION IS COMPLETELY CRACKED AND CAUSING A SHORTING SITUATION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE CONTACTED OVER TEN PEOPLE PERSONALLY THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS ON THE NET. HOW BAD DOES THIS HAVE TO GET BEFORE MERCEDES DOES SOMETHING TO FIX IT? *NM

PROBLEMS WITH WIRING HARNESS ...NEEDS REPLACEMENT - I CANNOT AFFORD THIS. WHY WAS THIS PART NOT RECALLED??? I HAVE A 95 E320 MBZ. *JB

1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 W124 ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE - MADE OF BIO-DEGRADABLE PLASTIC. MERCEDES BENZ USA CLAIMS TO HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISENGAGED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN THE CONTACT FELT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL PULL AWAY FROM THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE INSULATION ON THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT INFORMED.

CAR ENGINE STALLED DURING DRIVING. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER (MILLENNIUM IN NJ ( WHO TOLD ME THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I HAD MORE THAN 100K MILES ON THE CAR SO I PAID $2,700 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. *NM

1995 MERCEDES E320 ENGINE WIRE HARNESS FELL APART - DISAPPEARED LEAVING EXPOSED WIRES IN ENGINE BAY THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE. *JB

WIRING HARNESS IS COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. CAUSES ENDLESS CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND OTHER PROBLEMS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A GARAGED CAR CAN HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB

I OWN A 95 E320 MERCEDES BENZ WHICH HAS 98,000 MILES. SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE CAR PROPERLY; I CHANGE OIL EVERY 4,000 MILES, I CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION JUST LAST YEAR, ETC. RECENTLY THE SMOG PUMP WORE OUT SO I ASKED A CERTIFIED MERCEDES BENZ TECHNICIAN TO REPLACE IT. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE FOUND ALL OF THE FUEL INJECTION WIRE HARNESSES TOTALLY STRIPPED OF THEIR INSULATION INSIDE THE OUTER FABRIC COVER. HE SAID THE WIRES WERE TOUCHING EACH OTHER AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. HE ALSO SAID THAT SEVERAL MERCEDES BENZ DEALERS KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TO THEM. AFTER CONTACTING THEM, MERCEDES BENZ SEEMS TO THINK THIS PROBLEM IS NOT OF THEIR CONCERN BECAUSE THE EXPIRATION OF ITS WARRANTY, SO THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD INJURE BY ACCIDENT OR START A FIRE AND NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM. MERCEDES-BENZ NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR BECOMES INJURED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SMOG PUMP WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE SMOG PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND IGNITION WAS DETERIORATING AND COULD OVERHEATING. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 95V031000, REGARDING THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 05/02/06. *JB

WIRING HARNESS IN 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 DETERIORATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED - THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AND MERCEDES HAS NO RESPONSE TO CORRECT OR DISCOUNT THE REPAIR PARTS - PAID 3200.00 TO REPLACE ENGINE HARNESS, FUEL ACTUATOR, TRANSMISSION WIRING HARNESS - *NM

MY 1995 E320 WITH APPROXIMATELY 130,000 MILES BEGAN TO EXHIBIT UNUSUAL PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS, ROUGH IDLE, OCCASIONAL STALLING AT LIGHTS. WHEN I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC, THEY INFORMED ME THAT AS THEY BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE, THE INDIVIDUAL WIRES IN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WERE CRUMBLING UNDER THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE, MAKING ANY REPAIRS EXTREMELY RISKY WITHOUT HAVING THE ENTIRE HARNESS REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1800. THE FACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN WELL-DOCUMENTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS IS TROUBLING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN MERCEDES' REPUTATION FOR CARS THAT WILL RUN FOR YEARS WITH PROPER REGULAR MAINTENANCE. OBVIOUSLY MBUSA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, SINCE DEALERS STOCK THE HARNESS. *JB

MERCEDES BENZ M104 ENGINE ELECTRICAL WIRE HARNESS INSULATION FLAKES OFF AND SHORTS OUT WIRES. POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE COULD RESULT. MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED SOME OF THESE IN A RANDOM FASHION, UNDER A GOOD WILL WARRANTY. *NM

IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT MERCEDES AUTOMOBILES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1994 AND 1995 WERE EQUIPPED WITH "BIODEGRADABLE" ENGINE ELECTRIC HARNESSES. THE INSULATION ON THESE, INCLUDING MY CAR, HAVE DETERIORATED AND BECOME UNSAFE, CAUSING SHORTING BETWEEN WIRES. MY INFORMATION IS THAT MERCEDES HAS REFUSED TO CONSIDER THIS A RECALL ISSUE. REPLACING THE HARNESS COSTS APPROXIMATELY $1,400. IN ADDITION TO THE COST, THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. MY REQUEST IS THAT MERCEDES BE CONTACTED AND CONVINCED THAT IT IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO REPLACE THESE HARNESSES BEFORE IT CAUSES SOME EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS FIRES. *JB

MY 1995 MERCEDES E320 ALMOST CUT OFF AT IDLE AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS AND COSTLY REPAIR BILLS . FINALLY DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY WIRING HARNESS. WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT MERCEDES HAD A PRIVATE RECALL. DUPONT MADE SOME BIODEGRADEABLE INSULATION FOR MERCEDES THAT JUST FEKK APART. THISWAS NOT FAIR TO CONSUMERS.*AK

I HAVE A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WHICH WAS WELL MAINTAINED. AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS MONTH, THE CAR STARTED STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS LUCKY I WAS NOT HIT FROM BEHIND BY OTHER FAST MOVING CARS. AFTER REPLACING IGNITION PARTS THE CAR STILL WAS STALLING AND THEN STOPPED TOTALLY. UPON EXAMINATION, ALL THE ENGINE HARNESS WIRES WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN TOTALLY STRIPPED OF THEIR INSULATION INSIDE THE OUTER FABRIC COVER. THEY ALL WERE CONTACTING EACH OTHER AND IT WAS HOPLESS TO FIX SINCE ALL THE WIRES FAILED AT ONCE. SEVERAL MERECEDES BENZ DEALERS KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TO THEM. HOWEVER, MERECEDES BENZ SEEMS TO THINK THIS PROBLEM IS NOT OF THEIR CONCERN AND CONTACTING THEM RESULTS IN REFUSAL TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AS CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT COULD INJURE BY ACCIDENT OR START A FIRE AND NOT A WARRANTY PROBLEM. MERCEDES-BENZ NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE HARNESS BEFORE SOMEONE IS UNLUCKY AND BECOMES INJURED.

WIRE HARNESS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED!! THIS IS NOT RIGHT FOR A CAR 10 YEARS OLD. MB USA WONT HELP AT ALL. *JB

ALL THE INSULATION OF THE WIRES IS DISINTEGRATING ON MY MERCEDES E300 1995 IT IS VERY DANGER'S. *NM

INITIAL PROBLEM STARTED IN LATE OCTOBER 2005. INTERMITTENT MISFIRING OF CYLINDERS, HESITANT. SEVERAL TRIPS INTO SHOP RESULTED IN "COULD NOT REPLICATE TROUBLE". FINALLY SENT IN WITH SEVERE MISFIRING. REPLACED COIL, SOME IGNITION WIRES, SPARK PLUGS. A FEW DAYS LATER, SAME SYMPTOMS HAPPENED. AFTER MORE DIAGNOSIS, DETERMINED ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD FAILED. INSULATION HAD COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED ALLOWING WIRES TO TOUCH. POTENTIAL FOR MORE SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE COMPUTERS, ACCIDENT OR WORST, FIRE. LOCAL MB SHOP INDICATED IT WAS "NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM", "SHOULD EXPECT IT WITH 10 YEAR OLD CAR". ITEM WAS IN STOCK FOR $975.00 (SO I ASSUME IT DOES HAPPEN FREQUENTLY), WITH LABOR OF 8 HOURS @$119.00. I DID NOT FEEL THIS SHOULD HAPPEN ON A 10 YEAR OLD CAR, NOT TO MENTION A FORMER "CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED" VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING INTERNET, FOUND OVER 36 PAGES WORTH OF NHTSA MANUFACTURERS COMPLAINTS, REGARDING SIMILAR TROUBLE WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. TOTAL SPENT TO REPAIR = $2313.43. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF MERCEDES BENZ. *NM

