1994 Mercedes Benz 320
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercedes Benz › 320 › 1994
These records cover every 1994 Mercedes Benz 320. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1994 Mercedes Benz 320. Newest first.
If one of the headlamp wiper arms becomes misaligned, the wiper balde can lodge in the groove under the headlamp. if the washers are activated with the wiper blade in the misaligned and lodged position, the washer pump will run continuously expelling all available fluid.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Pump operation in the absence of fluid can cause the pump to overheat and cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the headlamp washer pump on these vehicles.
Owner complaints
49 complaints2 involved a crash2 involved a fire3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Engine
I was inspecting my car to prepare for a smog check.the check engine lite was on. I noticed that the wires going to the air pump had no insulation on them. I cut into the harness to find all of the wires were disintegrating. I ran the code check and got 3 codes. 4,5,And 18. One was egr failure…
I was inspecting my car to prepare for a smog check.the check engine lite was on. I noticed that the wires going to the air pump had no insulation on them. I cut into the harness to find all of the wires were disintegrating. I ran the code check and got 3 codes. 4,5,And 18. One was egr failure which IS common. The other two were air pump and auto cam timing advance failure or shorted out. The wires to these components have no insulation on them. If mercedes didn't know this was a problem why did they afford a specific code for a shorted out smog component? *tr
- Electrical system
TL* the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz E320. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the indicator lights remained illuminated erroneously, causing the battery to drain. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic and a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic advised…
TL* the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz E320. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the indicator lights remained illuminated erroneously, causing the battery to drain. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic and a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic advised the contact that the electrical wiring harness and wires had to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000 and the current mileage was 146,000.
- Electrical system · Electrical system › Wiring
TL* the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz E320. the contact stated that the wiring harness rusted, causing the vehicle to stall. the dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairing the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 55,000. updated evoq 03/28/12
- Electrical system
I have a 1994 E320, im going to sum this up, the harness IS junk, my car stalls on the freeway, uses up gas like a running hose, got 6 miles on 12.00 worth of gas, lights flicker, when I cut back the tape it looked like someone put cig tobacco in the wire, then I looked and it was the insulation…
I have a 1994 E320, im going to sum this up, the harness IS junk, my car stalls on the freeway, uses up gas like a running hose, got 6 miles on 12.00 worth of gas, lights flicker, when I cut back the tape it looked like someone put cig tobacco in the wire, then I looked and it was the insulation that had turned to nothing, all wires are rubbing. The fuel inj. Get floods with oil,gas. Its a mess and they want over 1000.00 to get a new one. Recall this harness before people start to die. *tr
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
TL* the contact owned a 1994 mercedes E-320. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact engaged the air conditioner and smoke began emitting from the vents. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was told that the air conditioning wires had melted. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 288,000 and the current mileage was unknown. The vin was unavailable.
- Electrical system
1. multiple warning light alarms over 12 month period. 2. after many fruitless and expensive repairs of sensors, the problem was traced to a defective engine main wiring harness, where the insulation on individual wires had largely disintegrated. this was reportedly due to use of defective…
1. multiple warning light alarms over 12 month period. 2. after many fruitless and expensive repairs of sensors, the problem was traced to a defective engine main wiring harness, where the insulation on individual wires had largely disintegrated. this was reportedly due to use of defective insulation at the time of manufacture, which over time and normal use, would disintegrate and break off, enabling individual wires in the harness to short together. the repair facility had maybe 20-25 of these failed harnesses hanging on the wall as a display - this IS in a small town, so the total number must be very large in the USA. mercedes benz refused to take responsibility for the problem or the repair, claiming essentially that in 10 years from manufacture date, anything can happen to a vehicle and that IS not their responsibility. this failure produced unsafe conditions, the car would fail to start, stop running on the road and would fail to restart, etc. 3. the wiring harness was replaced, at my cost of close to $1000. the problem has not recurred since. the old part IS still available for inspection. *Tr
- Electrical system
I was getting the car dyeing in the middle of the road, and at stop lights and smoke out from under my hood, then took it to mechanic who told me of a problem with mercedes wiring from 91-96. This IS a well known problem that mercedes will not fess up to!!! The harness cost me over $600.00!!!!! For…
I was getting the car dyeing in the middle of the road, and at stop lights and smoke out from under my hood, then took it to mechanic who told me of a problem with mercedes wiring from 91-96. This IS a well known problem that mercedes will not fess up to!!! The harness cost me over $600.00!!!!! For what they probably paid 10.00 to have made for them. Where IS my government to protect me and others for what IS obviously a well known problem with these vehicles? Does someone have to die before it gets looked at seriously? Go to any mercedes forum and there will be pages upon pages of complaints about this very problem?????!!!!!!!! *Tr
- Electrical system
1994 mercedes E320 engine wiring harness, it IS commonly known in the mb community that these cars wiring harness was made from defective materials and prone to premature failure. This harness costs around 1000.00 why IS my government not protecting it's people from this fraud?! *Tr
- Electrical system
