no report yet
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. A SHORT CIRCUIT CAN CAUSE THE WIRES TO OVERHEAT, STALL THE ENGINE, OR INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY AN AIRBAG, ANY OF THESE INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
1994 Mercedes-Benz E ClassProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 38 owner complaints about the 1994 Mercedes-Benz E Class, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2010. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1994 Mercedes-Benz E Class has problems
38 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
31Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
6Engine and engine cooling1 crash/fire/injury
2Suspension
1Steering
1Structure
1Vehicle speed control
1Fuel system, other
1Service brakes, hydraulic
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 31 | 5 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 6 | 1 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system, other | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
1994 Mercedes-Benz E Class recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mercedes-Benz.
Mileage at failure
When do electrical system problems start?
112kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 24 electrical system complaints. 25% were reported before 100,000 miles.
0under 30k miles6under 100k miles18100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Electrical system
9 owners mentioned a cost$1,100median
Middle half: $900 – $1,210
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
1994 vs. every other E Class year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the E Class median. How we score
'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'08
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What E Class owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I TURNED ON THE SWITCH OF MY 1994 E320 MERCEDES NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. OPENED HOOD IT WAS ON FIRE. AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED WIRING HARNESS, PLUGS, BUT CAR IS STILL SURGING NOT IDLING PROPERLY. REPLACED INTAKE AIR SENSOR, PLANNING…
1. POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE, UNSAFE DRIVABILITY, HESITATION AND STALLING. 2. FREQUENCY OF PROBLEM IS VERY OFTEN. QUALIFIED MERCEDES-BENZ REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED ISSUE AS ENGINE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION DEGRADATION. THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THESE HARNESSES FAIL, ACCORDING TO THEIR HEAD MECHANICS. IN…
IN MY 1994 MERCEDES BENZ E320, THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS HAS COMPLETELY DEGRADED IN SOME PARTS, CAUSING THE INDIVIDUALLY INSULATED WIRES TO TOUCH EACH OTHER, CAUSING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. MY CAR HAS STALLED ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES, NEARLY KILLING MYSELF AND ENDANGERING OTHERS. MY FRIEND'S 1995…
Own a 1994 E Class?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.