WIRING HARNESS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS CRACKED, DRY ROTTEN, AND MISSING INSULATION. THIS IS CAUSED BY POOR MATERIALS USED IN PRODUCTION. IT COULD BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSE A FIRE. *JB

THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND EA/CC/ISC(PART M16/1,ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR/CRUISE CONTROL/IDLE SPEED CONTROL) WIRING INSULATION HAS BADLY DETERIORATED ON MY 1995 E320 CABRIOLET DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE FROM POOR MANUFACTURING. THIS CAR HAS 92000 MILES. THE DECAY HAS REACHED THE POINT OF LEAVING BARE EXPOSED WIRE WITHIN THE HARNESS. THESE WIRES MAKE CONTACT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL, SURGE AND SET MISC. ENGINE CODES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL...WHO KNOWS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES AS EVIDENCED BY CONVERSATION THREADS ON SEVERAL WELL REGARDED FORUMS. THE GENERAL UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MERCEDES WAS ATTEMPTING TO CREATE ECO-FRIENDLY WIRE INSULATION THAT WOULD DEGRADE IN THE LANDFILL. IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, BUT HAS FAILED MISERABLY. IN MY OPINION SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED WITH A RECALL. NOW. THIS IS NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION A PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAILURE. MY FEELING IS THAT BY WAITING IT OUT MERCEDES IS HOPING THESE CARS WILL JUST GO AWAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL IMAGES OF THE HARNESS CLEARLY SHOWING THE DECAY. QUITE FRANKLY IT IS OUTRAGEOUS. I ALSO DO HAVE A BAD HARNESS THAT I KEPT. I HESITATE TO SEND IT AS I MAY BE FORCED TO TRY AND RECONDITION IT SOMEHOW. THE COST OF A NEW HARNESS IS RIDICULOUS NOT TO MENTION I WOULD END UP WITH A HARNESS THAT WILL DO THE SAME THING UNLESS THEY HAVE CHANGED THERE WAYS FOR THIS PART! HERE ARE THE FORUMS I MENTIONED ABOVE. HTTP://WWW.MERCEDESSH

MY 1995 MERCEDES WAGON E320 HAS ONLY 42K MILES ON IT BUT ALL THE WIRES AKA THE ENGINE HARNESS ARE CRUMBLING TO THE TOUCH. ALL THE WIRE INSULATION HAS DETERIORATED BECAUSE OF THE USE OF BIO-GRADABLE PLASTIC. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO PAY $1500 FOR THE ENGINE HARNESS. HOW CAN SUCH A MAJOR PART BE SO POORLY MADE AND UNRELIABLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. *JB

DISINTEGRATION OF INSULATION ON ENGINE WIRING HARNESS.

THE INSULATION THAT PROTECTS THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF 1995 MERCEDES E320 VEHICLES DETERIORATES AND CAUSES THE WIRES TO SHORT. THIS ELECTRICAL SHORT MAY RESULT IN UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALLING, THUS CREATING A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS MUST BE REPLACED. THIS CONDITION EXISTS IN ALL 1995 E320 VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES. THE CONDITION EXISTS IN OTHER YEARS AND MODELS BY MERCEDES, HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE AFFECTED YEARS AND MODELS. *NM

WHEN I HAD MY 60,000 MILE SERVICE I WAS TOLD THE THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 1500.00 DOLLARS. MERCEDES WOULD NOT PAY ANY PART OF THIS REPAIR EVEN THOUGHT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WAS A OBVIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS OF THE E320 SERIES AND HAD BEEN FIXED IN LATER MODELS. MY PROBLEM WAS THAT THE HARNESS WIRES LEADING TO THE SPARK PLUGS HAS HARDENED AND THE INSULATION HAS FLAKED OFF OF THE WIRES. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE THE HARNESS HAS HARDENED ELSEWHERE AND WHAT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS COULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. I THINK THAT SINCE IT HAS BEEN OMITTED AS A DEFECT AND IS NOW CAUSING SAFETY AND RELIABILITY PROBLEMS THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD STEP UP AND REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. *AK