Already replaced the faulty wiring harness on my mercedes E320 at a high cost due to faulty engineering used biodegradable wiring harness now I need the electronic throttle actuator also a high dollar item same thing corroded falling apart wires and mercedes knows of this please help I need some relief of this mess part#0001415725 thanks.. *Tr
- Electrical system
My 1994 mercedes-benz E320 cabriolet has a check engine light on. An investigation leads to disintegrated engine wire harness, that IS shorting. The vehicle IS running rough and stalling. There IS a potential for a fire hazard. The car stalled on highway, causing me to loose control and crash into a side pole, damaging the front of the car. *tr
- Electrical system
Crumbling fuel injection wiring harness causing stalling, misfiring, exposed wires a fire hazard and a "no spark condition" causing dead cylinders to pour raw fuel into catalytic converter resulting in heavy smoke and an emanate serious fire hazard. This condition destroyed the $1200 catalytic…
Crumbling fuel injection wiring harness causing stalling, misfiring, exposed wires a fire hazard and a "no spark condition" causing dead cylinders to pour raw fuel into catalytic converter resulting in heavy smoke and an emanate serious fire hazard. This condition destroyed the $1200 catalytic converter leaving the vehicle unable to pass state emissions testing. Mercedes-benz refuses to acknowledge that there IS a problem an offers no remedy. Maybe after someone gets hurt or killed , there will be some action. *Tr
- Engine and engine cooling
I was changing spark plugs and saw the bad wires in the harness. I taped up where I could but when I touched the wire the insulation just fell off the wires. I was able to get car running for awhile but now it runs bad. I am in the process of trying to replace harness at this time. This IS clearly a mfg. Defect and a potentially dangerous one. *Tr
- Electrical system
My 1994 mercedes-benz S320 has a defective engine wiring harness. it IS falling apart being that it was constructed using biodegradable materials. it IS causing many, many, problems with engine misfiring, smoking / bare wires, etc. *tr
- Electrical system · Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
A/c and all items on fuse #7 quit working. car skipped and would just die. Checked wiring and found wires cracked. All wires in harness cracked and looked overheated. wiring harness replaced by new owner. *tr
- Electrical system
Engine wiring harness IS made of biodegradable material that has caused massive electrical problems when it disintegrated. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
1994 mercedes E320 wiring harness deterioration, cracking replacement will be $2,000. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
I was driving down the highway when my car just stopped. After having it towed to beck mercedes benz, a diagnostic test was conducted, I was to the wiring harness had broken completely into. the harness wires were quoted as being rotted. cost IS over $2,000.00 to repair. nothing has been done. after questioning how could this happen I was given no answers. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Wire harness failure outer sheath IS missing and exposed insulation IS brittle. I understand this IS common with the mercedes vehicles between '93 - '95. when will the company stand up and admit they have a problem. I guess sometimes it takes a accident with lives lost and lawsuit before anyone will admit there IS a problem. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
The wiring harness IS defective. All the insulation around each wire has disintegrated. The car died as I pulled into heavy traffic. I am told this IS a common problem with that year mercedes and that the mfgr. Will not admit there has been a problem with the wire insulation. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring
My wife owns a 1994 E320 that has only 19,000 miles on it. During a routine inspection after the check engine light came on I was informed by the dealer that the engine wiring harness was deteriorated and had to be replaced. 91-96 mercedes benz are all having the same problem and my car only has 19,000 miles. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring · Engine and engine cooling
A year or two after the vehicle was purchased(may, 1995) I observed an oil leak. I brought this to the attention of the dealer back then, and was told essentially that all cars leak oil and that this leak was minor. over the years it has been getting more pronounced, now leaking on the exhaust…
A year or two after the vehicle was purchased(may, 1995) I observed an oil leak. I brought this to the attention of the dealer back then, and was told essentially that all cars leak oil and that this leak was minor. over the years it has been getting more pronounced, now leaking on the exhaust causing smoke. recently I stopped going to the dealer for service, now to an independent mercedes specialist. they tell me that this oil leak IS from the headgasket, a very common problem on the W124 chassis (E320 model). further investigation on my part reveals this problem to be a commonly reported issue, and was fixed on the next model by bolstering the headgasket in a certain area. in repairing the headgasket the cylinder head has to be removed and the engine harness disconnected. to make matters worse the insulation on the engine harness IS already cracking and falling off, exposing the metal wires. the engine harness will be completely destroyed when it IS manipulated to disconnect it. I also identified from my research that the insulation on the engine harness was made from biodegradable materials, now how smart was that? now I'll have a $4-5000 repair bill on two common problems which mercedes denies even exists on this model car. if I don't fix it, then I run the risk of electrical fire from the harness, and the risk of engine fire from the headgasket leak, or some catrostropic combination of both. the engine harness was also replaced once in 1998, after it failed on a 500 mile round trip. *tr
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
A/c and electrical failures due to wire insulation cracking. a known defect. *Jb
- Electrical system › Wiring
Wiring problem. While driving and it was raining at the same time, my lights went off and the wipers stopped working, leading to a crash on highway I-44. *Jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Tl*the contact owns a 1994 mercedes benz E320. the contact stated that the vehicle shakes and makes a loud noise while idling. the dealer diagnosed the vehicle as needing an engine wiring harness. the purchase date and powertrain were unknown. the current and failure mileages were 80,000.
- Electrical system › Wiring
I had to replace the wiring harness on my 1994 E320 at 146000. the harness had been defective for at least 1 year prior to replacement and was the source of continued issues within the engine control unit. ultimately, I had to replace the engine control unit due to subsequent damage from the wiring harness. *Ak
Every Mercedes Benz 320 model year
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