FAILURE OF AIR CONDITIONER, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, RADIO ANTENNA, AND OIL LEAK. *LA THE A/C FAILED CONTINUOUSLY SINCE PURCHASED, THE FRONT WINDOWS HAD BROKEN MOTORS THE WATER PUMP BLEW, OIL LEAKED INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WAS REPLACED(WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED), TWO ENGINE MOUNTS COLLAPSED, DRIVER'S DOOR RATTLED, ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON, AND BOTH FRONT TIRES LOST AIR AND WERE FILLED EVERY TWO WEEKS(FIVE SETS OF TIRE). THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

I OWN A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WAGON. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OIL. WHILE REACHING INTO THE ENGINE COMPLARTMENT, I FELT AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK FROM A WIRE BUNDLE NEAR THE OIL FILTER. I LOOKED AND SAW BARE WIRES EXPOSED WHERE THE INSULATION WAS MISSING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF SAME VEHICLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY COMMON DEFECT WITH CERTAIN MODEL YEARS. THE REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS VERY COMMON AND HAZARDOUS ISSUE? IT IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.*AK

DISINTEGRATION OF THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. *LA

THE CONSUMER SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR UPON ENTERING THE GARAGE. THE FUEL LINE HOSE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER DETERIORATED. THIS RESULTED IN THE HOSE DRYING OUT AND STIFFENING AND CAUSED A GASOLINE LEAK. *AK *SCC *JB

I OWN A 1995 E320 SDN, I HAVE 87,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND MERCEDES HAS PERFORMED ALL MAJOR SERVICE OF THE VEHICLE DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR (4YRS). I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS IS FALLING APART AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1,200.00 PLUS. I HAVE WORKED ON CARS FOR MANY YEARS AS WELL AS RESTORING THEM AND HAVE NEVER RUN ACROSS A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS. M.B. SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS FAILURE AND INITIATE A RECALL.*AK

I OWN A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 WAGON. PURCHASED IN FEB 2003 WITH 5300 MILES ON ODOMETER. THE HFM ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRIP TO DEALERSHIP FOR EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION/HEAVY SULFUR ODOR. MERCEDES BENZ WEB CHATROOMS (MBWORLD.ORG, BENZWORLD.ORG, MERCEDESSHOP.COM) DETAIL LITERALLY SEVERAL DOZEN CASES OF DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT FOR W124 CARS WITH M104 ENGINES OF MODEL YEARS 1992 TO 1995. THESE WIRING HARNESSES WERE APARENTLY MADE WITH WIRES WHOSE INSULATION IS PRONE TO EXCESSIVE DEGREDATION WITH HEAT AND TIME. THE LOSS OF INSULATION EVENTUALLY LEADS TO SHORT-CIRCUITING OF THE WIRES AND A HOST OF DRIVEABILITY ISSUES. REPLACEMENT OF MY HARNESS FIXED MY PROBLEM. THIS PART IS APPARENTLY UNIVERSALLY DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY, AND AS SUCH I BELIEVE THAT A RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE ITEM IS IN ORDER. *AK

UNDERHOOD ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DETERIORATING RAPIDLY ON OUR 1995 E320 WAGON DUE TO HEAT FATIGUE. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL DEFECT WITH ALL 1993-1995 MERCEDES-BENZ E320 MODELS. ON OUR PREVIOUS 1994 E320, THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE CAR TO LOSE POWER TO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS. DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD.*AK

ENGINE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES IN TRAFFIC. REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. INSULATION ON THE INDIVIDUAL WIRES IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY HAS SERIOUSLY DECAYED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS FLAKING LEAVING BARE EXPOSED COPPER WIRE WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY. THE BARE WIRES WITHIN THE ASSEMBLY CONCEIVABLY MADE SPURIOUS ELECTRICAL CONTACT CAUSING THE ENGINE STALLS.I AVIDLY PARTICIPATE IN MERCEDES AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICAL CHAT ROOMS. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM (DECAY OF ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION) IS RUMORED TO BE CONFINED TO THE MERCEDES 1993-1995 MODELS WITH M104 ENGINES. THIS WOULD INCLUDE MODELS C280, 300E (3.2L AND 2.8L ENGINE), E320, S320. WITHIN THESE MODELS, THE PROBLEM APPEARS WIDESPREAD. IT IS RUMORED THAT MERCEDES WAS TRYING TO FORMULATE AN ECO-FRIENDLY INSULATION THAT WOULD DEGRADE IN THE LANDFILL. THOUGH IT WAS A NOBLE EFFORT, THE WIRING UNFORTUNATELY DECAYED BEFORE ITS TIME WAS DUE, LEAVING A THREE YEAR PRODUCTION OF E320 MODELS WITH WIRING THAT IS UNSAFE AND PRONE TO CAUSE STALLING. I HAVE THE OLD WIRING FROM MY VEHICLE AND I CAN PROVIDE DIGITAL IMAGES OF THIS WIRING ILLUSTRATING THE PROBLEM IN DETAIL UPON REQUEST. I BELIEVE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OF ALL AFFECTED MERCEDES VEHICLES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A PART OF A CAR THAT IS NORMALLY EXPECTED TO FAIL, AND IT HAS A PROFOUND EFFECT ON SAFETY AND EMISSIONS. THE REFERENCES BELOW CONTAIN DOCUMENTED COMPLAINTS OF MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABOVEMENTIONED PROBLEM. RE

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AND INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC EXAMINED THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS AND DETERMINED THAT THE WIRE INSULATION ON THE HARNESS WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF SERIOUS DETERIORATION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT BEFORE IT CAUSED PROBLEMS BY SHORTING OUT. *TT

BAD ENGINE WIRING WHICH POSSIBLY CAUSED ENGINE TO STALL IN TRAFFIC. *TT

PRODUCT:MERCEDES 1995 E320 SEDAN PROBLEM: THE ENGINE'S WIRING HARNESS HAS ITS INSULATION MADE OF PVC. PVC CANNOT AND HAS NOT TOLERATED THE HEAT AND VIBRATION DEVELOPED WITHIN THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT, THE PVC INSULATION, HAS BECOME SO BRITTLE IT IS LITERALLY CHIPPING APART AT EVERY VITAL SENSOR AND/OR DEVICE- INCLUDING FUEL DELIVERY COMPONENTS! THIS HAS ME EXTREMELY CONCERNED SINCE I'M STARTING TO GET CHECK ENGINE SIGNALS TO THE DASH DISPLAY NOW. I CALLED MERCEDES' 800 NUMBER AND THEY ARE ACTING IGNORANT ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. *NLM

OEM WIRING HARNESS IN 1995 E320 BECOMES BRITTLE AND CRACKS AT AROUND 100,000 MILES THAT CAUSES ENGINE TO MISFIRE.

I OWN A 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E320 STATION WAGON THAT HAS 76,000 MILES ON IT AS OF 2/6/03. DURING A 75,000 MILE SERVICE, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING HARNESS WAS DECOMPOSING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTERWARD THE "CHECK ENGINE " TROUBLE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON REPEATEDLY. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERS SERVICE TECHNICIAN MADE A COMMENT ON MY PAPERWORK THAT THE HARNESS HAD FRAYED THROUGH IN ONE AREA AND WAS SHORTING OUT IN A VALVE COVER. THIS TYPE OF DEFECTIVE PRODUCT CONSTITUTES A CLASS 1 SAFETY ISSUE. VIA THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE CAR FROM 1994 TO 1996 HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR DECOMPOSING WIRING HARNESSES. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY A GENERAL RECALL AND MERCEDES BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES.

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO A FAULTY MASS AIR METER. DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR METER. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

THE AIR CONDITIONER HAS NOT WORKED CONSISTENTLY FOR TWO SUMMERS, THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS NOT COMING ON BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS CRACKED AND COMING APART AND THE EVAPORATOR LEAKS, ALL OF THESE FAULTY COMPONENTS CAUSED THE SYSTEM TO BLOW WARM AIR. NLM